Firecracker's Blog

wild cards & organized emotional shopping

January 30, 2015

In response to Angie's post about "Organized Emotional Shopping," I wrote that I carry around a mental list of what I’d like to have, usually for items
that 1)are going to help me wear things I already have or 2) represent
trends that I want to pursue.
I added that I recently bought a pair of shoes that did not meet either of these criteria. I feel like they are a departure from my usual style. And they are not only a departure, but perhaps one that harks back to a former style rather than moving my style forward. And yet, I bought them and at the moment plan to keep them. Perhaps I could be persuaded to return them, but I'm more intent on discovering all the ways I might wear them.

The shoes are clunky, cutout booties (Kork-Ease, Stina), which in the photos below, I just put on with what I was wearing earlier in the day. They are also shown as a Find. They seem more in keeping with my style of a few years ago, when I loved my Ariat clogs and other clunky shoe styles. Part of my attraction to rounded toes, chunky heels, and clog soles was that I felt they balanced out my calves, which are relatively large for my overall body size. I have since gotten over that idea and have gradually moved toward more refined footwear. One of my style goals in the last couple of years has been to aim for a little more sophistication.

And yet, here I am with a pair of shoes that are hardly refined and sophisticated and could possibly be the antithesis of those things. So what gives?

I came up with the theory that these shoes may be a wildcard for me--which Angie defines as "an item that is atypical to your style persona, but that speaks to you in some way."
Which makes me wonder if wildcards help put the emotion in organized emotional shopping. These particular shoes seem to speak to the same part of me that the arty pair of green/brown oxfords I toyed with last summer did. I ended up returning those, but these I don't have the same hesitation about.

What do you think? Where do wildcards fit in this OE shopping scheme? And what do you think of these shoes for me?

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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.

17 Comments

  • approprio replied 9 years ago

    I like these a lot, but then I do like a chunky shoe. I don't think they're inconsistent with your style at all, in fact they look like they'll do in summer what your moto boots do in winter. I bet they'll look great with lighter pants or your coloured cords. I'd be tempted to try them with a skirt and dark tights to see what the cutouts do.

  • unfrumped replied 9 years ago

    I like them because the color balances the chumminess and really, the style has a refined look overall. I actually have been looking for a similar item, something that reads more transition weather. Need lower heels, though

    These seem no brain ers with the pants- really great. So I'd see how versatile they are. For myself I was looking for footwear that would go with the bare or nude leg look with skirts and be more modern than ballet flats but less heavy and stark looking than other bootie types . Or you might be looking for footwear that creates more white jeans outfits.

  • Summer replied 9 years ago

    I would say that wildcards would fit at the extreme end of emotional side of the scale, but , if they are calling to you, then you should certainly give them a try.
    I can't comment on whether or not they suit your style, but I do like them.

  • Karie replied 9 years ago

    I think these will add the surprise of a different kind of funky/fun element to your style. They are more of a "refined clunky" - and I wouldn't really think of these as all that clunky, but I do see it in the stacked heel and rounded toe. The color fading at the toe and heel, the cutouts, and the straps all lean towards the arty side.

    You definitely have an arty/funky/fun vibe to your outfits already, and these could be a complimentary wildcard to that.

    I hope that makes sense - I've re-read it twice now, and I'm still not sure if it does - but in my own defense, it's 6 a.m. here and I've just had the shock of hearing that tonight it will get to between -20 and -30 (I need at least another cup of coffee before I can face this day)!

  • Style Fan replied 9 years ago

    I like the booties but I like chunky footwear.  I think they bookend your hair nicely and look great with your pants.  They look refined chunky to me.  I could see them as being very versatile.

  • Tania replied 9 years ago

    Echoing what others say.  I see these as somewhat chunky but refined, and I think they go well with your style. 

  • Elizabeth P replied 9 years ago

    And yet another echo.  I don't see these as a big departure for you, I bet they'll be really versatile, esp in the bridging seasons.  I think the colour balances the chunkiness.

  • replied 9 years ago

    I might be the spanner here - and maybe I should not comment as I don't know your style as anything other than I've seen it here since joining last summer.  So - my thoughts are that I know and admire your for your shoes as much as for your incredible design and sewing talents. You are always one step ahead in terms of footwear choices - , different, unique , newer, and somehow just right for your clothing pieces.  These are fine - but just that to me. Fine. Not new, in fact I have to admit I'm getting bootie fatigue for this chunky heel wrap strap style - even though I have a pair of R&B's that are just like that.  And I love those too. These just don't look "new" or moving a look forward , as you say. Again, I quite like them too, but they aren't different or special.  Does that make any sense? 

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    I was hoping you would show as the boots - thanks for this. 

    Sharan, they work well with your style, and don't see them as a setback at all actually. Does that surprise you? They are in line with your style persona as I know it, so to speak. I echo the others. 

    Those boots are amazing with the pants, and you look great. xo

  • UmmLila (Lisa) replied 9 years ago

    I like this color, and don't think they are inconsistent with your style.

  • frannieb replied 9 years ago

    I also like the booties - but 80% of my shoes fall in the chunky footwear range. I like your thoughts on a wildcard.

  • abc replied 9 years ago

    They really suit you and I like them a lot.

  • Sara L. replied 9 years ago

    I love them!  I briefly toyed with buying a very similar pair but in the end wasn't sure what I would wear them with.  I think the outfit you've shown is great and I don't find them particularly chunky.  I look forward to seeing how you'll style them since I wasn't sure what to do with them.

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    approprio, thanks! When I tried them on in the store, I had on dark, thin trouser socks, and I liked the look. I thought I might wear them that way with pants. Thanks for the idea of trying them with dark tights and a skirt.

    unfrumped, yes, I was definitely looking for lighter-colored footwear (re: your comment about looking to create more white jeans outfits) when I found these. They will go with my white boyfriend jeans. My white bootcuts may be a little short for this heel, although I would love the style with them otherwise. But I was really looking for a more refined shoe to wear with my stone-colored wool trousers. I saw a pair of Fidjis that are similar (photo below), but I like the higher heel and comfort of the Kork-Ease. Maybe the Fidjis would work for your transition shoes?

    Thanks for your thoughts, Summer!

    Lisa, I appreciate your discernment and don't see you as a spanner. Perhaps you are responding to whatever it is about the style that strikes me as a departure or at least not quite my usual style. I wasn't really looking for the cross-strapped bootie look, and in fact, I am not especially drawn to that aspect. And yet, these appeal to me.

    Stylefan, thanks--from the few photos I've seen that you've posted, I admire your style and wouldn't mind at all if I emulate it! Same for SaraL--happy to be wearing something you've considered, too.

    Frannieb, thanks for your endorsement. I feel you are also a bit arty with your style.

    Angie, UmmLila, Karie, Tania, Elizabeth, and abc, I am a little surprised. Maybe it's hard to be objective about my own style--or emotions.

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  • Dimity replied 9 years ago

    I'm normally polished and ladylike (ish) and most of my life I would have worn pointy toe flats or similar, but I love the combat boots that I see around and want to get a pair as my wildcard, so perhaps I can relate because of that. Anyway, they look good on you.

  • jackiec replied 9 years ago

    Personally, I think they look GREAT and don't seem them as any sort of step back in your style. I think that footwear plays a huge role in your wardrobe. I always admire your footwear. Adding something like this gives you more options to play with. And if it means anything, often I prefer a chunkier shoe to balance out my height/frame. I'm not super tall but just shy of 5'8", and I have short legs. Sometimes a chunkier shoe helps with proportions, and just works, to my eye. 

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    Dimity, high five. I hope you find the perfect combat boots!
    Jackie, your legs always look long, yet proportional, in your WIWs, so whatever you are doing to balance out your outfits, it's working!

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Welcome to my style blog. Dressing is something all of us do each day, but for me it is also a hobby. I like to find new ways to wear the clothes I have, make new clothes to add to my wardrobe (yes, sewing is another hobby!), shop for clothes, read and discuss fashion. Following You Look Fab has fueled my interest in taking outfit pictures to see where I've been and to get different perspectives on style. Thanks for joining me. I always appreciate hearing your thoughts.