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Which colour boot?

LaPed

Veteran

I don't know how many times I've posted a "which colour?" question, but it's always hugely helpful, especially with regard to footwear. I have an impossible time figuring out footwear colour, but the collective wisdom of YLF seems to nail it every time!

I'm looking at these boots as the break to my shopping-fast. I only have one pair of tall boots (snow boots not included), and they are black. These are available in cognac and "smoke" -- a dark brownish-grey. Initially, I was more attracted to the smoke because cognac always looks too bright or loud to me. I don't have any cognac accessories -- not that it really matters. I don't wear belts, and my bags are black, lilac, olive, and turquoise (and maybe, fingers crossed, a burgundy one for Christmas), so matching is not a question in any case.

I would mostly be wearing these over opaque tights or leggings (think black, dark grey, navy, burgundy) and dresses/skirts (think black, grey, eggplant). Outerwear is black and navy. I'm wondering if the smoke colour would look off next to these darker colours. Maybe I'd be happier with a splash of cognac? What do you all think?

Frye Frye Melissa Lug Boot (Women) | Nordstrom

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Frye Frye Melissa Lug Boot (Women) | Nordstrom

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26 replies

Latest reply was from LaPed

Helena

Veteran

LaPed I feel like if you are wearing these mainly with tights and leggings, the smoke pair would give you more of that column of color effect, whereas the cognac is always going to give you contrast ... So I'd probably go with the smoke. Curious to see what others think though, they are great boots!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I think the smoke might work better with what I've seen of your wardrobe, La Ped.

Runcarla

Veteran

Smoke. Also, a better bookend for your hair.

Anonymous

Although you wouldn't go wrong with either colour, I quite like the smoke for you. Different - and interesting.

Eva

I have cognac boots and I like to wear them with navy. No column of colour effect, but it makes me happy anyway. Could you order both to try and see which colour works better with your style?

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I think smoke sounds better, though that grey runs a little warmer than most and your other color preferences/existing items are on the cooler side.

rachylou

Veteran

I feel the cognac would be a more ‘country’ look, the smoke ‘city’...

Janet

(website)

Veteran

The smoke color seems more practical and versatile, but dang, I really like that style in the cognac. So just to be contrary and give a purely emotional response, I’m gonna say cognac.

Alicewonderland

Veteran

I agree the smoke might be more practical, but I love the cognac! You already have black boots which can do most of what the smoke would do.
I have similar smoke color boots and it does blend together when I wear grey tights. It looks okay, just indistinct. Cognac boots really do stand out in an outfit, so I find myself adjusting the outfits to complement the boots.

nemosmom

Veteran

The smoke sound like they would go better with the items you listed, but-
If you already have black boots, and your outerwear is all dark, the cognac might be a nice change. Especially in dreary winter weather...
Do you have any scarves or hats that might tie in with the cognac?

SarahD8

Veteran

I can't say enough about how much I love my cognac footwear. It really lightens, brightens, and warms up my winter outfits (which include many of the same colors that you mention). I don't usually include cognac or brown elsewhere in my outfit -- I don't wear belts and my winter bag is teal, coats are navy or black.

However, cognac functions as a great bookend to my blonde-with-lots-of-honey-tones hair. You might not feel the same with your dark hair. It sounds like you have tried cognac footwear and haven't felt right in the look, so that argues for not forcing it!

How about a pair of *lighter* gray boots? Light to medium gray could provide a similar lightening/brightening effect in outfits, would be more different from the black boots you already own, and yet would stay within your cool-colors wheelhouse.

Anonymous

Agreeing with the others, the smoke is more practical and the cognac more fun! Are you able to get both?
I tend to wear my cognac footwear most with bare legs or nude to me tights-since its low contrast to me-and in early spring when im tired of black.

Katerina

Veteran

Great looking boots! And a difficult question as both are really nice colours. My emotional response is cognac - I love cognac and especilly for this season, fun and happy trending colour. The smoke is lovely and will be more understated in your outfits. You can´t go wrong with either, but man, I really like the cognac

Style Fan

Veteran

Smoke. I like that colour with your hair and your wardrobe. Great looking boots.

Sal

Veteran

I tend to the smoke.....I like the cognac a lot too but it is a lot of boot being a tall boot.

I have cognac footwear and I love it but mostly with a matching bag - if I don't wear the cognac bag I find it harder to coordinate.

Anonymous

I like the cognac but don't know how it will work with your wardrobe. I do like black, burgundy and navy with cognac.

I personally find cognac a bit harder to wear than a darker brown, just because of my dark brown hair. I'm not sure whether you've experienced the same thing.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think smoke...but I worry about it, too. Those greys can be confusingly hard to wear sometimes. As Ummlila says, this one seems to skew a bit warm. And that can wreck havoc with a cool closet. I had a pair of booties that colour (before my hair was grey) and found them devilishly hard to wear.

I actually love cognac with navy, grey, black, burgundy, green...but I can see it would be harder to wear for you with your hair colour. So on balance, I'd say try the smoke.

Lynn

Veteran

Another vote for the smoke!

kkards

Veteran

Cognac for me...smoke for you.
Seriously..love the cognac...I personally have issues with gray and black together, but love it with navy.
But..I think you would find the contrast of the cognac and navy or black to much.

Joy

Veteran

Unless you plan to dye your hair red. I'd say Smoke for you. Great looking boots.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Well since the practical wisdom seems smoke, I will make a small argument for cognac. With which outfits would you not wear the black boots? When would smoke be a better choice? The advantage of cognac is it brings something new to your look rather than a variation of the old. But, with that, I think the smoke is a fine choice too!

Lynette

I vote for cognac! It is so much richer and also seems to be popular right now. Those are great boots in either color though.

Gigi

Veteran

I would probably vote for cognac, though this is a tough choice!

If you are really into low-contrast dressing, I would probably get the smoke color. The cognac will be high contrast. But that is precisely why I would vote for the cognac: I'm guessing that your black boots already create a low-contrast look for your bottom half, so the cognac would be something different. But it might not be as versatile as the smoke.

I'm clearly no help.

Maybe you could do a search online for "cognac boots" and go to the images that come up and see what kinds of outfits are there (fashion bloggers, etc.). That might give you an idea as to whether you would be able to create looks that you like or whether the contrast would be too much.

Bijou

Veteran

My vote is the smoke, given your dark hair they will be a nice bookend effect and are more subtle than the cognac. However, if you feel like a change from darker tones, cognac is a very versatile colour. One of my favourite handbags is a cognac bag, and it works well with all neutrals - so light colours such as white and ivory and darker tones like navy, black and burgundy.

Anonymous

I have talls boots in colors similar to both those & I reach for my grey ones much more. I even wear cherry red tights with them. I think they’re both great for you but that the smoke might be more versatile.

LaPed

Veteran

Thank you, everybody!

VERDICT: After much hemming and hawing, I am going to try the smoke. I say "try" because I can't guarantee they'll fit. I'm in between sizes, so am ordering two sizes, which is why I wanted to nail down a colour before placing an order. In the "old days" I would've ordered one size in one colour, the other size in the other colour, and just kept whichever one fit. I have banned that shopping strategy because I'm trying to be more intentional!

My reasoning:

I have quite a few red winter accessories, and I don't really like cognac paired with red. I LOVE red and burgundy paired with grey (love Opaline's idea of cherry red tights -- adding some to the wish list!).
I had grey tall boots up until a year ago that I absolutely loved and was sad to let go of (they got mauled by a puppy ).
I love tonal combos that combine black with other dark colours, and I have a lot of black. I actually don't ever wear black bottoms with my tall black boots because it feels like too big a blob of dark. I actually prefer some tonal variation over a true column of colour.
I've identified one pair of grey leggings that may not work with this shade, but everything else should look good.
I have a MAJOR stink-eye for wearing tall boots with bare legs (like, so major it would never have occurred to me if others hadn't mentioned it), so looking stark against bare skin will never be an issue.
Tall cognac boots feel a bit too "style blogger" for me. Too predictable? I can't suss out why, but I think they give off a slightly preppier vibe. It might have to do with the country/city distinction that Rachylou makes.
I think there is a place in my wardrobe for a lighter brown boot, but not a knee-high one. I have my eye on these slightly darker, less bright options from Timberland.

Timberland Sutherlin Bay Mid Back Zip Boot

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Timberland Sutherlin Bay Mid Lace Boot

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