When are booties supposed to gape? - YouLookFab Forum

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When are booties supposed to gape?

Maya

Veteran

I seem to be okay with gaping when the booties are slouchy or rugged/casual, but when they are structured and dressy it bothers me. I have a feeling I might not like the Cleeo boots for that reason. I know they are going to gape a lot around my thin ankles like the Giannes did, and I didn't like that at all. Clarification, please!

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from

Reneeb

Veteran

Maya I bought the Cleeo boots and love them. I thought the bow was not me until I put them on with dresses & tunic. I wanted a pair that was a little dressy. They did not gape around my ankles. I think that is one reason I like them so much. I got them in the grey and was surprised at how many outfits I can wear them with. They might look a little less edgy but the fact that they are ankle boots makes them look edgy to me. Does that make sense? Also when you but them with a funky outfit they look good kinda of like putting pearls with moto jacket.

Patience

Veteran

The cleeos did gape on me but they are less tall than the giannes and not as gaping. Incidentally, I decided to go for the giannes instead of the cleeos. The giannes were more comfortable to my foot and I already have a pair of ankle boots with a knot detail. I needed to size up in the cleeos for length but then the heel was way too roomy.

Mellllls

Veteran

Are you planning to wear them with skirts/dresses or jeans? I don't mind the gaping with jeans but do with skirt/dresses.

Kyle

Veteran

I would love an answer to this question! Everytime I try wearing booties with a skirt or dress I think I look dorky and take them off!

Maya

Veteran

Patience, if you can ever be bothered, I'd love to see a pic of you wearing the Giannes! Just curious to see how they look on someone else. I always go up a full size in boots anyway so I'm used to it.

Renee, I loved the Cleeos on you. I just ordered the gray to try and see if they are worth stalking until the price comes down a bit.

Mel, interesting. I don't think I mind either way if the style is right. I liked Kate's Gabriella Rocha booties that gaped with skirts and dresses because that is how they are supposed to look. I'm unclear on structured booties like the Cleeos. The cuff confuses me.

Kate

Veteran

I'm curious also. What also confuses me is that those that don't gape still need a little bit of gape to walk comfortably, and a tad more if you want to tuck skinnies into them. Those that mean we should have one pair of non-gaping booties for skirts/dresses, and another slightly wider pair for skinny jeans? Or can we just have one pair that fits skinnies and gapes just a bit without them?

Anonymous

I'm very curious about this too! I'd figure most styles need to gape a bit, in order for you to be able to put them on... Unless they have a zipper???

Mellllls

Veteran

Maya, is there a link to the booties?

Maya

Veteran

They're the ones in the YLF store:

http://www.zappos.com/nine-wes.....odPage2a:1

The last 2 here are gappy. I'm undecided on how I feel about that.

http://youlookfab.com/2009/12/.....d-dresses/

Mellllls

Veteran

I agree with you, I don't think those are the kind that are supposed to gape. But I am obviously no expert.

Tanya

Veteran

I am also very curious about this. I am going to guess that there are styles that are supposed to be sleek and fitted and other ones that one can get away with some gaping, especially if they are somewhat scrunchy or you can tuck skinnies into them. To my eyes Cleos look like they should be in the first group.

Jonesy

Veteran

I don't think I've ever seen an ankle boot on anyone that doesn't gape! To my eye, the gape/gap is par for the course with booties. But gaping in general is not one of my make or break issues :).

marianne

I think the Cleeos are supposed to gape - I haven't seen them IRL, so I am only judging by their shape.
Last spring I asked this question about my Fly London booties, and everyone said the gape was fine - and they have a more fitted top so I thought they were supposed to be snug.

Patience

Veteran

I think the cleeos are supposed to gape too. I'm not in jeans yet, must less boots but I promise that I will take a picture of the Giannes as soon as I can.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I can't put it into words adequately enough at this point -still too tired. But it seems self explanatory. It's not about the structured look alone. Generally, I think that cuffed booties (slouchy or structured) can gape. The Cleeos are fine to gape for that reason. They look like they *can* gape. But a really streamlined bootie like my black biker booties, Kate's tsubos or the Clarks Nottinghill booties should not gape. They zip up close to the foot sans cuff and should lie flush with the ankle. My BC booties (tomato red) from last year do not gape. They zip up flush onto my ankle.

But to complicate matters even further - zip up boots sans cuff that come past the ankle can gape a little too.

I think the question is more – HOW MUCH are certain styles of "gape-approved" booties allowed to gape.

I guess I'll know it when I see it.

It surprises me that Kyle has not ventured out into this look yet!

Kate

Veteran

Ok, so these ones are streamlined and not cuffed, but are high enough for the gape to be ok?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/a.....otostream/

Maya

Veteran

Hmm, this is confusing I will just have to post piccies and see what the verdict is.

Marianne, thanks for reminding me about Fly London. You have the Vegas booties right? I'm keeping those in my shopping cart in case the Cleeos don't work out. They have a 2" heel but I found it manageable on the Vidal pumps (which didn't work for other reasons).

Kate, I don't think those should gape...but they're not gaping that much so maybe it's okay. I wouldn't really have noticed if I hadn't been looking for it.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Kate - you nailed it! The zipped streamlined booties that you posted gape slightly but they come up a little higher which sort of *offsets* the gape.

I can't tell you how many clients I have had in booties over the last few years. I am currently offering a course called Bootie Gape 101. It's fully booked!

Maya

Veteran

I wish I had taken that course as an undergrad...

Lisa

Veteran

I need to sign up for this course too.

Kate

Veteran

Alright, I'm bringing this post back because I keep on finding more booties that gape, and wondering why they can get away with it.

Here are the booties in question: http://whatiwore.tumblr.com/po.....olive-drab

This picture particularly highlights the gape: http://farm5.static.flickr.com.....91e1_b.jpg

It doesn't seem like they go quite high enough, and they aren't cuffed or slouchy. Angie, help! I'm not trying to be difficult, I'm just not quite "getting" it.

Jonesy

Veteran

Alright, obviously I'm not Angie, but thought I'd offer my two cents: I just think that some people don't mind the gape at all! They like the style of the boots, etc., and they don't even think the gape is problematic. On her, the black patterned tights with the black booties help to create uniformity--maybe if she had bare legs the gap might be more noticeable, but I still don't think she'd care :).

Anonymous

ah... Jessica from what I wore... she is one of those who can get away with anything!