Eclectic Joy

34 Comments

• Lyn D. replied 8 years ago

  I vote 'Classic' Joy.
  A simple heeled pump is always in style.

• Nebraskim replied 8 years ago

  I feel they are a little dated and that they read kind of "old lady." They look a little worn, too. You might consider them as "back up" until you find a really fresh and current navy pair to replace them.

• replied 8 years ago

  They look a little dated to me.

• Thirkellgirl replied 8 years ago

  I don't think there's anything wrong with them at all, and since they're higher AND comfortable, you'd have to pry them from my cold, dead fingers. :) Even if they *were out of date, nobody's going to be looking so closely at your feet that borderline-out-of-date shoes will matter at all <---my worldview vis a vis comfortable shoes. :)

• replied 8 years ago

  I'd say they are on the line of dated and classic. I would never recommend them to anyone but perhaps on you they look good! My mom always puts comfort before look so she isn't always the most fashion forward but I think they should be fine!

• Jules replied 8 years ago

  The heel and toe shape don't strike me as all that different from the white pair in Angie's recent blog post! That said, the overall affect is not as current seeming. Maybe it's the shape of the vamp??? I'd like to see them styled - I have that initial reaction of "fine but not fab enough for Joy", but then I wonder if your fab wardrobe & styling might just elevate them!

• TraceyLiz65 replied 8 years ago

  Joy, your gut instinct is sound, lol. I think they are dated and not in keeping with your style.

• RoseandJoan replied 8 years ago

  Joy, I think they have the look of a glove shoe, introduced by Celine and being replicated by a few retailers including Topshop, so I don't believe they are dated, however, do you think the people in your life would find them dated and would this be a concern to you?

• Style Fan replied 8 years ago

  I think it might be the vamp as someone else has pointed out that is raising the question about these pumps.  There is something that moves them towards the dated edge and away from the current moment.  However, they are filling a need and they are not that dated looking.  I like the heel a lot.

• RoseandJoan replied 8 years ago

  http://m.topshop.com/h5/produc.....lsrc=aw.ds

• Laura (rhubarbgirl) replied 8 years ago

  There is something about the higher vamp plus the squared off toe that is not looking current to me. Block heels are coming back in style, but this pair looks pretty worn. I think you could keep them for the odd need if you wanted to, though. They're pretty basic and would blend in to the background if the rest of your outfit was nice.

• olga replied 8 years ago

  well, after seeing you in blush and grey with that great flats, yes, these are dated in my opinion

• Angie replied 8 years ago

  What Jules said. Here is the glove shoe. I vote vintage in a good way.  

• Vicki replied 8 years ago

  Joy, I think they look very similar to what Angie has posted here.  With a little buffing, they'll be in tip-top shape and I like the ink blue color along with the comfortable, stable higher heel.

• Angie replied 8 years ago

  And look at these from Zara. 

• Style Fan replied 8 years ago

  Okay I want the gold ones from Top Shop.  Takes me back. 

• unfrumped replied 8 years ago

  I would try some outfit creation where you used the shoes to achieve a certain "modern" look that you couldn't get with a less comfortable shoe.
  For me, that might be some kind of tapered track pant + heel ("pump") + trendy jacket look, where I could never do that with uncomfortable heels. Or maybe flowy wider or bootcut pants in not-winter, hence not wearing boots,  where I just let the shoe peek out but benefit from longer pant length = longer legline.
  On me, these    would tend to read the most dated if I wore them with a  skirt or dress that was also very classic and sedate, but not as much if I had a "trendy" dress. Again, a longer skirt benefits from higher heel, which is hard to do because not comfortable, so if wore a longer pencil skirt with these pumps but amped up the style of the top somehow--that sort of thing..  

• Joy replied 8 years ago

  So much wisdom here.  I will polish them (hoping to find navy polish) and try to make an outfit.  unfrumped, I have some wide navy pants that may be just the thing.  I'm not sure about a jacket though.  What makes a jacket modern now? length?

• sienna replied 8 years ago

  I think that it could either look classic or dated depending on the styling. I kinda like this and I think it could look really cool! 

• replied 8 years ago

  Joy, I have a pair of similarly styled coppery brown Ferragamos I'm guessing date from the same time as yours. I'm telling myself they're still okay, but I do limit what I pair them with, avoiding more trendy clothing items and making an effort to go current with accessories.

• April replied 8 years ago

  Joy, I'm going to take a risk here and say that for me, in my 50s, I would worry that these would look dated because it would be unclear whether I was wearing them fashionably on purpose -- like the typical Zara client, or the woman buying the Glove shoe -- or merely because I still had them in my closet from the last time this look was around.

  Once a trend is fully established, it's different.  Then anyone can probably wear it and look au courant.  But when a trend is just getting started, like the return of this shape shoe, I say if you're over a certain age, proceed with caution.  
  
  I know it's not popular to say that age has anything to do with what we wear (or "should" wear, or feel comfortable wearing), but in my experience, that's a position that's easier to defend when you're actually still quite young.  Once people perceive you as "of a certain age," it's easier for looks like this to be perceived as frumpy and dated.

• Joy replied 8 years ago

  April, you are very wise. I think I'll put these in the donate bag and maybe someone much younger will enjoy them.

• Mary Beth (formerly LBD) replied 8 years ago

  I think these could go either way, but if you 'toughened' them up with a leather moto, they would look AMAZING.

• catseye replied 8 years ago

  Now I am intrigued by the glove shoe. Since I cannot keep any pumps on my feet, I wonder whether the glove shoe may stay on better. Sorry for the hijacking.

• Susie replied 8 years ago

  Joy, I agree with what April said, too. While there are certainly styles that I feel are too young for me, I also worry about those that might look 'fresh' on a 30 year old but could skew too "frumpy" on me at 50+. This getting older thing is tough!

• Joy replied 8 years ago

  It kind of goes with the saying that if you wore it the first time you should pass the next time it comes around. I do not necessarily agree but this is one case where a young person could look great in something that an old lady cannot. I tried these shoes on again for a photo of a styling idea and my left pinky toe was feeling pinched. It's time to let them go.
  In the photos below they are styled with coated black jeans and a navy high- low hemmed sweater, although I did not get the hem pulled down right.

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• Gaylene replied 8 years ago

  Joy, for what it's worth, I think you made the right decision. I agree with April. Revisiting a trend can be tricky for those of us who can blow the dust off the "trendy" item sitting in the back of the closet. If you were dubious enough to pose the question, you really answered it. Resurrect only when said item makes you feel uber styllsh and current, never when you have doubts.

• rachylou replied 8 years ago

  I don't think they're dated, but if styled classic, they'd be frumpy in the not cool way. They need to be paired with long and swingy or something...

• Aida replied 8 years ago

  Hmm I think the toes on these are more squared than the current iteration which has a softer feel. They don't look bad styled the way you have, but I don't see them as super fashion forward either due to the older toe style. And uncomfortable trumps all, so if they were pinching then certainly a good idea to let them go :)

• Joy replied 8 years ago

  Gaylene , Rachylou and Aida, thank you for sharing your wisdom. I will think about navy and figure out if I really want/need to keep looking for navy shoes.

• Summer replied 8 years ago

  Joy, I've been following this thread with interest as I have some boots with a similar heel and square toe.  I still wear mine for now, but I've been threatening to pass them on for some time.
  I agree with what April says about the age factor here - unfair but true, and I speak as one of the older members myself.  Angie's post on flared crops gave me the same impression:  I could see younger, trendier women pulling off the look beautifully, while on me it might read as if I were sporting my old flares at half mast - a look I see quite frequently when I'm a out and about, and it's not pretty!
  Still, Angie has validated the shoes, so we can both please ourselves, I suppose.  Are you going to keep or pass? 

• replied 8 years ago

  I have a very similar pair in black that I wear with my jeans or dress slacks. They are comfy which in my book trumps everything else. Continue to enjoy them.

• Joy replied 8 years ago

  Summer, I know what you mean. I see retired women who are nicely dressed but look like they are wearing their office clothes from 20 years ago.
  Lara, I will probably pass these on. I have some wide navy pants that I want to try them with, but I think the heels on these shoes are too high for any pants that I have.

• replied 8 years ago

  I'm glad you decided to pass them on.  They are not the "you" I have come to know.