3 November 2009

Bootie or Not Bootie

In a previous post, I professed my growing love for the skirt, tights, bootie combo that I'm seeing around the fashion blogs as of late. Some commenters agreed with me that the look is potentially super cute and others were not sold on the whole thing. I must admit when I first saw booties worn with skirts, I thought it looked ridiculous. However, as time has past, I think I have become more accustomed to the silhouette and I now think it's quite fetching.

So, today I put together my first bootie-tights-skirt (I first typed this as tight-bootie-skirt and got a good chuckle) outfit. The skirt is Simplicity 4422 (view F), done up in a burgundy tweed flecked with dark brown and tan. The top is Vogue 2759 in a dark brown knit.

I must say that I felt pretty good in the outfit all day long and received compliments from both students and colleagues. Looking at the photo though, I think next time I will try and match the colour of the tights more closely to the bootie for a longer leg line. As well, I never tuck in my tops, so this was a real departure for me, but it actually doesn't look as bad as I expected. Last but not least, this outfit makes the pesky 10 lbs I want to drop a little more obvious than I would like - time to hit the treadmill and weight machine harder. So, all in all, pretty good, but a few things to keep in mind for next time.

So, what do y'all think? Yay or nay? Bear in mind that I am venturing into new territory here, so please be gentle.

54 comments:

April said...

I agree with you about matching the tights & bootie color for a longer leg, but that's a quibble. I think the outfit looks very nice.

Sigrid said...

I like the outfit and admire you for venturing into new territory.

Eugenia said...

Well I think it's a yay on the booties and I love both the top and the skirt. This is a really good looking fall outfit.

Renee said...

I think those are great booties and a great look on you. Perhaps matching the tights and booties closer would be good, but not essential. Lovely outfit all around.

Claudine said...

Booties! Booties! They look great on you. I already have one pair with high heels and one with low, and am considering investing in a third pair.

amber said...

Definite Yay! And I applaud you for venturing into brown booties. I only have black ones b/c it's such a no brainer to pair them with black or grey tights. Browns can be so funny when it comes to matching and/or contrasting, so bravo for doing it well.

I'm also in a bootie/tights/dress combo today and I feel pretty fetch, too. ;)

Jen said...

A great look Shannon.

Lisa said...

LOVE IT! You look great. Don't know where you are hiding these 10 pounds......

Cennetta said...

Yes, quite fetching. You look great; very stylish.

Ann Made Studio said...

A yay for me. The outfit looks great!

Pattern Junkie said...

Thumbs up on the booties -- you look fab! I agree with Amber -- brown's sometimes a tricky color to match, but I think you did it great!

Anonymous said...

Great look! On Oprah yesterday, the style guru said to match the color of boots and tights.

Anonymous said...

Definite yay from me. I think you look great.

gwensews said...

Booties vote is yay! It's a great look and modern. Nice outfit.

a little sewing said...

YAY! And I think the color of the tights & booties is plenty close enough to look great.

Love the tucked in top and the high waisted skirt, too.

thanks for the inspiration- it is good to keep up with styles.

Anonymous said...

I like the bootie/tight look. Great outfit.
btw, my daughter is looking over my shoulder admiring Simon's cute picture. Mary made the comment that beagles have bear blood! What? Is this true or has she been reading too many National Geographic magazines??!

Nancy K said...

I am sitting here wearing a pair of ankle boots and tights, so I say yay. I do think that matching tights to booties gives a longer look.

Gail said...

This is a great look. Not sure if its necessary to match the shoe and tights colour. If you do, I'd look for a contrast from the skirt colour.

Julia said...

Lovely! The skirt is too cute. Also, 10 pounds? No way; you look stunning as is.

xx
Julia

Rose said...

You look great in this outfit!! I'm not so sure about those 10 lbs-They don't show to me. Yes, I may just come around to the "bootie-tights-skirt" look.

Toby Wollin said...

I guess it's, ahem, the age or the generation or something, but I don't call those shoes 'booties' - I call them 'oxfords' and I think with a skirt, it is a very good 1930s-1940s look, especially when the skirt is under the knee. I think you look great in it. As a matter of fact, I wear this combination to work all the time and sometimes, gasp, I even wear non-opaque tights with them (though when I do, I think I'm definitely giving off a WWII army nurse vibe). Of course, I'm still addicted to putting small shoulder pads into whatever I wear since I have these non-existent shoulders and feel I need something to give me structure - and with shoulder pads, the look is even MORE 1930s-1940s.

Linda L said...

I think you look great. I am not sure where the extra 10lbs are; again you look great and wearing the top tucked in looks nice.

Sometimes you just have to take the leap and give something else a try.

Vicki said...

You look lovely. I like the colour combo and I think the tights are close enough to the shoe colour to still look good. I like the fuller skirt (as opposed to a pencil skirt) with the booties too. Good luck with the 10lbs. I need (want) to lose about the same amount.

Maggie said...

I remember this skirt from a SWAP you did and always loved it. Great outfit. I like the bootie look and the tucked in top too! Where is that 10 pounds you are talking about?

Anonymous said...

Love this look on you! I think this look makes you look thinner, not heavier. Everything fits you well. Be fearless!

Amy Bailes said...

I think it's a great look and a great outfit.

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

Add me to the yah category ~ this is a good look on you!

Dana said...

Love it!

knitmachinequeen (KMQ) said...

What's not to like? You look fantastic!

Nancy Winningham said...

You look great, Shannon! Need I say more?

Terri K said...

Great look for you! Love the skirt and colors too.

Lori said...

The booties looks great, the entire outfit looks great.

Anonymous said...

Yay! I love the look of a good bootie (somehow that doesn't sound quite right ;-) skirt combo. I think you look fab!

Carol said...

You look fantastic! I love this look on you and I think it's very slimming. You don't look like you need to lose ten pounds to me! I don't think you need to worry about the longer leg line, to my eye the whole outfit blends in and lengthens you as it is.

KellysSewing said...

Booties it is. You look very put together and stylish. I always love your choice in shoes.

jacquiJB said...

I see Toby Wollin has already mentioned what I was going to say about your shoes having that lovely retro shape and being great with skirts. I also don't call them booties (although I always think of oxfords as being flats, but I have lots of weird thoughts); for me, booties are a couple of inches higher and, unless they're laced tight to the leg, IMO really look silly with skirts or cropped trousers. Your little shoes look fab, your outfit is really flattering and stylish, and you look great!

Brenda said...

I vote cute.

Lina said...

Definite yay! Great outfit.

Sue said...

Yay! from me - I agree with everyone else...

Lisette M said...

A yes for sure! I think matching the tights would give you the longer leg look, but this look is rich and elegant with all the contrasting textures and coordinating colors.

Uta said...

I agree with Toby Wollin; I have a pair of lace-up shoes with a heel and high vamp (had them for several years) and love to wear them with a skirt (burgundy, no less) and sweater/top (usually in black - so we're twins!). I always thought this look has a strong classic/vintage vibe. Anyway, you look gorgeous in it! I wouldn't mind the tights color as long as both are somewhat dark. I also love both the top and the skirt - shame I'm too cheap to buy single patterns!

Rachelle said...

YOU look lovely in the outfit, but when I see the look in real life, I always get an image of Witch Hazel. I don't know why; it's not like she's got legs or anything, but just the effect of a skirt ending in a boo/shoo makes me giggle.

http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/5768/627358-witchhazel2_large.jpg

Unknown said...

I never used to tuck in my shirts either! But I'm starting to realize there is a whole new realm of fashion possibilities with a simple tuck. Anyways, I like the look but I might go with a slightly shorter skirt next time.

Gretchen the Household Deity said...

I am a big fan of the booties with skirts and dresses (though since mine have heels I never actually wear them unless I'm speaking or otherwise have to dress up). I am slowly getting used to tucking as waistlines go up, but it definitely takes getting used to (and definitely accentuates additional weight, boo).

Teddylyn said...

Cute! Enjoy the look! I think tights/shoes that match or are as close to matching as possible is a good idea for all of us. I always enjoy seeing what you have made and how you put it together!

Laura said...

another stunning outfit!
shirt looks great tucked-in,
yes, i vote for a lighter color tights for a more monochrome lower half.
shoes are tres-fabu'!
reminiscent of fashions from the 1920's & 30's.

French_Seam said...

You look great, as always.
The broken blocks of colour do shorten your legs though: if the top was in the lighter shade, and the bottom half (skirt, tights, boots) were all one (darker) shade, your legs would look endless.

but that's a quibble: wear what you like. Your clothes are always faultlessly constructed.

Karin van Dam said...

I think you look lovely. I have worn oxfords with longer skirts for a while now and only received compliments so far. (Although, ofcourse, it could be that people who dislike it just don't say anything :-))

I'd say: Adventure on!

Anonymous said...

I am loving the outfit because of the alternating chunks of brown and black. What a great combo! I'd think a top slightly over the skirt would help with elongating the look if you wish.

Nylorac Creations said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mardel said...

This looks fabulous on you and the browns are close enough to look good. Great style.

blackberry said...

Shorten that skirt by a foot, after all you're wearing tights, you look great!

Michelle said...

I Love the combo! Looks great.
I unfortunately have the opposite problem - I've adored the tights/booty since they hit the fashion world, but I haven't been able to find a pair of booties that don't severely hurt my already-severely-screwed-up feet. : (

JaneG said...

I have to say that the pesky 10lbs don't seem apparent in the photo, this one of the most flattering ensembles I have seen here. Love it!