K/R colorful booties

So I bought both the DV booties in orange and the Reports in Red during Norstrom's half yearly sale, and I am unfortunately not feeling either of them. I'm pretty set on returning both (and exchanging the red for tan) right now. I've pretty much come to the conclusion that while I love colorful pumps and flats, colorful boots just don't seem to work for my style (and I have a lot of boots!).

The orange are pretty cool, fun color and all. Photos #1 and #2 are ways I would wear them (pardon the wet hair there). These boots seem like they'd be "me" but I just can't get myself on board with them. I'm definitely not on Team Chunky Shoe, and these feel that way to me. They're not quite sleek, not slouchy, not oversized. The neither here-nor-there coupled with the heavy foot visual feel just doesn't do it for me.

So then the red I actually quite like... minus the color. Again, red boots seem like they'd be "me" right? Photo #3 is sorta how I'd wear them, but pretend I'm wearing the tee in #2 and that I didn't just wake up ;) This pair has a much shorter shaft which I like, but of course are QUITE gapped around my ankle. But it looks purposeful, and I do have an oversized/slouchy element to my style so I actually really like that. But I just can't see myself reaching for these; in almost all the outfits I am imagining where I would wear them, I would just much rather grab a neutral boot OR a colorful flat/pump. I have often found myself reaching for essentially these boots in tan or nude, though, so maybe I should exchange them for the tan color option.

So, what do you ladies think? Would love to hear your thoughts!

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27 Comments

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    FWIW, I really really like the red Reports on you. Something about the shape of the front of it makes it so flattering on the foot and leg. I love the outfit with the shorts and tee with them. I think they look very "you" in this outfit. BUT...if you feel like you would rather grab a neutral pair then go with your gut. Is the red/orange freaking you out a bit because they're so bright?

  • replied 11 years ago

    I actually quite love the second (red) ones!

  • Aida replied 11 years ago

    Early Report shape love, yay!

    Shannon, bright has never scared me :) The orange (and even the red) is actually much more muted than I had expected. I can't quite place my finger on what it is. Maybe because it's kind of a block of color due to the boot shape?

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    Why don't you try the Red Reports on with a few other outfits (with a dress, a pair of jeans, slouchies), take pics, and then look at the outfit as a whole and see what you think? Maybe you just need to play with them a bit.

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    I felt funny in my colored boot purchase, too, although I did like Una's orange boots. I do believe I would like the tan Reports much better - our shorts outfits are fairly similar, and I do like my brown ones.

    FWIW, I think a teal boot in smooth leather would work for me, and that's what I've got my eye out for... however, I haven't spotted a good candidate yet.

  • JennyAnne replied 11 years ago

    I looove the orange ones, but if you don't, back they should go. :-)

  • Diana replied 11 years ago

    I really like the Reports! I love the shape and the red color too, but if you feel that you'd be more likely to wear a neutral color, then by all means exchange them.

    I feel like the DV booties are actually not chunky ENOUGH. Like, the sole/heel needs to be chunkier to balance the upper part of the shoe. I'd like it better with a platform.

  • Suz replied 11 years ago

    Well. As someone with her own peculiar footwear peccadilloes :) I can hardly comment here...but honestly, I really like the Reports (and it's not just because I own them in tan!)

    The shape that is admittedly so "gap-happy" does nice things to the leg. And I really like the red.

    BUT - if you are not going to wear them, then there's no use in owning them. Save the money for some colourful pumps! And wear those with shorts and rock 'em so I can do it vicariously!

  • Aida replied 11 years ago

    Ok good advice re the red ladies, thank you all so much! I have a feeling I would wear the red "sometimes", but that I would wear the tan "a lot". I promise to play around with these red ones a bit more and see how I'm feeling. It is possible that my eye isn't used to seeing colorful boots on myself because... well, I don't have any! And in the meantime I will also order the tan since the price dropped so much and I don't want to risk not being able to get them!

    Rae, right? And I think you're onto something with the smooth leather. The colorful suede could be part of what feels off. Because a smooth leather orange bootie? I'd be all over that.

    Diana, I agree! The DVs are neither here nor there, and that's the main thing that bugs me about them.

    Suz, I feel that way about the shape, too. And you don't have to tell me twice to look for colorful pumps ;)

  • Jaime replied 11 years ago

    I want to like the reports, and love them on Suz and others, but maybe the combination of the gap and the color is bugging me? Agree you might try them in a neutral shade.

  • sarah replied 11 years ago

    I do like the shape of the reports better, and they're not quite so stumpifying what with the opening. I do look at your shoes and nothing else in the outfit in 4, though, and I don't really have a great suggestion for how to balance it out - perhaps a scarf with some red in it?

  • MNsara replied 11 years ago

    Spanner warning: I actually like the boots in pic #2 best. I know they're the same as #1, but I like the styling better in #2.

    I think I'm developing a poisoned eye for the cowboy/western opening on the Report booties. (I have a few orphaned boots with that shape on top.)

    FWIW, one thing I've noticed about my own shoe peculiarities is that the bolder the color, the more refined I like the shoe style itself to be. Granted that's probably more to do with my age than with any stylish insight ;-)

  • Jonesy replied 11 years ago

    I agree about maybe trying out the Reports in the tan color, and see what you think. I do prefer that shape...I see what you mean about the color + the suede. Never know until you try something if you're gonna like it!

  • catgirl replied 11 years ago

    I stayed out of this thread for a bit since I have the orange DVs and am biased! I love the DVs so far and don't mind the suede. Seeing them both compared, I truly still prefer the DVs, but I think it's because any gap (which is with most ankle boots) just emphasizes my stick-like legs. Your legs are more shapely, so the Reports are flattering. Still, I can see you rocking both colors - however, I get that colored booties may not be your thing, just as colored pumps are not my thing!

    I would like to see them styled a few ways before you give up on them. :-)

  • christy replied 11 years ago

    I love the red ones and I can TOTALLY see you rockin' these with a pair of jeans. Are they worth keeping for wearing with pants rather than skirts/dresses?

  • fashionista replied 11 years ago

    I think the red booties look cool with your denim shorts. But then these would be limited outfit choice. So though these red ones are darlings, go for tan if you gut says it and you could get more cost per wear with some neutral tones.

  • ManidipaM replied 11 years ago

    Aida, they both seem to be overpowering your delicate ankles. Sorry, but both look heavy to me --- I think a more streamlined shape or a slouchier one that doesn't stand out quite as stiffly at the ankle?

  • Kiwichik replied 11 years ago

    I'm another vote for the red boots and I quite like the gappy look around your ankles

  • Mona replied 11 years ago

    I really like both pairs here. I actually have ordered the red ones myself. I think they look a little bit heavy with bare legs. Tan or nude colours probably go well with bare legs. Try styling with jeans/pants and see what you think.

  • Aida replied 11 years ago

    Thanks for all the feedback ladies, very very helpful! I'll be sending the orange DVs back, I just can't justify keeping a boot that doesn't make my heart flutter. I played with the red a bit and found that they seem to work better for fall/winter outfits than spring/summer, which is what I wanted them for. I don't think I want to hold onto them "in case I feel like wearing them come fall", so I am fairly sure I'll send the red Reports back as well. But I am hopeful that the tan Reports work as a good bare-leg short boot because of the low contrast color. Will post them when they arrive, and will hang onto the red pair in the meantime.

    Sarah, that effect bugs me too. And in the summer, I wouldn't be keen on adding another layer to "balance" the red out, you know?

    Una, I think that might be the case! I'll enjoy colorful booties on you, and you can enjoy colorful pumps on me :}

    Manidipa, yes that bothers me too. My ankles are pretty small, so anything remotely chunky doesn't really work unless there is a lot of slouch. I'm thinking that the tan will look less overpowering because it'll be lower contrast, so we'll see how that actually works.

    Christy and Mona, I actually don't wear boots under bootcuts; I don't have anything hemmed for low heels like this, so that's not really an option for me. I did want these specifically for bare legs and possibly with skinnies or straight legs as well.

  • Traci replied 11 years ago

    I think you should try them with skinnies and with a skirt/dress and tights before you completely rule them out. I love colorful booties, but I don't love them with a bare leg.

  • Meredith1953 replied 11 years ago

    Both pairs are really fun, pretty colors but I think I would find myself reaching for a nude bootie more often also!

  • velvetychocolate replied 11 years ago

    I like the red Reports on you! I know it seems like you'll get more wear out of a neutral/sand-ish/brownish colour, but the thing is - if you keep the red Report boots for fall, then you'll be able to wear these with all kinds of neutral outfits.

    I don't know about you, but I find that when fall/winter comes along, there is a lot less colour in my clothing items, and having some fun boots like this would be just the thing to liven everything up a wee bit. What do you think of this idea?

  • Jjsloane replied 11 years ago

    Thank you for providing me the visual I need to confirm my thoughts when I was considering the exact same boots. I think the colored boots would be better with pants so what's the point? I think the reports in tan or the DV in a smooth leather preferable (again I'm partial to the tan for short outfits) Like you I really thought red boots would be great, but could not visualize (until now) that I probably would not wear them as much as a tan.

  • cheryl replied 11 years ago

    I am loving the Red ones, both the color and style but you will definitely get a lot more mileage out of that style in a neutral color.

  • Heather replied 11 years ago

    Aida, I think the bottom line is that if you don't feel mad love for them and they don't fit into your wardrobe without effort then they must be exchanged for the tan and then go from there. I do love the shape of the Red Reports on you. ;D I think these could be a year round bootie for you.

    The Orange ones seem very 2002...in shape. *not that there is anything wrong with that* ;)

  • Aida replied 11 years ago

    Eep just realized there were more comments here, thank you for the feedback ladies! I am still sitting on the red Reports, thinking, and the tan should be arriving tomorrow so I can make a better decision. Since I'm looking for a summer boot specifically, pairing with flares/skinnies and tights isn't what I'm going for right now. I might be inclined to wear a colorful boot like this in the fall, but I think if I find myself reaching for red boots in the fall I would rather purchase them then and keep looking for my summer boot now :) I haven't had a chance to play with them, but hopefully will this weekend. I do know that I have not once thought about them for an outfit this past week, but I did wish I had the nude pair for yesterday's outfit!

    VC and JJ, good points. I wear colorful/neutral outfits 50-50 in the fall. This last season I bought orange printed booties and rarely wore them, so I am guessing these red boots would be the same; as much as I love shoes and boots, I just don't seem to like having color pops at my feet. And when I do, I MUCH prefer dainty pumps.

    Heather, wise lady! At this point it does feel like work, but I will reassess that after trying some fall outfits this weekend. I usually come up with my outfits in my head rather than in my closet, and so far I'm not loving what I'm coming up with. I am not entirely sold on suede year round because of all the rain we have, though I know there are plenty of Seattlites who do wear it in the rain.

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