Why pointy shoes with wide-legged pants? - YouLookFab Forum

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Why pointy shoes with wide-legged pants?

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

On both my wide-leg pant thread and Shannon's there were comments recommending pointy toed shoes/boots for the wider pants. I understand that the pointy toe elongates the leg line but I also thought the wide leg pant had the same effect so I am not clear on why this is considered the better shoe choice.

Could someone explain the shoe shape and pant width logic. Please.

Dressing

16 replies

Latest reply was from cheryle (Dianthus)

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I can only comment on my logic, since I am one of the people who said pointy shoes. I have two thoughts on this One is that rounded toe shoes seem more casual to me, and a suit is a more formal look. Two is that the pant legs create a long, sweeping line, which is carried along by the line of a pointed toe. The more curved toe of a round boot seems to stop the line.

bj1111

Veteran

also, the the point balances out the pant width, while the round toe emphasizes it.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

To my eye, pointy toes with wide legs help give the foot a little more presence and continue the long leg line nicely. A rounded toe with wide legs looks stumpy to me. When it comes to wider flares, if the pant leg is wide enough, it almost swallows the shorter, more rounded toe, while it allows the longer, pointier toe to peek out.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I am also the one who prefers the look of pointy with wide leg pants. I think they add structure to wide legs and ground them so overall look is more balanced and streamlined.
I don't think the toes have to be very pointy but rather elongated so almond toes work well and also round toes which are more elongated (like SE Petty booties). At least this is what I tell myself as pointy toe shoes usually don't work for my wider toebox.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I agree with all the comments here. Balance and presence.

Jjsloane

Veteran

It just looks more current to me. And what Angie says of course

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What everyone said!

Anonymous

Hi! I'm new here.

My boots are neither round toed nor pointed. They're kind of in the middle, I guess; more pointed than round. Would those work?

Due to arthritis, I'm having to wear more comfortable shoes that are lower heeled, so I'm having all my wide-legged pants shortened accordingly.

Diana

Veteran

I prefer pointy (or elongated) shoes with very wide legs because they are longer, so the shoe is more visible. I really dislike the elephant leg look (where you can't see the shoe for the pants). That said, most of my "wide leg" pants (like the orange J Crew pants, or my BR trousers) are not very wide (they are actually sold as straight legs) so all of my shoes, even my Fluevogs with the really stumpy toe, show just fine.

rabbit

Veteran

To my eye too a more elongated toe lightens or balances the heaviness of the wide leg at the ankle.

It's sort of the difference between a tree-trunk look with a round or square toe --- very rooted to the earth and tends to be casual, versus a 70's glamour look with a pointed toe where the foot looks even more delicate and long (and therefore gives the impression the leg is slender as well) and wide pants are worn to contrast with and reveal this underlying slenderness in how they move and drape.

It's like some of the aesthetic impact of heels, the body looks less like a pillar, and more like an elongated oval balancing on a tip.

Anonymous

Thanks for your honesty. I get what you're saying, and agree it's the best look. However, since my ankle boots have an almond-shaped toe, I think I'll break the rules and wear them anyway. With bunions and occasional severe pain in my right big toe, I can't wear pointed toes. My pants are not palazzos, so I think it'll be fine.

rabbit

Veteran

BTW I think an almond shape works just fine with a lot of wider pants since they have a taper. I also remember wearing bootcuts with square and round toes a lot in the 90's, and while our feet didn't look delicate, our butts looked small in comparison to our ankles, so that may have been one reason that look was in too.

Anonymous

Oh the square toe! I no longer have any square-toed shoes or boots, but they were comfortable, and my butt could certainly use some illusion dressing to make it look smaller.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

For me, the pointy toe works better because otherwise I look like I have no feet!

unfrumped

Veteran

dianthus, I am in same boat as I can't do the truly pointy toe, and even a lot of almond-tapered toes, either, and have narrow heels + bunion, and I don't even like truly pointy toes as a "look"--they still look kinda witchy to my eye.

So, I've identified a kind of "sleekness target" that includes both a slightly tapered, usually almond toe, plus other elements of the boot ) or sometimes shoe , how it hugs the foot, how the heel looks, and maybe the fit at the ankle, in terms of how the pants fall. Then I just have to try them on with targeted pants and see if they work to my eye.

So more sleekness or style in one element of the boot may allow more toe box leeway (though not always full-on round toe).

Then, that may why I've returned a lot of booties and other footwear, because I'm kinda pushing the envelope on toebox to get the style, but my feet have the final vote. I try to identify from photos and reviews whether it's likely to be comfortable, but it's really unpredictable. Some good brands with good reviews feel like rock boxes on my feet, and sometimes I find an unexpectedly comfortable fit when the photos looked iffy.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

Thanks everyone. Most of my boots/booties have almond shaped toes but I am not a big fan of pointy toes as they aren't the most comfortable for me and I have fairly large feet already so don't feel I need the added length. I don't have a lot of heavier shoes/boots so should be okay.

Appreciate the information very much.