Open Toe Boots Are Not OK

Mar 13, 2008 @ 2:02pm

I love Givenchy.

Their Fall '08 collection was one of my favorites and their Spring '08 Couture still pops up in my dreams.

But I cannot forgive them for putting open toe boots on the runway. Or maybe I should say I can't forgive mass-market brands for attempting to make this trend affordable so that even people who don't worship at the altar of Riccardo Tisci can walk around in open toe boots.

My mom used to say that the four inch wooden platforms with white, cherry splattered canvas that I ran around in the summer before high school were the most impractical shoes ever made. But she'd never seen open-toe booties.

In New York, it's pretty much either cold and rainy, in which case your poor toes would fall off; or, it's hot and sweaty, in which case your calves would probably melt from being stuck in a leather chamber all day.

Either way, you're miserably uncomfortable. Someone please explain - why would anyone wear these off the runway?

posted by guest

Mar 13, 2008 2:11PM

because they're freakin awesome....
this is the natural extension of the gladiator sandal.

posted by Charlie Girl

Mar 13, 2008 2:25PM

I love them! There are many things Americans don't get fashion/ style wise!

posted by guest

Mar 13, 2008 2:27PM

and because there are some days when it's just warm/cool enough to wear whatever you want

posted by guest

Mar 13, 2008 2:44PM

I have a pair of open-toe boots from barbara bui. they are GAW-JUSS. the look really hot in the fall with black opaque tights and are just right with bare legs on a cool summer night when you need a light jacket. I have gotten more complimets on them than almost any other pair of shoes I own (except two amazing pairs of miu miu's I often hear it about). k thx bye. ;) -chisaiboo

posted by splendini

Mar 13, 2008 2:47PM

That's one torturous looking piece. I'm such a cupcake when it comes to pediatric discomfort. I get tired just by looking at it. Not attractive either.

posted by Emily

Mar 13, 2008 3:07PM

They look nice, but I would never buy them. If I'm going to be buying boots that expensive, I'd like them to be more versatile.

posted by guest

Mar 13, 2008 3:24PM

HIDEOUS.

posted by guest

Mar 13, 2008 3:27PM

hahaha I'm with like, um most other people on here! The Gucci Open Toes are gorgeous! While yes I hate the particular ones you have photo'd, but i'm trying to figure out if I'm purchasing the pink patent ones or the black sky high stileto ones that they have in Elle for the new line. If you can pull them off, then they work...but if you don't have the guts or figure to do it, then yeah, they will look awful.

posted by socialista

Mar 13, 2008 3:29PM

Not going to lie, I love these-- I was first captivated by a pair by Theory, and was adamantly searching for a pair at a slightly more affordable price.. but no such luck. If a cheap pair is just as cute though- I may consider.. but they're just a fad.. so I may just keep my ankle boots closed up for now.

posted by guest

Mar 13, 2008 3:31PM

Well, there are other places than New York so your example is useless...AND I would totally wear them!

posted by mpw

Mar 13, 2008 3:53PM

But what about those open-toe boots that you're supposed to wear after a pedicure? (JK, those are even more fug.)

posted by HeatherChandler

Mar 13, 2008 3:57PM

@ Charlie Girl

The exact same thing can be said of Europeans. It's not like all of Europe is the land of Magically Well Dressed people. Sheesh.

posted by hannah

Mar 13, 2008 4:46PM

Who cares about comfort when you can be fashionable? ;P

posted by guest

Mar 13, 2008 5:11PM

BECAUSE THEY ARE AWESOME! If you had guts, you could pull it off :)

posted by guest

Mar 13, 2008 5:49PM

amazing!!

posted by guest

Mar 13, 2008 6:21PM

"Well, there are other places than New York so your example is useless . . ."

AMEN!

This blog can be so New York-centric. Guess what--it's the WORLD WIDE web.

posted by guest

Mar 13, 2008 6:30PM

shoes don't need to make sense -- anything goes; especially if you're not sporting those tourist white sneakers.

posted by guest

Mar 13, 2008 6:31PM

I live in San Francisco and they make perfect sense in our crazy weather. I know first hand since I bought a pair knee high open toe boots about 5-6 years ago (Dusica Dusica) and I've worn them SO many times. And like one other poster mentioned, I get more compliments on them, especially by men, than any of my other shoes...even the super sky-high heels!

posted by guest

Mar 13, 2008 6:31PM

does anyone else think this looks like you sprained your ankle but can't live without your heels?

posted by enicke_

Mar 13, 2008 6:59PM

They absolutely look like torture. I live in a desert, so I can't imagine using them here in August. However, there's other places where weather is kind enough to let you indulge in little paces of masochism.

posted by guest

Mar 13, 2008 8:32PM

total disregard for functional fashion, though who am I to collapse function and fashion into one

posted by guest

Mar 13, 2008 11:10PM

i completely agree with guest at 6:31
and i dont like them very much :S

posted by guest

Mar 14, 2008 12:09AM

easily the ugliest shoes i've ever seen, i love what guest 6:31 said. just wrong on so many levels. maybe i would like them a bit more if they were more gladiator-inspired and not biker-chick-dyi-attempt- gone horribly wrong.

posted by dumbbrunette5

Mar 14, 2008 12:33AM

i really like open toe boots (just not the ones from Givenchy). Mine arent any warmer than tennis shoes so its not a problem wearing them in the perpetual heat in Thailand (where i live). This summer I'm moving to the US and I'll still where them in the winter with thick tights, which wont be too cold for me because I dont get cold very easily.
And I TOTALLY agree with the guest at 3:31pm, you seem not to realize that people do exist outside of new york

posted by guest

Mar 14, 2008 5:58PM

Sorry, but open-toed boots just scream FASHION VICTIM

posted by gen

Mar 15, 2008 7:38AM

i dislike them. have seen them around a lot. they have a tendency to look extremely tacky. still, i guess the 90s revival is well on its way.

but then i avoid open-toed shoes anyway - living in a dirty city like london, there is no way to wear such contraptions without getting blackened toes [or tights, if one resorts to that] - which rather kills the glamour.

posted by guest

Mar 15, 2008 6:27PM

these are hidious. i cannot imagine anyone wearing these, no matter where they live.