Should I pull the trigger on Sam Edelman's? - YouLookFab Forum

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Should I pull the trigger on Sam Edelman's?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I found some snake Pettys in my size....should I order them after that huge splurge on booties the other day? Will the white be smart with my darker blonde hair or can I be satisfied with my taupe Reports?

By the way, I am also missing a coloured bootie. Would that be a smarter investment at this point?

Shopping

29 replies

Latest reply was from Vicki

RoseandJoan

Veteran

With the cream, greys and taupe colours in the pattern I fail to see how these could not work with your wardrobe and colouring and they are a gorgeous boot, but that does not automatically make them a sound purchase.

Playing devils advocate here, I do wonder if they would serve the same purpose as the taupe reports? Would a snake print oxford or alternative shoe/ boot provide more wardrobe diversity?

Remember to leave any guilt about the price behind (budget allowing), either this is the right boot for you or it is not whether the price is $50.00 or $175.00.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Oh dear...I am probably the WRONG person to chime in here since I'm clearly madly in love with all things BOOTIE!!!

So I'll break it down logically (if I can):

For buying: they are comfortable; there are more dark tones in the boots than I thought which I feel makes them more versatile; they will cross all seasons IMO due to the lighter shades allowing for warm weather wearing as well; they will work well with your taupe and black items equally; if Inge and I can wear them as brunettes, you certainly can wear them with your colouring.

For not buying: the SW's were a big purchase; will you feel guilty if you also buy the Pettys?; which will you wear more - coloured booties or the Petty's?

I'll be honest Suz - I'm finding booties to be the most versatile of all of my footwear and wear them all pretty equally - coloured, black, etc.

But I don't want to just holler "spend, spend, SPEND" so look at what is within your budget and your needs.

Inge

(website)

I vote yes, Suz. The pattern makes them incredibly versatile and adds texture and visual interest to any outfit. That alone makes them different enough from your taupe Reports, I think? Plus the SE's have a lower heel if I'm not mistaken, which could make them useful for different purposes/occasions as well?

Another thought: have you considered the SE in the burgundy suede, Suz?-)
That colour would be fabulous with many of your clothes too...

Wise words from Jules regarding the "no guilt" advice.

Anonymous

Great advice from everyone already but I wanted to chime in a vote YES go for it. They would fit so well in your wardrobe.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Just a word to the wise - they may be running out of stock and not re-ordering, so if you want them best get them now.

that said, I think they are a duplicate in function of the reports...but I think they also are more your style and a bit more interesting with the pattern. You might want to save up for a colored bootie, instead...but only you can know for sure if they are a duplicate for your wardrobe or not!

cobaltblue

Veteran

I love mine but can't wear right now, sadly. I can't give much advice except to say that they are beautiful and work with a lot of outfits.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Suz. actually they are much easier to incorporate into outfits than colored booties but impact is as big. I think investment wise they are a smarter buy than colored ones.
If I don't have an issue bookending them with my dark hair you should not have any problem at all!
I don't think they are duplicates of your taupe Reports. I got taupe 'putty' ones and they are not interchangable with python at all!
Oh and did I mention that I get compliments on them every single time I wear them?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thank you, everybody - these are all excellent thoughts and recommendations. I do think booties make more sense in my climate than regular shoes, simply because it's too darn cold to leave ankles bare or in socks. So the general style is not an issue; a new and different bootie will always be a good purchase.

Hmmm. Okay. Mulling a bit more on this and counting pennies before making the decision.

Ginkgo

Veteran

BUY, Suz, BUY! I think a little bit more impulse shopping would be good for you. And maybe statement booties/shoes will give you more flexibility in dressing for events, in that your outfits can be simple and your shoes will do the "talking".

Raisin

Veteran

Suz I really don't have a good recollection of your bootie collection yet so it's hard for me to comment. But I feel like we share some commonalities in our wardrobe aspirations, so I will just say this. If they are repeats in color and function I would probably try to talk myself out of them. OR.....I would look for a pair that needs to be upgraded and call these my "investment upgrade"....I believe this is something you were hoping to do, right?

ETA - I should add that my own footwear collection would be horrifyingly small to most people on this forum, so you might have room for them regardless of what you have. I seem to have a hard time with duplicate footwear more than anything else. I should show you guys my "footwear capsule"....that would get some laughs! So far it is bootie-less...one thing I could add I suppose.

unfrumped

Veteran

I can't answer whether you should spend any more $$ on footwear, but if you have not tried these on before, is it a situation in which trying them on and with outfits will settle it for you--e.g. are you strong to send back if not perfectly comfortable and excellent wardrobe companions ?

For example I tried SE Petty in black and taupe in Nordstrom's and they did not fit quite comfortably on me. So spit spot, that was done, no worries, on to another brand or style. But I was glad I tried them.

Anonymous

I actually reordered them to re-evaluate. I do that a lot.

cciele

Veteran

If you can afford them, no harm in ordering and evaluating! I think they're different enough from the Reports that they won't duplicate (due to heel height and color/pattern).

I've tried the Petty boots twice (once in python and once in black) and returned both times. They don't fit my foot very well and make my feet look really long. Hopefully they'll work better for you if you go for it!

Mochi

Veteran

Colors would work for you for sure. I can only say buy and try (if shipping and return costs are not an issue). I also am flip-flopping back and forth with a boot I've already purchased and received...I can make equally compelling arguments for keeping and returning them (because they were somewhat pricey). I do love them though so will probably end up keeping. If you're on a shoe and bootie roll, you may want to consider how much they will elevate your overall style. Nothing wrong with filling in many of the holes within a short period. It's not like you will be buying shoes at a mad pace forever.

catgirl

Veteran

Okay, I keep meaning to respond here and then not having time and being slightly afraid (what, a UWP afraid?!).... but honestly, I'm feeling like these are a no, for the following reasons.

You have not fully sorted out your aspirational goals, and unless you feel these will move you along in a good way, rather than add to confusion, I'd not go there. Keep in mind this is coming from me, the all-time impulse purchase mistake-making champion. On one hand, we do learn from our mistakes - on the other hand, they can be frustrating and I sense you need some winning purchases right now.

Also, I'm not sure these fit what you want. Remember how the Doc Saras felt too clunky and white (or wait, was that ME who felt that way?)... I also ended up selling my own Sam Edelmans in leopard. They were somehow too between an essential and a statement for me, and also somehow a bit too feminine for my style.

Please take what I'm saying with however large a grain of salt you need. I'd really like to see you in those monk-strap oxfords Shannon posted, actually... what did you think of those?

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I wasn't going to say anything, but I just saw Vicki's pictures wearing these booties and I feel you should try them - so smashing on blondes. Including Shannon!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You guys are so fantastic. ALL great points.

Shevia, the way those booties looked with Vicki's outfits is what made me say: WHOA, hang on, I think maybe these should be my Hannukah present to myself! Vicki's hair is lighter than mine, but we are a similar size and build (um, er, except she's been blessed with an actual bust, but you know what I mean.) And although our style is not identical there are enough overlapping features that I wondered what held me back last week when I thought about ordering these!

Una, I take your reservations very seriously. But you know...actually, I *have* sorted my aspirational goals. I may not know what to call it, but I know it when I see it. Modern urban minimalist might be one formulation. Or maybe even modern urban classic. Anyway, while I love distressed items on an individual basis and like to include them in the mix, my overall style (or at least my aspirational style) is polished. Androgynous. Simple. Sometimes cheeky.

These booties might not "move me along" but they wouldn't contribute to any confusion. I *know* they fit with what I generally like - the question is more one of possible duplication and heel height (i.e. are they too similar to the Reports for me to justify, and do I really want a lowish heeled bootie?)

The Doc Saras felt GREAT when I first got them. Now they feel a bit too large for my feet (in actual size) as well as a bit too oversized for my body. I still love the overall look and if they were more refined I would be all over these shoes.

I would ALSO be all over the monk strap shoes that Shannon posted. LOVE those. But they would fill a completely different slot for me. I need more light or bright footwear to bookend and take away the heaviness of black, black and more black. Those, being black (albeit shiny and super cool) would simply be yet ANOTHER black shoe in my black footwear capsule...yeah, the one I keep adding to, even though I don't really need any more black.

Nancy, I was wondering what you had decided about your new booties. If you love them, I say keep, although I worry that you have been ripped off!

And you're right - colours would for sure work for me. I love a pop of colour.

Cathy, your experience is exactly what is making me nervous about these. I haven't been able to find any to try in person so I don't know how they will work for my feet. I tried the SE Lisles and didn't like the fit for my foot, so this worries me.

Zap - so interesting.

Unfrumped, I have no problem returning if they don't seem right, but it will cost me to do so. (Being in Canada makes returns way more expensive.)

Rae, I TOTALLY hear you on the footwear; before I joined YLF I owned exactly ONE pair of shoes besides my gear shoes and boots!! And one super casual bootie (my Blundstones). That was it. I still have what most people would consider a laughably small shoe/ bootie collection. Which is one reason I'm not too freaked out about adding to it, assuming it is a GOOD addition. I have two pairs of shoes about to leave my closet because they no longer work for my style or the fit isn't quite right. So....

Gingko.,. I love your reasoning. Impulse shopping good for me?!: YEAH!!!!!

Deborah

Veteran

Im not going to be much help because I love them! I would like them! But I hesitate ordering from overseas... so buy them and I can enjoy them vicarously through you xx

Kristin SF

Veteran

My Zappos shipment arrived a few days ago at the office so I'm picking them up tomorrow when I go in and can report back to you on fit. I will say that I bought and quickly returned the Sam Edelman Maddies - so narrow and uncomfy. Really hoping these shoes have an entirely different fit. Will let you know!

Anonymous

Suz, I lke mine even more than I thought I would and want to wear them every day.
A first I worried that they might be too narrow, but some reviews said they would stretch. I wore them round the house until Iknew they would be comfortable. I like that they are light but not white. The pattern is fun and goes with everything. They do look a bit big on the feet but not clunky. Good luck with yur decison. Does Zappos ship to Canada? They are on sale

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I thought the snake print pettys from Sam Edelman (you're talking about the ones featured during NAS, right?) looked weird on me. They made my feet look short and stumpy, just the opposite of Cathy.

I got a pair of teal DV booties in May and never wear them. I find blue booties hard to wear.

Do you have a pair of brown booties? I have two pairs, one leather, one suede; I wear these frequently. That, or a deep burgundy that would wear similar to brown, would be my recommendation.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Hi, Denise - interesting.

I have my "smog" DV Joust booties, that are somewhere between brown and tan or taupe...darker than my Reports. And I have my light taupe Reports. And I have my tan Timberland tall boots (distressed and rugged sort of engineer type boots). I wear all of these quite a lot, although the Reports come out more in warmer weather vs. cooler, and I've been wearing the DV booties almost every day since I bought them in the fall.

I do like the idea of burgundy. I can see how teal would be tough to wear if you wear a lot of denim (as you and I do). It wouldn't work with all denims, I would think. And would need bookending somehow.

So interesting that you felt the SE made your feet look stumpy. It seems that perceptions of the look on the feet, PLUS the sizing of this bootie, really vary a lot!

Joy, thank you - you look STUNNING in these booties -- but then they do bookend your hair perfectly.

Kristin - eagerly awaiting your report!

Deb, you would look superb in these!!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I purchased and then returned a pair of burgundy low heeled booties last year and still regret it.

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....el-booties

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, yes - I remember those. Really interesting looking.

Hmmm. Well, if I muse on this long enough the choice will be taken away from me, but that probably won't kill me either!

Eliza

Veteran

Hi Suz- Just saw this post and I have to weigh in. Love your style and have had a similar style finding journey. Newish member, but have followed YFL for about 2 years.

Today I found one pair of those booties at the local Rack - marked down to a very reasonable price but not a complete steal either. Didn't go in looking for them. They fit well and were comfortable so I brought them home. Spent tonight with the Gap cream cable knit sweater, the booties and most pants in my winter wardrobe. The booties worked with everything from dressy black Lafayette 148 semi-slouchy pants to skinny jeans to straight jeans, as well as cream bootleg trousers. They also made me feel completely put together with a certain flair and I found myself grinning at the possibilities. I think that the combo of the booties and the sweater are going to save me $ because of how much I can SMC and be happy about new looks. The booties may actually convert some closet orphans to work-horses.

I love funky booties. I live in a medium gray pair (Elizabeth and James) that could have been Steven Tyler's in 1984. I like a hint of surprise with my classic pieces.

I appreciate how the forum nudges me outside of my box. For example, I had not been interested in chunky knitwear in the past and now I want the grey version of the Gap sweater, too. So comfortable, effortless and versatile.

Good luck with your decision and thanks for all of your thoughtful posts.

catgirl

Veteran

Suz, I've been sporadic on here lately - will have to go reread your threads. So glad you're feeling confident about your style now and can't wait to see how you wear these - you are always so thoughtful and deliberate.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

What are your thoughts this morning Suz?

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I just wanted to chime back in Suz and let you know that I did find the fit of my SE red Lisle booties and the python Petty booties to be different.

The Lisle's bordered on too narrow for me - comfortable but a wee bit snug in the front half of the boot. They did break in beautifully though and are now very comfortable.

The Petty's on the other hand were a bit wider and super comfy right off the bat.

Thought this info might be a bit helpful...

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Oh, Suz, this is difficult, I know. I may not have my aspirational style goals fixed yet, and you're further along on the path, but I do feel we have some overlapping similarities. I love these boots for their flat heel and color. I think they would work quite well on you. Inge's thought on the burgundy may be a melding of your two thoughts. I'd vote yes, but I'm biased!