What are Booties?

I feel like such a dunce asking, but since everyone is convinced I need to get these before the loafers, I have to ask: what, exactly are you all recommending, lol?

Are these primarily indoor or outdoor shoes?

(I will wear outdoor shoes indoors, but I prefer to have a pair for indoors and one for outdoors so I am not tracking the outdoors indoors, if you catch my drift?)

Do they have heels--or can they be flat?

How high on the foot do they come?

What's the difference between booties and shoeties?

What's the difference between ankle boots and booties?

I've collected what I think are booties--am I right?

People have said they will be more versatile than loafers--can someone explain why? Does it have to do with the vamp?

Thanks everyone! Another wardrobe 101 class in session.

Hudson's Bay

G BY GUESS Stuart

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Hudson's Bay

Ecco Sculptured Bootie

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Hudson's Bay

SHELLYS LONDON Vossi Pebbled Leather Oxfords

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Amazon

Fidji Women's L104 Loafer

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10 years ago

Shopping

11 replies

Latest reply was from Style Fan

Anonymous

Oh Alana, we love you:). The first two would qualify as booties and the second two as shooties ( dumbest word ever). Difference is in how high they come up the ankle, or not. I wear them all the time- outdoors. ( or, not around the house). They go with everything - skirts, pants, leggings , jeans, you name it. Booties/ankle boots are more versatile than shoeties ( my phone doesn't even want me to type that word). The lower cut shoe versions are not a personal favourite , but that's just me

10 years ago

Windchime

Veteran

Alana,

I was asking the exact same questions one year ago but, unlike you, did not have the confidence to ask them on the Forum.

I bought the first pair of ankle boots for my bootie-virgin feet last fall and never looked back. They transformed the way I felt in my outfits, and I probably wore them four or five times a week. I still have just one pair--black, low-wedge heel, with almond shaped toes. According to what Angie told you on your other thread, I'd better start looking for some more!

Excited for you to try them out and see what you think.

10 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

Alana, these "101" posts are great. It never hurts to go back to the basics! I'm sure you're not the only one who doesn't know the terminology.

I would agree with lisap: the first two are ankle boots, or booties (some thing), and the second two are shooties (and I agree, it's kind of a silly word). I always assume that the shootie doesn't have much of a shaft; it has an opening more like that of a regular shoe. The ankle boot, or bootie, has a shaft that goes up over the ankle area.

They can have heels or be flat. Either is OK. Both shooties and booties come with a variety of heels—you can find some with stiletto heels, or some with almost no heel at all.

I'm guessing that people will say the booties are more versatile because of the vamp, as you suspected. With cold weather, it's pretty easy to conceal socks under a bootie, but the socks will show with loafers. Booties would keep you warmer too, due to the vamp.

I really like the Fidji loafer you pictured.

10 years ago

Liz

Veteran

One big advantage booties and shooties have over loafers: the higher vamps make it easy to wear them with socks and tights. This makes them doable into cold weater.

10 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

Oh, one thing I should point out is that from my own experience, if you have narrow ankles, sometimes booties will gap unattractively at the shaft, since the circumference of the bootie is so much larger than that of the lower calf, just above the ankle. I am one of those people and have found that a shootie works well in those circumstances, because it doesn't go up as high on the leg. Shooties can also look better with skirts and dresses if you have short legs, because the top of the shootie ends before the ankle and doesn't cut the leg off as high up. But I think that shooties are harder to find than booties.

OK, I am tired of typing "shooties" and "booties"!

10 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

I've noticed that some web site classify shooties/shoeties with the booties -- to confuse you even more!!! Booties can have a range of heel heights. I tend to think of shooties as having heels; otherwise they might be classified as something else like a loafer IYKWIM.

I have super fussy, hard to fit feet but I'm starting to think that I might get an easier fit in a shootie since my low volume but wide in front foot has a hard time filling out a lot of booties but YMMV. I think that booties can look a little dressier or at least edgier than loafers, so are maybe more versatile? My feet don't work with loafers so for me it's a moot point.

Pants hems can get caught on the tops of booties and shooties depending upon the style of the footwear and the width of the pants so it is always a good idea to do a real world test to see if the combo works. Ummm, ask me about my gray oxford style shooties. . . .I think it's the ties that get in the way, so maybe I should try tucking them.

10 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What the others said, all of it. Really useful info in each reply.

Another fit problem that some people have with booties is the opposite of "flower pot" effect (where your ankles are "too slim" and so it looks like you are standing in a flower pot). That is where your ankles are "too thick" and sort of spill over the sides of the bootie or make it hard to do up. But there are booties that work for wider ankles, also. It's just a question of finding ones that have the correct proportions. All perfectly do-able now that they are super mainstream.

I agree with the categorization the others have given (first 2 are booties, next 2 are "shooties"). And with all the advantages and disadvantages of both. You probably need to try them on and compare to find out what might serve your own needs best.

I will add that for me, booties are typically more comfortable than most shoes. I have a narrow heel that doesn't like to stay put in shoes, so sandals and booties really work a lot better for me, personally.

If you are wondering how you would wear booties with dresses and skirts, the easy way in is to tone your booties to your hose and the hem of your skirt. This preserves a longer leg line. If you are more adventurous you can dispense with that guideline.

10 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

ETA: indoor or outdoor -- it depends.

For me, they are "outdoor" as long as the weather allows. So, typically, in my climate, from late September up until mid to late December -- and then intermittently, (if lucky), between then and mid-March. At which time I start wearing them more regularly again until mid-May or so.

Since I work at home, I don't really wear "indoor" shoes very often in winter. Except for YLF photos, I tend to wear slippers inside. But if you wear shoes indoors then you could wear your booties inside.

And I confess, there were times last winter when I did, just to enjoy the feel of them on my feet in a year when I was sad that they could not get worn more outdoors!!

Note there are different kinds of booties, too. Some are more "shoe like" -- not simply in the way they are cut at the vamp ("shooties") but also in their level of refinement. Others are more rugged or boot-like.

Compare a refined Chelsea boot (which arguably counts as a kind of "bootie") with Blundstones, for instance.

10 years ago

Jen W

Active Member

I think you may find booties to be a great option. I also have plantar fasciitis and booties have become my go to shoes. It is easier to find them with the 1 1/2 inch heel that alleviates some of the pressure and the extra support feels great on my ankles. I live in the Bay Area, but booties still make up 50% of my shoes just because they work so well on my fussy feet. Good luck finding a pair that works for your fall needs! I've had some good luck on 6pm.com but had to look at reviews on other sites to make informed choices.

10 years ago

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

My word--ask and the forum answers! Thank you all so much--what a lot of great information!

I just looked at 721 pairs of boots on http://www.shoeme.ca --my eyes are swimming! So, I think I will go down to the Bay tomorrow and see what I can find in real life.

Thanks everyone!

10 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

I echo what others have said about the difference between the two. Also, I have foot problems and booties are the most comfortable footwear option for me. Big vote for Frye's if you can afford them. I bought mine for my 50th birthday and I still wear them. I am almost 59!

10 years ago

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