Imogen Harness Bootie (Women)

I shouldn’t have ordered these, although they’re very well built, a nice, solid shoe. They’re as rugged as can be without being actually hefty (I favor durable footwear; these seem like these will certainly endure). They would rest at the intersection between moto and western, but lean more western because of the narrowness of the tippy toe. They’re TTS, and like most Sarto, def comfy. All pluses. The problem is, what’re they gonna go with? Unlike the Gracely (which I rejected for Gentle Souls’ Elly Bootie for other reasons, see my review), the shaft is too short for a skirt or dress. You don’t want this length to peek out under wide legs or flares, they’d look odd AB’s disproportionate. Wrong. They would have been good in the era of skinnies—but skinny jeans are loooong dead, God rest their strangling souls. They went back.

I’ve been on the lookout for a pair of low-profile booties and came across these during the anniversary sale. The sleek silhouette and walkable heel height instantly stood out—they pair easily with everything from jeans to midi dresses. The main drawback is the leather, which feels quite stiff right out of the box and may require some breaking in. The buckle detail adds a bit of edge and leans slightly western, which could be a plus if that’s your style. The footbed, however, is lacking in cushioning, so they might not be ideal for all-day wear. Still, at $110, they’re a solid option if you’re after a streamlined low profile bootie and are willing to trade a bit of comfort for style.