Sveta's Blog

K/R question and a couple of WIWs

September 18, 2015

Here I am again surfacing out because I need some wise YLF advice. For a quick update: the life is as crazy as ever and with only one week before my vacation AND last weekend spent in bed with a nasty virus it is even more busier now :-(

Anyway, this is what I want to ask your advice for. I have ordered these
J Renee flats and now considering if they are worth keeping. I am still assessing the comfort factor (so far so good which is a tall order for me with ballet flats). Here is the deal:

Pros:
- they are not completely flat but have 1" wedge so they are more comfortable than usual ballet flats. They also look better on my feet than real ballet flats usually do;
- mesh cutouts make them a cooler choice for summer while closed toe still keeping my feet from freezing in A/C;
- the most of my other flats are high vamp and there are times and outfits when lower vamp  is more proportional if one does not want to wear heels.

Cons:
- I am not that excited about the color - it is kind of nude for me. Do they look boring? The snake print and cutouts provide some interest though;
- I have a pair of Trotters low wedge round toe shoes (see find #2). I thought they would be very useful being neutral but I tend not to wear them as much. Mind you, they are too hot for summer and in cooler weather I prefer booties but still... they just feel meh to me I guess even though they have tweed pattern and patent wedge. On the other hand they are not staying on my feet well so this may be the deciding factor too...

I am leaving in 6 days and need to make a decision before that to keep or return. Basically my question is: do you see them playing with my style or they are "not me" in your eyes? Please help me out to make up my mind!
Bonus pictures of some outfits which feature NAS buys and a mix of old and new and both are experimental:
pic #6 - Topshop vest (NAS), midi flared skirt. That was an experiment and I thought the combination looked inetersting enough to try it out. What do you think? Actually this skirt is going into donation bag: it is too big for me and kept twisting around all day but I am curious what you think of the concept. 
pic #7-8 - BR eyelet tunic and flares. Featuring FS booties from NAS. This one was inspired by one of Angie's posts. Again - what do you think?

Thanks in advance for your help!

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Posted in the Shopping category
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

27 Comments

  • Elly replied 8 years ago

    Hard to tell-- they are more exciting than most but your d'orsay flats are so elegant I got distracted.

  • greycat6 replied 8 years ago

    I like them!  The cutouts are interesting and the color is a good match to your skin tone.  However, you don't sound like you are in love.  Many of your looks appear to have medium contrast.  Could the low contrast color be part of the reason you are not in love?

    Do these shoes fill a wardrobe hole?  Did you find yourself wanting a similar shoe this summer to complete an outfit?

    I often have a difficult time convincing myself to buy wardrobe staples.  Right now, I seem to be missing basic but interesting tees and shells to wear under the fabulous cardigan collection I appear to be curating.  Buying basics seems boring BUT I find myself frustrated when I don't have the right supporting act to make the outfit shine.

    Lastly, I don't think these would be in the same category as the Trotters.  The Trotters read like an early fall shoe where these are more spring/summer.

  • Lyn D. replied 8 years ago

    I quite like the shoes- they have an element of interest in them with the textured pattern.
    Absolutely love your outfit with the tunic and flares :)

  • lyn67 replied 8 years ago

    Please keep that skirt! Your Mum will do the alterations needed on the waist, and it looks so perfect with the NAS vest! Wow!
    Flats are great, lovely and current details and we always need +1 tan shoe, don't we?:-)

  • cheryle (Dianthus) replied 8 years ago

    How do you feel about the toe shape Sveta?  I ask because I have a pair of flatish loafers in that shape and although I have been wearing them, it is only for the extreme comfort of the shoe and not the look or style.  I also see you as often wearing a bit more contrast and using your footwear to bookend your hair so perhaps that is the issue.

    The shoe is nice looking but perhaps a little too tame for your style esthetic.

  • Suz replied 8 years ago

    I am not wild about them, but perhaps this is a shoe for practicality rather than love. If they will complete outfits and have the comfort you need, by all means keep, since it is not easy to find shoes that fit. 

    Having said that, you might reach for them more than the Trotters because the Trotters don't really work seasonally for us all that well plus they are dark. 

  • Runcarla replied 8 years ago

    Pretty shoe, though I'm not a fan of rounded toe. Due to colour, they seem to disappear. I vote return.

    Outfits are great!

  • Jaime replied 8 years ago

    Not crazy about the shoes, at least as seen from these angles. The reset of the outfit is fantastic though - especially the vest! Second outfit is also great - love it with the jacket.

  • Suz replied 8 years ago

    You know what? I think you should send them back. I tried to talk myself into them but I couldn't, LOL. ;) 

  • MTBGirl replied 8 years ago

    I think they look ok but if they're falling off your feet... return!
    I love the vest with the skirt outfit. Too bad about that skirt. Can you take in the waist?
    The tunic outfit with the flares and cognac? AMAZING! YLF!

  • abc replied 8 years ago

    I also vote return on the shoes.

    That eyelet tunic is amazing on you. It's an 11/10 every time I see it.

  • donnat replied 8 years ago

    I have to say, I love that skirt on you. If there is any way to alter it, I would.
    When I first looked at the shoes, I liked them alot, but I am not really a shoe type. After reading what the other ladies said, maybe they aren't Edgy enough for you.

  • Sara L. replied 8 years ago

    I like the shoes and think the cutouts make them interesting.  If they fill a hole than I would keep them.  Sometimes a neutral shoe is necessary to let the other elements of an outfit shine.

  • Diana replied 8 years ago

    Ok, I think it's not fair that you posted them in the same post as the awesome wiw with the pointy d'orsays.

    That said, I don't love them. I guess they just seem boring to me and your style, especially lately, seems edgier. Also they even *look* like they're falling off. Not staying on the feet is a deal breaker!

  • Lisa replied 8 years ago

    Funny, I really like the flats because they are a nude color on you, which helps elongate the leg line.  

  • Joy replied 8 years ago

    Another vote for keeping the skirt and having it altered to fit your waist.
    My favorite outfit is 1/2. I like the shoes, especially if you can use some that are your nude, but if you are not excited about them, return. Something else will come along.
    I like the flares best with the jacket(7) which feels like it balances the flare. They look great on you.

  • Carole replied 8 years ago

    I love both outfits! The shoes....if they are super comfy, I vote keep. I think they are a nice neutral and the cutouts are interesting...if these are for your trip, versatility is key for making the most of your packing, so there's that!

  • Elle replied 8 years ago

    I like the shoes but think they would work better with lighter colors. However, you don't seem enamored with them, so I vote return.

  • unfrumped replied 8 years ago

    On the fence but leaning toward return.
    I think there is this fine line between "nude" and "disappearing feet" and I have had the same problem. For example, camel or light taupe work better for me than a disappearing nude color. It's almost like you can't elongate the legline as well if your feet are invisible!
    Second think is, the much paler shoes don't work as well for me except with lighter colored skirts. Once I go to a dark or mid-tone,  I need a hint of color--again, can be just a shade or 2 darker--for grounding.
    So, if you had a some white or very pale beige type skirts or dresses for which footwear had been a challenge, then these might do the trick. But as just a go-to neutral, I think you need a tad more color or contrast with your foot.

    I'm wondering if this is more important for flats than for stiletto pumps? It seems to be so to my "eye".

  • Angie replied 8 years ago

    I vote return the shoes. LOVE the d'orsays. You are killer stunning in #6. 

    Hope you feel better soon, and I bet you can't WAIT for that vacation. Much love to you, sweet Sveta. 

  • Aida replied 8 years ago

    Hmm I think they are OK. For myself I found that nude ballet flats didn't get much wear whereas nude boots, booties, pumps, and sandals all do. That said, because of the cutouts these would function as a closed-toe summer sandal (though I personally would prefer a metallic of this shoe). For the purpose you describe:

    ...most of my other flats are high vamp and there are times and outfits
    when lower vamp is more proportional if one does not want to wear heels

    They certainly would fill that need.

    (PS: You are looking fab, lady! Despite the hectic schedule. Enjoy that holiday ^^)

  • Sveta replied 8 years ago

    Thank you so much for helping me to make up my mind. The verdict - they are going back. Because it is SO hard to find stylish shoes in my size I sometimes tend to settle - and usually they become orphans. You saved me from myself!
    As for the skirt: it is not just the waist, it is big all over. I already asked my Mom to take it in and it did not work out well. I will ask again  - just to be sure but I cannot wear it as is :-(
    I feel a bit better now but drowning in work up until my bus leaves on Thursday. I am looking forward to that vacation (but not to what I find at work when I come back after 2 weeks :-( )

  • Eliza replied 8 years ago

    Comfort goggles are real when fussy feet rule. You wear a pointy toe so well; the nudes just fell a bit flat.

    I have settled for "almost" shoes that were wearable, and ironically, I hardly wore them. Shoes are high impact in a look and i am learning not to wave the white flag pre-maturely.

    Smooth travels.

  • Runcarla replied 8 years ago

    Sveta, if you can't salvage the skirt...can I have it?

  • viva replied 8 years ago

    I'm glad you are sending the shoes back. Who needs more orphans? I have a hard time getting excited about ANY nude shoes, so I decided to stay out of the discussion, but I agree with the verdict. ;)

    I hope you have a wonderful vacation. It sounds so well-deserved!

  • Sveta replied 8 years ago

    Carla, you are welcome to it but won't it be too big for you? It is size 12. I can send you measurements if you want.

  • Kari replied 8 years ago

    Sveta, I know you've decided to send the shoes back, but I quite like them.  A lot of people have poison eye for rounded toes, but I don't.  I wasn't as thrilled with them until I saw the close up pics.  The cutouts make these shoes really interesting.  However, I think that a different shade (not sure if that's possible in these shoes), like a gray or cream, would be a better fit with your coloring and wardrobe.  

    That vest is divine!  Swoon.

You need to be logged in to comment

Categories

Blogroll

Archives