Creating outfits around outlandish boots
July 13, 2023 4:38 PM Subscribe
I recently came into this pair of boots (link for example purposes, scroll down). They are much louder than I usually sport, so what can I wear with them? Please give me formulas for outfits and specific suggested pieces of clothing, including colors.
Notes:
* I think I especially need help with accessories.
* I am short and have a small hourglass frame.
* Can I actually get away with these? I love cowboy boots (and I love these!), but my other pairs are much more subdued. Can I wear these without them wearing me?
Notes:
* I think I especially need help with accessories.
* I am short and have a small hourglass frame.
* Can I actually get away with these? I love cowboy boots (and I love these!), but my other pairs are much more subdued. Can I wear these without them wearing me?
You could always wear them with a black or dark brown dress that falls slightly below the knee (so, just above or below the top of the boot), and IMO it just cries out for some chunky jewelry preferably with a Southwestern flair. A scarf with colors that coordinate would also go well. It's unlikely that you're shorter than I am - I'm 5' nothing - and I would definitely wear these.
posted by DrGail at 5:21 PM on July 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by DrGail at 5:21 PM on July 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
Bright or dark red (or brown) dresses or skirts. Also, tucked under blue jeans. (You should wear them as much as possible, they're fantastic.)
posted by unknowncommand at 5:34 PM on July 13, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by unknowncommand at 5:34 PM on July 13, 2023 [3 favorites]
Red skirt, grey logo t-shirt, big turquoise necklace.
posted by OrangeDisk at 5:42 PM on July 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by OrangeDisk at 5:42 PM on July 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
Snazzy! All black or chocolate brown, to showcase the boots. Tie-waist mini-dress, blouson-y; flowy boho-type dresses with defined waists (split/crossover skirt to display boot with every step, or a high-low hem). Tucked-in tan or brown slim trousers, and a top in whatever color relates to the boot palette and flatters your skin tone (orange, apricot, peach, coral, to bring out the inset orange bit; warm yellows and greens tie to the lime shaft; or a white/cream/ivory [pale pink?] neutral shade to flaunt the footwear) and body shape (wrap-style v-neck; non-baggy surplice; tank/camisole with ballet wrap; tapered-waist vee, square or bateau neck).
posted by Iris Gambol at 7:04 PM on July 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Iris Gambol at 7:04 PM on July 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
Oh, and I think that on a short person with a small hourglass frame, a pair of bold boots are practically an accessory unto themselves, and the rest of the outfit complements (rather than competes)? Stud earrings, or narrow hoops a size larger than you'd usually wear; a pendant necklace if you're wearing an open neckline (and have the pendant land below your collarbone and above your bust); a medium-sized slouchy/unstructured shoulder bag.
MT, you'll do more than merely "get away with" wearing these fabulous boots -- you're going to look great.
posted by Iris Gambol at 7:24 PM on July 13, 2023 [8 favorites]
MT, you'll do more than merely "get away with" wearing these fabulous boots -- you're going to look great.
posted by Iris Gambol at 7:24 PM on July 13, 2023 [8 favorites]
Cowboy boots have a long history of coming in truly funky outrageous colors and details. As things go these are honestly rather subdued.
If the colors on my tablet are to be believed you are dealing with a pair of pale lime green boot shafts with a warm dark brown on the vamp and multicolor stitching onto the green. If you want the green to feel more in harmony with your look you can wear other greens as accents in your clothes, like olive, moss, or camo green jewelry, jacket, or bag. The other parts of your outfit can be hues pulled from the multicolor stitching (pretty much anything bright) or a mix of warm neutrals, like other dark browns, warm sands, or soft creams. I would avoid cool toned neutrals like slate grey or solid black although that isn’t a hard a fast rule. Bright white would be just fine, especially if it’s got colorful embellishments or green details. To keep people from just staring at your shoes the whole time, go for a statement piece or bold detail near your face or neck, like a chunky necklace, actual cowboy hat, big earrings, or detail on the collar. If you are in a place where western style shirts are appropriate the kind with embroidery on the chest pockets would be great.
If you want the boots to stand out and be a strong pop of interest, go for brick reds and browns all over. This will make the green feel brighter, kind of like when someone wears red shoes with a charcoal suit. I think wearing something to draw attention up would still be good though, but instead use metallics and texture near your face. Some examples would be gold hoop earrings, a tonal scarf or bandana, a shiny or bold red lip color, a ruffled shirt placket, a shiny cardigan clip.
I think cowboy boots look amazing with a midi dress or tiered skirt that ends just above or below the boot shaft. A nice leather belt (brown in this case) would be good too, especially since you have a waist to show off. Colorblocking to echo the boots, like a brown skirt and solid brightly colored top, would be great but not necessary.
posted by Mizu at 7:26 PM on July 13, 2023 [4 favorites]
If the colors on my tablet are to be believed you are dealing with a pair of pale lime green boot shafts with a warm dark brown on the vamp and multicolor stitching onto the green. If you want the green to feel more in harmony with your look you can wear other greens as accents in your clothes, like olive, moss, or camo green jewelry, jacket, or bag. The other parts of your outfit can be hues pulled from the multicolor stitching (pretty much anything bright) or a mix of warm neutrals, like other dark browns, warm sands, or soft creams. I would avoid cool toned neutrals like slate grey or solid black although that isn’t a hard a fast rule. Bright white would be just fine, especially if it’s got colorful embellishments or green details. To keep people from just staring at your shoes the whole time, go for a statement piece or bold detail near your face or neck, like a chunky necklace, actual cowboy hat, big earrings, or detail on the collar. If you are in a place where western style shirts are appropriate the kind with embroidery on the chest pockets would be great.
If you want the boots to stand out and be a strong pop of interest, go for brick reds and browns all over. This will make the green feel brighter, kind of like when someone wears red shoes with a charcoal suit. I think wearing something to draw attention up would still be good though, but instead use metallics and texture near your face. Some examples would be gold hoop earrings, a tonal scarf or bandana, a shiny or bold red lip color, a ruffled shirt placket, a shiny cardigan clip.
I think cowboy boots look amazing with a midi dress or tiered skirt that ends just above or below the boot shaft. A nice leather belt (brown in this case) would be good too, especially since you have a waist to show off. Colorblocking to echo the boots, like a brown skirt and solid brightly colored top, would be great but not necessary.
posted by Mizu at 7:26 PM on July 13, 2023 [4 favorites]
A knee length denim dress.
posted by saturdaymornings at 7:40 PM on July 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by saturdaymornings at 7:40 PM on July 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
I would definitely keep the rest of the outfit pretty neutral. With boots like those you don't need much else going on visually.
posted by potrzebie at 8:26 PM on July 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by potrzebie at 8:26 PM on July 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
https://poshmark.com/listing/Vintage-90s-Sandy-StarkmanBoho-Woven-Jacket-649b08c14f80f90d4f4464d4
posted by amtho at 11:20 PM on July 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by amtho at 11:20 PM on July 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'd play up the lime green and go this route.
And these earrings.
posted by SageTrail at 6:55 AM on July 14, 2023 [2 favorites]
And these earrings.
posted by SageTrail at 6:55 AM on July 14, 2023 [2 favorites]
I'd look for something in a very similar shade of green to go with them, and I think probably pair them with a quite short skirt. Hair up, for sophistication.
posted by Jane the Brown at 8:11 AM on July 14, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Jane the Brown at 8:11 AM on July 14, 2023 [1 favorite]
The most important thing with any distinctive item of dress, boots to hat, is to wear it with confidence.
posted by SemiSalt at 9:56 AM on July 14, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by SemiSalt at 9:56 AM on July 14, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'd look for a great denim jacket and then possibly diy or pay someone to add some accents that match the boots. Either some small bits of embroidery or swap the buttons on the jacket for some that are light green to match the boots. Then you'd automatically have 2 matching pieces and you could wear the jacket over any number of neutral pieces.
Shirt dresses would look nice with the boots. Like this one from LLBean
posted by MadMadam at 10:58 AM on July 14, 2023 [1 favorite]
Shirt dresses would look nice with the boots. Like this one from LLBean
posted by MadMadam at 10:58 AM on July 14, 2023 [1 favorite]
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