I will admit when ankle boots hit the scene I swore I’d never own a pair—just like I swore I’d never own, let alone wear, skinny jeans. I now own three pairs of skinny jeans and LOVE them.
But back to ankle boots. I’m not sure if I thought they looked clunky with skirts and dresses or if it was like the designer had run out of material partway through making the boot. Whatever it was, I avoided them even after I saw Carina rockin’ a pair. Of course, Carina rocks everything she wears.
Well, here’s where it gets interesting. The other day I was in Famous Footwear exchanging a pair of shoes for Nathan. (Side note: Nathan should know better than to send me into Famous Footwear to exchange something. It ends up being cheaper if I simply keep the original pair of shoes because I will always come out with more than the pair I exchange.) While browsing the clearance racks I stumbled upon these, a pair of Steve Madden Madden Girl gray ankle boots:
These cute little things screamed “Pick me! Pick me!” and I couldn’t resist. I told myself I could easily wear them with skinny jeans (good thing I own a few pairs) but still wasn’t sure how else to pull them off. I almost didn’t buy them, but a phone call to a good friend set me straight so off the clearance rack and into my arms they went. And so did these:
Hello, it was Famous Footwear’s BOGO sale. I had to buy a second pair—think of all the money I saved! (My husband totally loves my way of thinking…) Chinese Laundry, where have you been all my heel-wearing life?
And because three is such a magical number, I picked these Nine West beauties up a few days later at Nordstrom Rack:
Yes, Nathan knows about my recent purchases (the last pair he has coined my “working girl” shoes) and he also knows about my recent listings on eBay to help pay for aforementioned—and pictured—purchases. It’s all good. By the way, that last pair? I saw them in hot pink on a girlfriend at church a couple Sundays ago and was determined to find them and buy them. Mission accomplished. I love checking things off my to-do list!
Sorry, I’m easily distracted by fabulous heels. Back to the ankle boots. Now that I own them, how should I wear them? Are skinny jeans okay? I was hoping I could also wear them under bootcut jeans. How do I pair them with a skirt or dress? Are leggings a must or do bare legs work until winter and the goosebumps hit?
I know there’s hope. My recent Anthropologie catalog showed a girl pairing ankle boots with tights and a gorgeous fall skirt and sweater. Then again, maybe there’s no hope. I couldn’t pull off a lot of those Anthropologie outfits if I tried and had the zillion dollars to do so.
HELP!
Hannah | Sherbet Blossom
Oh my goodness. I’m green with envy. I LOVE those ankle boots. I wonder if there is still a pair at famous for me…
Emily
Hannah, I think I saw another pair or two! And what the heck are you doing up at 2am? Hope you got to bed soon after leaving this comment!
Susie's Homemade
Wow! You have some GORGEOUS shoes!!
Rebecca
Skinny jeans are the perfect pairing, but you can absolutely get away with bare legs and a skirt! You just gotta work it. And under bootcuts no one will ever know how high they go. Great shoes!
Kristina P.
You really have the hottest shoes around. I’m not sure about ankle boots. I’m not really a fan. Although, at this fancy dinner I was at over the weekend, there was this amazingly beautiful, tall blonde, wearing this tiny pink ruffle dress, with black ankle boots. She looked hot.
Pam Baumeister
Whoa…I need to go shopping. These shoes have me salivating. I’m not kidding. Now I’m really wishing I was your neighbor so I could borrow those black shoes from you.
I am not a big fan of ankle boots with skirts or dresses. But, I think you can pull it off if you don a pair of leggings. Too bad you’re not buddies with Stacy or Clinton from What Not to Wear. Hmmmmm…..
Melissa
O EM GEE!
Love all of those shoes They’re gorgeous.
Here’s my bootie-wearing advice: Wear them with skinny jeans or jeggings. No cuffed or straight legged jeans, though. If you wear them with boot cut jeans, wear them over the boot. You can totally wear those booties with skirts & dresses & bare legs. If you wore them with lace/decorative ankle socks, you’d look R-A-D & super hip.
Camille
YOU can definitely pull them off! You always look hot!
Carina
I came to give advice to see that Melissa gave the exact advice I would have given. Carry on.
Emily
Susie, thanks. I have an addiction. It’s obvious!
Rebecca, Melissa and Carina, thanks for the advice though I’m not sure I could pull off lace/decorative ankle socks!
Kristina, I wasn’t a fan until I saw these. We’ll see what I think now that own a pair. Perhaps I need a short, pink skirt to go with them?!?!
Pam, you can borrow those black heels any time. Do you need them for the XTERRA? tri ;)
Camille, you’re the best!
Quinn
EM!!! These are ALL gorgeous! Steve Madden & Chinese Laundry are some of my VERY favorite shoe brands. Lovely! I’ve been slightly nervous about the ankle boot trend, too, but your new boots are TOTALLY swaying me into becoming a believer! Can’t wait to see you rock them (like you rock everything you ever wear)! xoxo
Steph
Good things, errrrrr shoes, always come in 3’s. Men know these things.
And I kind of what to do a foot photo shoot where I just photograph your feet with all your amazing hot shoes.
Brandie
Your post is not loving me….. Next time you go shoe shopping please pick me up a few pair too please I wear 7.5! LOL
Kitty
Darling! I love ankle boots – I don’t have any… but I do have a pair of cute green shoes with a tie around the ankle which I wore for the first time yesterday even though I’ve owned them for over 2 years! They were worth the wait!
Leigh
I stumbled upon your lovely blog and wanted to tell you about a project that I have going on over at my Blog. The Happiness Project is a Tuesday blog hop that I host. All you have to do is post a photo of something that makes you happy, it’s that simple. I’m trying to take over the blogosphere with happiness!
Here is a link to last week’s post if you would like to check it out.
http://leighvslaundry.blogspot.com/2010/08/happiness-project-week-26.html
Rebecca
PLEASE post pics when you figure it out. I am falling in love with ankle boots, even though I thought they were hideous the first time I saw them. I’m pretty positive I’ll be jumping on the bandwagon soon, so you can be the guinea pig for me!
emily
emily!
I decided to visit all the sassies and I have a pair of ankle boots I wear in the winters with awesome tights….LOVE them, I think of all people you could pull off just about anything!