Help me find flat boots or shoes to wear with dresses [Archive]

View Full Version : Help me find flat boots or shoes to wear with dresses

citymama

11-09-2011, 05:08 AM

Alas, I don't have a budget for $300 boots. And honestly, I'm not even sure I want tall boots. I have a wide toe bed (I wear regular width shoes, but some brands/styles that narrow at the toes just don't work for me). Just looking at most of the boots out there gives me the shivers in thinking how painful it would be for me to wear them. But OTOH, I have now acquired several cute dresses I would like to wear this Fall with something other than Born mary janes! Any suggestions for shoes/boots that would meet the following criteria:
-- affordable (under $150, give or take)
-- black, full grained leather
-- wider toe bed
-- flat, non slippery, cushioned soles (think: wearing with baby in carrier)
-- comfy!

I'm ambivalent about height - I've never owned boots higher than mid-calf, and I'm not sure how I would deal with knee-highs. So, they don't have to be tall boots. And is a rubber sole totally unfashionable? :bag

I'm heading to Nordie's on Thurs (will the sale still be on?), so I will try some on there.

ETA: here are some I found that more or less fit the bill - are they too uncool for school?

La Canadienne short boot: http://www.6pm.com/la-canadienne-maggie-black-leather ( I really love how simple these are, and they look super comfy - could they work with dresses?)

Clark's suede: http://www.onlineshoes.com/womens-clarks-desert-grazer-black-suede-p_id193376

Enzo Angiolino: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/enzo-angiolini-zayra-boot/3180783?origin=category&resultback=160
(toe-bed may be narrow)

Madden: http://www.dsw.com/shoe/madden+girl+avia+boot?prodId=234394&productRef=SEARCH (is this brand any good?)

Keen KJ boot: http://www.zappos.com/keen-kj-boot-black?zlfid=111&recoName=zap_pdp_cross

Ecco Rise: http://www.shoebuy.com/ecco-rise-gtx-boot/327735/700338

Ecco Cloud: http://www.shoebuy.com/ecco-cloud-ii-gtx-tall-boot/396204/846693

boc by Born: http://www.dsw.com/shoe/b.o.c.+by+born+women%27s+martina+boot?prodId=20742 0&productRef=SEARCH

Born Massi (assuming I can find on sale): http://www.bornshoes.com/Product.aspx?ProductID=6599

And then the vegetarian in me wants these non-leather Born Hemlocks (another :bag but all that dead animal!) ETA but not for wearing with dresses!
http://www.shoebuy.com/born-hemlock/290945/621502

azazela

11-09-2011, 09:17 AM

Madden: http://www.dsw.com/shoe/madden+girl+avia+boot?prodId=234394&productRef=SEARCH (is this brand any good?)

I have a pair of Madden Girl boots and I really like them so far. I do want to point out that they are faux leather, as are the ones you linked. I don't really care for myself as long as the price correlates, but you had said you wanted genuine leather, so just wanted to make sure you're aware.

I like Candence Boots (http://www.endless.com/s/ref=topnav_sk__s/179-6177561-4378961/?onsale=&showDesigner=&node=241745011&keywords=steve+madden+candence&x=4&y=1#__ie%3DUTF8%26cAsin%3DB0030HMHHO%26fromPage%3D search%26sr%3D1-1%26qid%3D1320844544702%26asinTitle%3DSteve~~20Mad den~~20Candence~~20Boot%26contextTitle%3Dsearch~~2 0results%26clientPageSize%3D100%26node%3D241745011 %26sort%3Drelevance-fs-rank%26keywords%3Dsteve%2Bmadden%2Bcandence%26asin %3DB0030HTYIY%26ref%3Dsr_1_1%26pageCode%3Dd) from Madden Girl and they seem to be real leather.

echoesofspring

11-09-2011, 12:20 PM

Clark's suede: http://www.onlineshoes.com/womens-cl...ede-p_id193376

Enzo Angiolino: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/enzo-ang...resultback=160
(toe-bed may be narrow)

boc by Born: http://www.dsw.com/shoe/b.o.c.+by+bo...ductRef=SEARCH

Born Massi (assuming I can find on sale): http://www.bornshoes.com/Product.aspx?ProductID=6599

I think these were my fav for boots with skirts, especially the clarks.

And then the vegetarian in me wants these non-leather Born Hemlocks (another but all that dead animal!) but these would be too short to wear with dresses, right?
http://www.shoebuy.com/born-hemlock/290945/621502
__________________

I don't think these would look good with skirts, you can do a short boot with skirts, but these seem too.....utilitarian?

Re: Madden: I used to think of it as a trendy brand for teenagers. But I bought a pair of dressy sandals about 5 years ago, and just got rid of them last week. So while I don't think they are going to be as comfortable as clarks/borns/etc, I don't think they are a bad brand.

Kindra178

11-09-2011, 12:22 PM

Love Keen KJs.

cono0507

11-09-2011, 12:33 PM

boc by Born: http://www.dsw.com/shoe/b.o.c.+by+born+women%27s+martina+boot?prodId=20742 0&productRef=SEARCH

I have these in brown. Super comfy. They do have a wider toe box. I've worn them with skirts and over skinny jeans. I picked them up at DSW last year and have been happy with them.

katydid1971

11-09-2011, 12:48 PM

I tried on the Keen KJs. They are very comfortable but I thought they looked a little clunky for wearing with dresses. Of the ones you listed I think that the b.o.c. would be the best choice. I have these and I love them. http://www.shoes.com/en-US/Product/EC1276102-5158354/BORN/Black/Women%27s+Sage.aspx Right now you can save 15% which would make them $161 Promo code 15off

DrSally

11-09-2011, 12:52 PM

If you have regular sized calves, these are nice for the price (real suede). I have a pair from last year and they've changed a bit, not as wide in the calf:
http://www.target.com/p/Women-s-Merona-Kamischel-Suede-Lug-Sole-Boots-Black/-/A-13385896

Someone else here has these http://www.target.com/p/Women-s-Merona-Macie-Wedge-Boots-Black/-/A-13377898

Larsmal, maybe. She really likes them. Again, if you have thin or regular calves. They look exactly like a knock off of some Aerosoles boots, which might be a brand you want to check out as well: http://www.aerosoles.com/product1.asp?P=OVERRIDE

I know you said leather, so the Target ones are suede, but pretty inexpensive.

I've gotten some black, flat boots from 6pm, Fitzwell, and I like them. They come in wide. The ones I bought are not on their site anymore, but here's a flat, blk leather pair:
http://www.6pm.com/product/7828903/color/72

DrSally

11-09-2011, 01:25 PM

I've seen the MAdden Girl ones IRL, and think they look fine. I think it's more of a Jr's brand. They're not leather. Another good Clark's boot is the Derby Palace boot.

http://www.amazon.com/Clarks-Womens-Derby-Palace-Boot/dp/B003AOBTDA

I think that midcalf tends to cut the calf in half at the widest part, and makes the calf look wider. If you have narrow calfs, then it's not a problem. I have wider calves, so I avoid the midcalf look.

BabyBearsMom

11-09-2011, 01:58 PM

I'm not really a fashionista, but I just got these and really like them: http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/ak-anne-klein-shoes-carloew-wide-calf-boots?ID=612497&CategoryID=25122&LinkType=#fn=BOOT_HEIGHT%3DTall%26BRAND%3DAnne%20K lein%26sp%3D1%26spc%3D10%26ruleId%3D69%26slotId%3D 4

I'm PG and considering that I am klutzy when I'm not pregnant, heels are out of the question when I am. These are really comfy. They look cute with casual dresses and tights or over leggings. I was able to use a coupon on these to get them for a little cheaper. The toe is nice and round so it is comfy for a wider toe bed. But, the key thing is that my heel isn't always popping out of the back. I had to get the wide calf version and they are perfect.

Mommy_Mea

11-09-2011, 04:09 PM

I love my Born Sage boots. I have them in the light brown color, but I think the black would really meet your needs. The buttons on the side make them a little dressy.

They are super comfortable, I wear them all the time while wearing DS2 (and sometimes carrying DS1 at the same time!). Heck, my feet felt good after a 4 hour Ikea trip! :)

I have wide feet, and they fit great...

They are $190 full price, but I got mine for under $150 from Shoemall, using Ebates and a 20% off code.

salsah

11-09-2011, 04:55 PM

I have these in brown. Super comfy. They do have a wider toe box. I've worn them with skirts and over skinny jeans. I picked them up at DSW last year and have been happy with them.

:yeahthat: every single word.

i love them so much i thought that i would get the black ones this winter (I need new black boots) but i don't like the color of the stitching on the black, I wish that they used black thread.

However, if I didn't already have the brown ones, I might have gotten the black ones because I think that with the color of the stitching you can get away with wearing them with black or brown.

salsah

11-09-2011, 05:00 PM

i don't know about madden girl, but my favorite boots are by steve madden.
these:

http://www.overstock.com/Clothing-Shoes/Steve-Madden-Womens-Flat-Round-Toe-Boot/1623763/product.html

they are so comfy, real leather, and held up great. i have worn them daily every winter for 6 years. i think that i should retire them but i haven't been able to find a black boot that i like (under $500) so i'm planning to wear them again this year. if i could find them now, i would buy them again.

citymama

11-10-2011, 02:58 AM