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Original poster

Please give me the confidence to either start wearing or get rid of these boots!

41 replies

CharlieMouseWillDoIt · 02/10/2012 16:17

A few years ago (in the late 90s) when I was an impoverished student I fell in love with these boots (uploaded to my profile). I couldn't afford them, but the lovely shoe shop owner let me pay in installments. But once I had them, I didn't really know what to wear them with other than boot cut jeans, which kind of defeated the object of them being calf-length boots.

Now, I've carted them from house-to-house and have never been able to part with them even though I've not worn them in years. I'm having another clear out now. Please can you either:

a) Tell me they are hideous, I shouldn't be so sentimental and I should take them to the nearest charity shop asap.

b) Give me some pointers as to what I can wear them with to bring them up-to-date. (Jeans, even skinny jeans, won't tuck into the boot as they are rather close-fitting - tights/leggings would probably be OK.

Thank you!

OP posts:
GlesgaRocket · 02/10/2012 16:26

I can't really make out the colour - are they grey or a pale shade of blue? And are they leather?

I'm sorry, but on the photo's alone i'd say get rid Sad, but, on the plus side, i have bumped this for you, and someone far far more stylish than me will probably be along and tell you exactly what to wear to bring out the magnificence of the boots!

LaFataTurchina · 02/10/2012 16:29

I like them! (I can't tell if they are grey or blue either)

I'd wear them with black or dark grey wooly/chunky tights and tunics/dresses.
Or, if you are feeling funky tights, denim mini skirt, a chunky jumper/cardy and a grey/blue scarf to make it all match.

mrsbugsywugsy · 02/10/2012 16:31

I think they're OK, I don't love them but they're not hideous either. I've got an a line corduroy skirt I'd probably wear them with but then I still dress like a 90's indie kid

How are your calves? That length of boot tends to emphasise any chunkiness

Original poster
CharlieMouseWillDoIt · 02/10/2012 16:32

They are a pale blue and suede... (hence if I wear them would like to show that they are calf-length boots and not blue suede shoes!)

OP posts:
piratecat · 02/10/2012 16:34

think i'd dye them black and wear them with ankle length leggings.

Original poster
CharlieMouseWillDoIt · 02/10/2012 16:36

Aha, that was going to be my next question - can suede be dyed?

I do remember that the shop also had brown boots in the same style. If I'd gone for those rather than the blue ones I'd probably have worn them all the time.

OP posts:
DilysPrice · 02/10/2012 16:38

I'd dye them purple, but the result is always going to be patchy on old suede - you'd have to resign yourself to the "distressed" look.

HyvaPaiva · 02/10/2012 16:42

I agree with piratecat and think you should dye them black. This shows you how to dye suede. They look like good, solid boots so definitely keep them. It's just the colour that is impractical and makes them look a bit dated. Turning them black would keep them classic and really wearable.

Besom · 02/10/2012 16:47

They're a similar style to a lot of the boots around at the moment. I would try wearing them before you do anything drastic, see how you feel. Tights or skinnies. Blue/grey chunky knits as someone else said.

But then I've recently decided I'm just going to wear what I damn well please (mid life crisis), so may not be the right person to ask.

FunnysInLaJardin · 02/10/2012 16:50

I really like them. I'd wear them with some straight 7/8 length jeans or trousers

topsi · 02/10/2012 16:53

No don't dye them they are nice as they are.
As said earlier with thick tights and a skirt they will look fab, or tunik and leggins.
Maybe with a denim skirt and coloured tights.
Don't give into boring black, I say never buy a pair of shoes in black when you can get a colour!!!

NotMostPeople · 02/10/2012 16:55

I'd say charity shop. Firstly you haven't worn them in all these years so for whatever reason you just aren't feeling them. Secondly I don't they are that nice and I don't agree that they are like a lot of boots that are on trend now. The toe shape is dated as is the heal.

HarrietSchulenberg · 02/10/2012 16:56

Jeans over the top, not skinny ones and def not tucked in. Very short skirt if your legs will take it, very long skirt if they won't.

Boots are nice - I'd probably buy them if I saw them in a charity shop.

Nagoo · 02/10/2012 17:00

Put them on with a shortish skirt and grey woolly thick tights.

Wear them out and see if you love them.

Camelsshouldnteatcrisps · 02/10/2012 17:02

If you haven't worn them by now I doubt that you will now tbh.

Funnily enough I read your post quickly then flipped to the photo not having taken in old you said they were, I guessed 90's correctly as they are the same shape as a pair I had back then.

Honestly, unless you have loads of time on you hands to faff about with dye I'd take them to the charity shop (however, I am a bit of a minimalist and am ruthless about getting rid of stuff, I've never regretted binning anything that has sat unworn yet though).

DonaAna · 02/10/2012 17:20

How about this? Or a silhouette like this work, with cropped skinnies (or rolled up skinnies). I'd keep the rest of the outfit black or charcoal - the boots would be the focal point (and you'd be a trendsetter with an ironic nod to 90s style - it's going to make a comeback...)

DonaAna · 02/10/2012 17:21

Sorry, extra words in links

GobblersKnob · 02/10/2012 17:26

I would wear them, I rather like them. As others have said with chunky tights and chunky jumpers. Definately give them a whirl.

JustinBoobie · 02/10/2012 17:27

I love them!! Chunky knits and you only live once! Grin

MrsCampbellBlack · 02/10/2012 17:27

I think they're nice - have you tried super skinny jeans with them - they're not really any thicker than leggings.

I'm not sure about with tights unless you have very long legs as that mid-calf cut off point is not terribly flattering in my opinion and because of the light colour it would make your legs look shorter.

But I tend to think that if you haven't worn something in years well its time for ebay.

I've dyed suede before but it goes quite hard so isn't as nice as it was before.

Original poster
CharlieMouseWillDoIt · 02/10/2012 17:50

Thank you everyone! I do love them, but just don't really have the confidence to wear them as I've always been a rather "safe" dresser. My entire wardrobe needs an overhaul, so perhaps I can get some things to wear the boots with.

OP posts:
MrsCampbellBlack · 02/10/2012 18:14

Take them with you shopping and try things on with them -if they don't work - then ebay the boots.

Ungratefulchild · 02/10/2012 18:25

I like them. Wear them, tights and a denim mini sounds good.

BeauNeidel · 02/10/2012 18:28

I don't like them at all. I think they are very dated.

Charity shop, then treat yourself to something else for being so virtuous...

(FWIW, I did something very similar about ten years ago, bought some boots from Dune that I never wore as they were so high I literally couldn't)

SpicyPear · 02/10/2012 18:57

Okay, I'm going to disagree with other posters and be a bit harsh about it. Sorry.

Get rid. They are dated, but more than that, if you haven't ever worn them regularly you are never going to feel comfortable in them. It's absolute madness to construct a new outfit around a dubious 15 year old pair of baby blue boots.

If you want to look at all up-to-date, do not under any circumstances pair them with a denim mini! Just... no.

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