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Updated: Oct 10, 2019 38 Comments · by

Coffee Break: Gainsbourg 85 Suede Knee Boots

Coffee Break

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Scrunched knee-high boots are coming back (particularly in a beige/nude-for-you vibe), so here’s my question: where do these fall on the business casual/conservative spectrum? Are they solidly in the “business casual” camp, or if the rest of your outfit is preppy or conservative enough, can they move into conservative casual? (Or am I making too much of the more relaxed vibe, and these are just as appropriate as any knee-high boots at your office — which, some older readers of this blog may remember, was still a subject of some debate even ten years ago.) I like the look and think it’s stylish and an interested, updated take on the regular knee-high boot, but I’m curious to hear what the readers think. These particular boots are, ahem, $1,295 at Net-a-Porter. Gainsbourg 85 Suede Knee Boots These Aldo boots are down to lucky sizes but at $49 are a great dupe; I suspect this $45 boot qualifies as an “Amazon rando” brand but, hey, $45 and a lower heel. Meanwhile, this $59 boot comes in regular and wide calf sizes.  This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

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Comments

  1. ER

    I work in an office where jeans are A-OK, and I still don’t think these boots would be a good look. Can’t put a finger on why, though. Maybe because it looks like the wearer is going to a fancy saloon instead of an office?

    • Never too many shoes...

      I think it is the colour – tan suede reads very casual and “western” to me. I think if they were black, with an otherwise plain black dress, they would look great.

      That said, a slouch just makes my short, wide calves look shorter and wider, so it’s a no from me, dawg.

    • Ellen

      These remind my Grandma of Pamela Sue Martin on Dynasty! I love these but they are strictly boots used to attract men and not for acacemic pursuits, Grandma Trudy says. She reminds me that boots like these come off right before the dress. Always.

    • Dagmar

      Slouchy boots like this always look like they walked out of a Whitesnake video to me. I recognize that this is my own hang up, but I cannot get past it.

      • LaurenB

        Agree. I think that boots with that high of a heel look stupid whether or not they are slouchy. A boot is, by definition, for colder weather and possibly snowy/icy weather. There can be a heel on a boot, but a thicker, block heel. The stiletto heel doesn’t fit with a boot IMO.

  2. Aquitalia Rhumba

    I know that this style is a couple of years old. Still an OK boot to wear with dresses? It is spendy, so if I buy it, I want it to be wearable for a few years.

    • Coach Laura

      They have a new 2019 Rhumba II and I think it’s more classic. I have a similar boot that I’ll still wear this year. But I’m not up on the latest trends.

  3. Dating While Exhausted

    Dating someone for a few months now and we both have very busy (12-16 hr days 6-7 days a week) work schedules, sometimes for weeks without a break in this pattern. Sometimes we are also in different cities for work travel for days at a time. These periods of time are likely to be typically 3-5 weeks at a time, maybe 2-3x year at this intensity, though the travel distance is likely to happen for 5-8 days/month ongoing.

    It is a fairly new relationship and I am wanting to do whatever I can to prevent this from leading to things fizzling out. As it is, when we are about to get together in person, we often stick with surface level conversation or snuggle with the tv on because we are both too fried to do much else.

    I have dated long distance before and we mitigated it with long calls and deep conversation. However, neither of us has much brain power by the time we have any time outside of work. What can I do, if anything, to keep the flame going even when we’re both fried? I think he could be someone long-term so I worry that work schedules will ruin something before it can really grow roots.

    • Anonymous

      Leave the house. Even if you’re just getting a glass of wine around the corner. Snuggling with TV won’t bring you any closer.

    • Anonymous

      When you’re in these intense periods, it’s ok to just sort of be. From your description, the intense periods are relatively short and infrequent. Build in some time when you’re both available. If you’re just coming out of a busy period and he’s jetting off on a work trip, maybe you can join him and make a long weekend out of it. Save the long talks/calls for when you’re both emotionally and mentally able to connect.

      • Anon

        +1. IME it gets to be more of a problem if only one person is constantly fried, but works surprisingly well if both are super busy (as long as you have a level of trust and similar level of need to spend time together/connect etc.) because neither has much time to message, call, etc. It has worked for me to schedule one afternoon/ evening (usually Sunday when I’ve had a bit of a rest) to hang out and cuddle, and live our respective lives the rest of the time. Short checking in by Facetime every few days when both have a bit more bandwidth helps if one or both are travelling.

    • Anon

      Are you both based in the same city? If yes, I would start planning more little things to do together. I’m in agreement with the commenter that said even if it’s around the corner, getting out together is always fun. Flirting in public always lights the spark.

  4. Cat

    For a regular day, I wouldn’t bat an eyelash. That said, these are getting a little close to what I remember people wearing when I was a kid, so probably won’t go for this style myself — I’m generally struggling with all the 80s and 90s trends lately!

  5. Anon

    How do you deal when you have very different working styles with people on your project? I can only handle so many intense in-person meetings in a row before I need a break, for water, food, restroom, or just solo work time! I’m on a project where people seem content to just work around the clock without breaks. No one ever seems to need a break. I feel like a freak of nature for just wanting to walk around the block.

    They also do not seem to acknowledge the human side of a person. I like to talk about weekends and have some kind of chat about life outside of work, but everyone is all work, all the time. If you ask them how their weekend was, they say they thought about work or felt guilty for not working more. I’m like… *insert thinking face emoji*

    • Alena

      You got into a team of overachievers, who are trying to overachieve each other. If you take a closer look some of them are probably just imitating working super hard. If you’re the only one feeling the way you feel, it’d be hard for you to go against everyone.
      If you’re a good player and have a leadership in you you can try and win with the line “let’s work smarter, not harder”. You won’t move them into “let’s just have a good time” move, but you’d have an excuse for breaks.

    • LaurenB

      I’m the same way. Just go head to the ladies’ room and sit there for a few minutes and collect yourself. No one’s really going to say anything.

  6. anon

    The slouch, combined with the high spiky heel, does not read I’M WORKING. It’s a going-out boot. Where you’re going to, I’m not sure.

  7. Anonymous

    I recent looked at boots and have concluded that while someone might look good in this style it isn’t me

  8. callalily

    Does anyone have/can suggest a job with only 40-50 hours/week during regular time (sometimes being over that is fine) and over 100k salary that is not in the medical field (no med school) … what is it and how did you get there?

    • AnonTechie

      Most Tech and software jobs should work. Depending on your background- Marketing, Product, Design and Engineer/Dev roles are the nicest fit. I’m not a huuuge fan of Customer Success and Account management because while you dont work a ton of hours, you also dont have much control over your calendar

    • Anon in Texas

      HR at big companies pays this and more. You’ll definitely work 45 or so hours, but I rarely put in over 50 hours. I’m at an energy company and aside from the high salaries, we also have a employer fully-funded pension, 6% 401K match and a very generous annual bonus. I’m not sure if pensions are still the norm in corporate America, but energy still has them.

    • Anon.

      Most jobs that have something to do with business or data analytics (except in banks), accounting, product management, supply chain, procurement, …

    • NYCer

      Trusts and Estates lawyer. Obviously you have to go to law school and do reasonably well. It is a small department at most law firms, so it definitely takes some luck to get a job, but the hours can be very, very reasonable (normal).

    • Parfait

      Mechanical Engineer. Software Developer if you are NOT in crazy startup land.

    • Anonymous

      Most corporate jobs that aren’t banking, law or consulting. I work for Big Oil and max 50 hrs a week.

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