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We're always a fan of the short ankle-high boots — they're perfect beneath pants all fall and winter long. We like the Nike Air technology in these simple Cole Haan boots, and we like the variety of sizes still available even though they're marked down — they were $298, now $161.46 at Sierra Trading Post. (They're available in both black and brown, too.) Cole Haan Lynda Short Boots – Nike Air® (L-2)Sales of note for 10.10.24
- Nordstrom – Extra 25% off clearance (through 10/14); there's a lot from reader favorites like Boss, FARM Rio, Marc Fisher LTD, AGL, and more. Plus: free 2-day shipping, and cardmembers earn 6x points per dollar (3X the points on beauty).
- Ann Taylor – Extra 50% off sale (ends 10/12)
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything plus extra 25% off your $125+ purchase
- Boden – 10% off new styles with code; free shipping over $75
- Eloquii – Extra 50% off a lot of sale items, with code
- J.Crew – 40% off sitewide
- J.Crew Factory – 50% off entire site, plus extra 25% off orders $150+
- Lo & Sons – Fall Sale, up to 35% off
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Neiman Marcus – Sale on sale, up to 85% off
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – 50% off 2+ markdowns
- Target – Circle week, deals on 1000s of items
- White House Black Market – Buy one, get one – 50% off full price styles
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- What to say to friends and family who threaten to not vote?
- What boots do you expect to wear this fall and winter?
- What beauty treatments do you do on a regular basis to look polished?
- Can I skip the annual family event my workplace holds, even if I'm a manager?
- What small steps can I take today to get myself a little more “together” and not feel so frazzled all of the time?
- The oldest daughter is America's social safety net — change my mind…
- What have you lost your taste for as you've aged?
- Tell me about your favorite adventure travels…
Another Laura
I love these. Purchased them in black at Nordstroms on sale for ~$200 in fall 2009. They are my absolute favorite. Bad news, though, the heel on one was loose and fell off while I was walking downtown! Nordstroms replaced it with a new pair, and gave them to me at the new sale price of ~$150, so I got new ones with money back. Hopefully, my experience is an anomaly, and these new ones don’t have the same problem.
AE
I love Nordstrom’s returns and exchanges policy. I just returned a pair of Via Spiga slingbacks that were damaged badly after only one wear. They gave me my money back.
Lawgirl
Looks kinda man-ish. No like.
Shayna
Anyone know where I can find Ports 1961 dresses outside of Bloomingdales/Saks? I found a beautiful gray silk dress – but for nearly $600, it’s too much to spend on something I may only wear once. Would love to find it on Bluefly or similar, so if anyone has thoughts, let me know! Thanks :-) (This is the dress, btw: http://bit.ly/byWpoh)
Shayna
Anyone know where I can find Ports 1961 dresses outside of Bloomingdales/Saks? I found a beautiful gray silk dress – but for nearly $600, it’s too much to spend on something I may only wear once. Would love to find it on Bluefly or similar, so if anyone has thoughts, let me know! Thanks :-)
(Comment w/ a link to the dress is stuck in moderation, but if you want to see it, Google “ports 1961 draped silk dress” and it’s the first picture to come up from Google’s shopping picture results)
Chicago K
I think this is the same dress in a different color for 400. http://www.6pm.com/ports-1961-cj1sd042-bifn-nest
similar ports dress for 245 -http://www.zappos.com/ports-1961-cape-sleeve-dress-date?zfcTest=prodPage2:0
Chicago K
Actually the price of the first link is 357.
Shayna, the dress that came up on Google for me is amazing! Is this for the bar mitzvah you are going to? I hope you find it on sale, it’s stunning!
Suze
Oh, agree 2x. Shayna, I hope you get to wear it in good health and good humor!!
AD
Wow, that’s a great dress! You’ll definitely look fab if you end up with that!
Shayna
Thanks! Yes – I believe this is the dress! Yes – for the bar mitzvah… the goal is to look fabulous (what can I say… I only see these relatives once every year or two so I’m psyched show off my newly svelte form!) :-D
Anon L
Definitely NOT my taste/ style. These seem older than the Milly cardigan IMHO. But I wonder if these could work as commuting boots if you walk to work in inclement weather (there was a lot of discussion re: commuting shoes awhile back)…
Anon
This blog features the worst shoes. C should stick to clothes!
Jay
Not always. I never fail to get compliments on the green t-strap heels featured a year or so ago. While I wouldn’t wear these boots with a skirt, I think under pants they’d be fine, and the brand is trustworthy. If you don’t like something, don’t buy it!
M
Thread hijack: Has anyone ordered from mytheresa.com? I’m considering purchasing a pair of boots; however, I wanted to hear what others thought about their customer service, return procedures, etc. first. Thanks!
Liz
Wow, those boots sound like they may actually be comfortable. I tend to hate heels and boots for different reasons, but I might wear these. They’re also simple enough. Too many boots come off a little vampy.
anon
I have these — they won’t be your “signature item” in any outfit, but they are comfortable, high-quality, and work well with almost any pair of pants. I wore them a couple of times a week last winter.
Lucy
These look like great boots to have. Yes, not super stylish, but not noticeably unstylish either. The shoe equivalent of a plain black tote bag, which always seems to come in handy!
Another Laura
Yep and yep. I too wear them 2-3 times a week during the fall/winter months in wet Seattle (but I won’t wear them in the snow). I wouldn’t wear them with a skirt, but with pants they look sharp. Maybe not high fashion but great quality and comfy for my 14 hour days.
S
Threadjack: can anyone comment on the quality of Fossil leather handbags? I am considering purchasing one but have no experience with the brand. I have found that leather can vary so much in quality that I am hesitant when dealing with a brand I don’t know that well. Thanks!
MelD
My mom’s been buying Fossil handbags for years. She’s been using her current one for about 18 months of heavy, daily use and while the color has faded a bit, otherwise it’s in great shape.
Eliz
I have a Fossil leather briefcase-type purse that I’ve owned for about three years. I have stuffed it with my giant laptop, binders, case files, etc. and it still looks brand new. I get compliments on it all the time.
Jay
Per my mom’s and my experience with multiple bags, Fossil stuff is good quality and lasts for years.
S
Thanks all – I’m sold!
E
Yay! A thing I have noted about this blog is that I have never once seen my default work footwear being featured. Ankle-length boots are comfortable and very subtle and classy under trousers. Oh, and they stand up very well to the weather as well.
AD
Agreed. Ankle boots are a wardrobe staple for me during the winter months when I wear pants. They keep my feet warm and offer some protection when I need to run back and forth between the two buildings my company is sited in, which can be sometimes several times a day.
I had what appeared to be an earlier version of these boots. I also like Aquatalias – they’re comfortable, weatherproof, and some are quite attractive.
Another Laura
Are the Aquatalias good in the snow? Where’s a good source to buy them?
AD
I haven’t worn them to walk blocks in heavy snow, but I haven’t had any problems with just running-around type of wear. I bought a patent pair and a suede pair from Endless last year, and definitely had a bit of concern about the suede in particular but both came through like champs after being in heavy rotation through a Boston winter.
E
*anguished cry*
I actually had these in my shopping cart despite the $47 shipping charge, and then noticed that my size was only available in narrow. Not a hope.
Amy
Whoa, $47 for shipping? Was this at Sierra Trading Post? They almost always have a code out for 20 percent off and free shipping, if that helps?
luluaj
$47 dollars for shipping is hilarious and unfathomable. They must be delivered by hand or by a carrier pigeon?!?!?!
CFM
Delivered by doves, darling
Anon3L
haha, I love the comments on this blog!
E
Or to Ireland. ;)
EM
I have a pair of Cole Haan boots similar to these, several years old. Now, it feels as though the interior sole has worn down or something, as the bottom of my feet hurt like heck after only wearing for a few hours, whereas before I could wear all day. Also, the black dye on the inside seems to bleed onto my socks. Can anyone explain either of these two phenomenons?
Also, threadjack: I need new checks, not more than 60 or so. (Because who really writes checks anymore?) Can anyone recommend a really cheap place to get them?
Lobbyist
I get cute checks at Checks in the mail dot com
anano
If you have a Cole Haan store near you, I might take them in and see what they can do about the interior sole. If you don’t have a store near you, a cobbler might be able to do something.
As for the dye transfer, I had a similar problem with a pair of cole haan shoes (they dye basically transferred onto the bottom of my feet and turned them green). But it stopped after the 3d or 4th time I wore them. I guess I would also ask a cobbler or cole haan about this–there may be a liner that you could put in to prevent this. Or just wear socks you don’t care about, since they probably don’t show much with a pair of boots like this.
AIMS
Sometimes a cotton swab w/rubbing alcohol helps alleviate the dye problem. Try in a safe spot first.
For the other issue, would getting a dr. scholl’s type insert help?
Lindsay
I just got some from Walmart – the website is walmartchecks.com. It was only $21 for a box of checks with a fun pattern and font, plus 144 matching address labels.
If you don’t care what your checks look like, many banks offer them for free. Mine doesn’t, but I can’t pass up gorgeous blue, green, brown, and pink checks anyways!
Housecounsel
I am a huge fan of Cole Haan, but these just seem boring (yet comfortable).
FORTY-SEVEN DOLLARS for shipping????
nonA
I’ve used sierra trading post before and don’t remember shipping charges being anywhere near that high … and like others have said, there are always “free shipping” codes floating around.
Kaye
It was probably international shipping.
BargainHunter
These boots are horrible looking, but probably comfortable and very useful during the winter when you just need something that keeps your feet dry and warm. However, I would NEVER pay this much for boots of this kind when you can ALWAYS find something similar and useful on zappos or at Macy’s for about $50. Think .. you buy them for the utility and they’re going to get trashed. Save your $$ for cute items.
Lucy
I disagree. I can tell the difference between a pair of CHs like the ones here and a cheap version from Macys. While I agree that these are useful for running around, etc., I wouldn’t call them commuting shoes one wears to deal with snow/rain. To me, they’re shoes you wear when you have a long day of meetings or court, etc., and you need to look put together but be comfortable. Or, shoes that you wear when wearing pumps or pointy toed/thin heeled boots stops being a priority & you decide comfort is more important. As someone said above, these are hardly ‘wow’ shoes, but they are well made and multipurpose & that reflects itself quite obviously.
anon
or when you are far more likely to buy “cute” clothes for your multiple children than for your middle-aged, dignified, professional, self.
Suze
This. Sigh. Oh, and they aren’t *that* bad :). Definitely fine for your basic 12 hour day or a travel day or whatever.
Michelle
Sigh. Exactly. And then they become teenagers and pillage your closet for the few cute things you do have, and those things look better on the teenagers. Life is not fair.
Frump
I’m not sure exactly why there seems to be so hate towards the shoes. They actually seem to lack the more traditional frumptacular qualities that many more ‘comfortable’ shoes often have- chunky, blocky heels, awkwardly shaped toe, overall clunky appearance. In contrast, these have a lovely almond shaped toe (practical but honestly I believe the best blend between round and pointed, especially since super ultra pointy-toed boots can create a tarty witch look, which I doubt most people aspire towards), a heel that is slim enough to be stylish but not so thin that the boot becomes unwearable in inclement weather or for a more conservative work environment, and a rise high enough to cover the ankle/lower leg area for when pant legs come up a bit when sitting. If I knew better, I’d say these were all the qualities of a pretty great work boot.
RoadWarriorette
You said it perfectly! I actually think these boots are lovely, and would be great for travel in the winter.
E
Also, for those of us with, ahem, “full” calves, an ankle boot + pants looks pretty nondescript for a long day at work, which is all some of us need on somedays.
anon
I also don’t understand the vitrol. True, these are not the cutest, but something like them is an absolute necessity for winter in the North East. That being said, I’m glad I live in California now — I’ve eliminated this category from my shoe wardrobe.
Anon
I really don’t understand the hate for these. They looks like simple, basic boots that will work well with pants to me.
M
You can wear this comfortable shoes with this type of dresses *Turtleneck sweater dress:
http://www.talbots.com/is/image/Talbots/03036205_0156?$zoom$
It has a winter chic. On this website you can find great outfits for work.
M
Or with this dress paired with black tights:
http://www.talbots.com/is/image/Talbots/03036203?$zoom$
You will feel quite feminine and comfortable.
CJ
I agree with many others–hideous!! For the $160 range, I think style and comfort could collide at least a little.