OK first let’s address my slightly offensive choice of title. For SEO purposes I assure you, to drive more traffic to the blog and hopefully alert like-minded tribeswomen that we are here. Although for greater impact i.e. Google ranking, a more effective heading would be – 3 BOOTIE STYLES YOU NEED IN YOUR CLOSET. The truth is I actually don’t NEED any of these, although there’s no denying I WANT all of them. Yet I’m painfully aware nobody needs as many clothes and shoes as I have, it feels greedy, wasteful and worst of all hedonistic. In a bid to offload with the least amount of guilt and to free up space for new pieces, I recently donated a massive bag to ThredUp. By donate I mean only half the bag was selected to go on the ThredUp site. These lucky items are listed at cut throat, rock bottom, cheap as chips prices, rendering them highly prized and affordable for other Women. This makes me very happy indeed. The clothes and shoes that didn’t make the cut go straight to charity. In a perfect world I could afford to send all my unwanted wardrobe contents to charity. Unfortunately at the moment I cannot, someday I will go back to donating 100% but until then I can use the little reward to replenish my personal collection of pre-loved. If you think about it, this way what goes around comes around for everyone. It’s a bit like sharing our closets right? Next stop, rent the runway!
3 BOOTIE STYLES I NEED STAT!
Just the other day I mentioned this to our friend Greetje, when did we start calling ankle boots by a baby name? What is that about? It’s weird no? Say out loud “Do you like my new booties?” Hello, booties are hand-knitted footwear for newborns, are they not?
Righteo I give up *she sighs and rolls eyes preparing to call all her ankle boots booties from now on*
Having the deep adoration as I do, for boots in general is hard on my budget. Boots are typically the more expensive of the footwear fashion genre. Equally they absolutely must be comfortable or I simply won’t wear them enough. This tends to push the price up although it usually means they last for-ev-errrr. In fact I have a 27-year-old pair of cowboy boots from RSoles in Chelsea London. I remember they cost a bomb at the time but I was squatting so didn’t have rent to pay at least. I look forward to the day Lulu wears them, how awesome will that be! Oh the stories these boots could tell…Maybe when she’s older?
In any case, what I’m getting to is the searing doubt that I’ll wear white boots often enough to make them a worthy purchase. Too many past mistakes still lingering in my memory for me to ignore the fact that they’re just. not. me.
Now let’s get on with the show and discuss my three must have booties. Any one, or all three of these booties will take you tip-toeing from Fall through to next Spring in exquisite style. You can confidently wear them with trousers, skirts, dresses and of course denim! With absolutely no bias, I love all three equally – 1. Cowboy Bootie 2. Sock Bootie 3. White bootie. Although white is obviously subjective since mine are in fact nude. I’ve chosen a thorough mixture of variables including heel shape and material, all I genuinely adore. As usual I included a lot of secondhand options, which was pretty easy and rather tempting I must say. Most of these boots are a work of art!
- Number one – The cowboy bootie is a more refined version of the regular cowboy boot. Its sharp cuban heel is key in giving this bootie style its edge. If you like your edginess pushed to the max look for this boot in faux snake-skin or leopard print.
- Number two – In recent years ankle boots have morphed into socks rendering them foot-figure hugging and comfortable by default. I find this slim shape incredibly sexy particularly when the toe is razor sharp. So the second must have bootie is the SOCK BOOTIE. Yep still sounds babyish.
- Number three – Now number three is a love hate situation for me, white booties. Yes these are so hot right now, I know I geddit. And I do love them for the most part but for some reason I struggle to picture my foot and ankle encased in bright white. Even though they were also strong last year I still can’t bring myself to buy a pair. Perhaps in my mind they resemble hospital footwear too much? Maybe white is simply too stark for my feet? White booties look terrific on everyone else, what is it with me!!!
NUDE BOOTIES GO WITH ANYTHING IN YOUR CLOSET
Here is the perfect answer to my irrational white feet phobia. On my very first visit to DSW in search of the smallest looking size 39 white bootie I stumbled upon this pretty peige (that’s pinky beige, I just made it up) colour. Did you catch that on my stories? DSW is two floors of heavily discounted high street shoes. Apparently they stock designer shoes however I did not find any actual designer shoes despite a thorough root around. Actually I was there so long I almost passed out from dehydration. They really should have a water cooler at this place if they want shoe addicts shoppers to linger. In any case I suspect the range of designer shoes they claim to stock are in fact high street brands and not Stella McCartney. If any of you come across a luxury label at DSW please let me know otherwise I’ll be forced to return for further investigations. How terrible for me hehehehe. Off white or cream, possibly beige or the palest of pinks, whatever you call this colour it works! LOVE LOVE LOVE these booties. Also they were a nice discount to-boot. Apologies for the awful pun.
HOW TO STYLE A WOOL CHECK SKIRT
- SKIRT – Winser London Yasmin Le Bon’s asymmetrical skirt, cut from an Italian houndstooth wool, alpaca and mohair tweed. Worn a different way here, this epic skirt is sadly past season. However Winser still create incredibly beautiful tweed pieces so keep your eye on them (similar and here)
- SWEATER – J Crew balloon sleeve turtle neck, comes in six colours. The green and mustard are particularly gorgeous.
- BAG – Jigsaw nude clutch with strap, past season. A simple, elegant nude leather clutch is probably the single most versatile bag you’ll ever own (similar and here)
- BOOTS – Charles David nude booties from DSW
Ciao le mie belle donne xx
Comments ( 20 )
Maria | passion fruit, paws and peonies
Loved reading this post Michelle – your voice really comes through. I love the idea that your daughter might be wearing your fav old boots soon. Yes, haha ‘booties’ are miniature knitwear! There again I’ve started calling my dog ‘the doggies’ – jeeeez!! Love your outfit – that skirt is amazing! The boot are right up my alley xxx
MT
Well of course you do, I call mine bubba! How cray cray is that?
Lazy Daisy Jones
Hey girl…Sorry nope, Not calling ma Boots booties not never.
Love your choices and the boots you are wearing though !
I have r soles from 1995 black and white ones .. dragging them out now …
best Ashley x
MT
Heehee, I don’t blame ya mate 😉
I’m so impressed you have RSoles! Cannot wait to see them xx
samantha
Those boots are made for walking!
MT
BAM!
Fernanda Nauana
Your writing style is sharp and captivating Michelle. And the boots are all too pricey for me but I got the inspiration and tips😉
MT
Thank you so much Fernanda! I know they’re expensive but you never know what you will find 2nd hand. I’ve been incredibly lucky over the years with some amazing bargains. I tell you one thing, it’s the best buzz when that happens and those pieces are always special to me xx
Lisa Lennkh
This is honestly one of my favourite outfits on you. Partially because that skirt makes me swoon. And the new sweater is perfect with it. THE BOOTIES (ha!) are just icing on the cake. I want white boots too (I also blame Greetje) but I haven’t found the perfect perfect perfect pair that don’t make me look like I belong in a high school marching band twirling a baton just yet. Those are my associations with white boots.
BOOTIFUL, my friend.
No Fear of Fashion
I think I have the same associations with white boots. But contrary to you Lisa, I love them for it. I always wanted to be in a marching band. I adore white boots. I would love to buy at least three more pair, but I am trying to save up to travel. To London f.i.
Oh and please blame me haha.
Greetje
MT
Travel to London? What about America!
MT
Oh right, of course the band girls are in every school here! I have noticed that actually, ugh another reason to put me off. I really can’t see myself ever wearing white boots. White pumps, white trainers or sneakers, even white ballets but nope, never white boots. Weird?
No Fear of Fashion
When I clicked through to your post, the first thing I noticed was “Bootie”. And I thought: “I’ll be damned!” Wasn’t it Michelle who…. so you had me grinning when I read on.
This outfit makes you look so perfect. Beautiful figure, quirky and elegant skirt (I regret not having bought it when you first showed it), lovely boots with it (really good).
Now … I have a difficult question for you. What kind of tights are you going to wear with this outfit when it gets colder? I never know, but the owener of a tights shop here in Haarlem is brilliant with her choices. If I have to think of tights with certain outfits, I put all my clothes and shoes and boots in a big bag and take them to her. She delivers.
And eh.. there are still some links to sites without the box “open in new window” ticked… Just saying.
Greetje
MT
Oh brilliant question Greetje! I have just bought bright blue tights and I cannot wait to wear them. It’s just too hot on my legs at the moment, very humid here still.
NewLifenStyle
This has got to be one of my all time favourite looks Chelle. I agree, everyone should have a nude pair of boots as they do literally go with everything! I just need a cowboy style to go with my collection now…
MT
I’m so into the cowboy style again RiRi!
Susan B
I haven’t tried the sock ankle boots yet, but just got a pair of modified western style boots in ivory and am HOOKED. I’m a bit of an ankle boot addict. 😉
MT
Hahaha you and me both Susan! xx
Fatima Truscott
I’m really feeling the white boot thing, but I know they’ll end up looking rubbish by week 2 – so think I’ll hold off. And can I just say ‘peige’ is genius!!!!
MT
Yeah that’s the other issue I kept thinking about. Remembering Saturdays as a kid trying to get the marks off my white tennis shoes. There’s no way to avoid scuffs on boots, who has time to polish shoes!