Thanks for all the great feedback everyone and for the shoe love. I bought these during a visit to Seattle to see a college roommate. We both bought them and I love them (although they were not a great choice for mall shopping yesterday, to be honest).
Angie: I'm so excited to hear that I looked fashion-forward (that never happens) and also that these will be trending in the fall. So they will have more longevity than I thought.
Krishnidoux: I hear you that these are not as flattering in the hip and butt areas. Not my strongest regions, to tell the truth: straight and blocky.
AndiB, KKards, Kat: I'll be interested in your reaction to the slimmer
JCrew cropped jeans that I have coming. I tried them in the store
yesterday and I love them. They are much slimmer and conventionally
flattering but have the same longer cropped length. For those of us who are pro-longer I think they're great.
Jackie: I LOVE the Marty McFly reference. I have a not-so-secret love for geek fashion (I definitely have this gene in my tomboy style).
Aquamarine: These do have a flare at the bottom, which is what makes them really different (and different from those you posted, Anna).