The weather outside may be sweltering, but my mind is on fall! One item on my wish list from years past is a slouchy fit, chunky knit sweater mini and I found a few (here & here) fully stocked in petite, tall, or regular sizing that fit the bill.
Best part is, they’re very affordable and ASOS ships internationally very quickly for me (I do have their annual expedited shipping membership for $19 a year, but they offer free regular shipping over $50). If you’re a casual dresser, these will be great with flat boots and tights or as the weather cools.
Boots and booties are the first items I shop for during the Anniversary sale, and there are a few flattering options this year. This post is focused on footwear so I will write more about the clothing items and jackets next week (and show how they fit on my petite mom as well!).
Ankle Boots
1. Timeless pointed leather bootie
These are your super classic pointed bootie, with stable block heels and a sleek silhouette. These were a definite buy for me after trying them on, and I know they’ll be versatile with tights, jeans & pants alike. See them on me below with bare legs vs leggings.
These are also narrow ankle friendly – thanks to the zipper, they had less gapping compared to all the booties I tried!
Steve Madden Nadalie Bootie $79.90
(Regular $120)
4 colors, including cognac brown & a chic teal croc
Fit: Runs half size small. I’m usually a 5 to 5.5 in most shoe brands and sized up to a 6 for these!
I got this straighter cut chunky sweater dress in both a 0 regular (cream) and 0 petite (grey). The regular hits above my knees when unbelted, and the petite is a true mini on me.
2. Leg flattering cutout bootie
These are the most visually flattering bootie from the Nsale, in my opinion, especially when worn with bare legs. The upper front part narrows in towards the top, making the ankle area appear very slender. The cutouts on both sides also help prevent ankle rubbing on me. For socks, I recommend these lower cut no-show socks.
I was seriously torn about what color to get in these, as I also loved the snake print or black! Ultimately I went with the Nadalie style for a black leather bootie – I think it’s a less unique design, but will go with more in my wardrobe.
Steve Madden Kaylah Bootie $89.90
(Regular $135)
5 colors, including black leather & a gorgeous snake print
Fit: TTS, pointy front is on the narrow side. I got my usual 5.5. Note: from talking to readers, a few of you went up 1/2 size to get in and out of the bootie easier since there is no zipper.
3. Stretch Gore Top Bootie
Marc Fisher makes some great quality shoes that last years and years in my wardrobe. Their booties are usually pretty pricey so this is at significant savings! The cognac suede is a gorgeous shade of brown that will flatter many skin tones.
Compared to the SM Nadalies, these feature a stretch gore top instead of zipper, and have a slightly more casual vibe with the stacked heels. These are a tad wider than the Nadalies around the ankles, but still narrow ankle friendly.
Marc Fisher Oshay Bootie $99.90
(Regular $190)
5 colors, including a lovely “cloud” taupe as well.
Fit: TTS, trying on my usual 5.5.
Tall Boots
OTK Boots in Cognac or Black
Over the knee boots can seem daunting for petite ladies but they can actually be very elongating, IMO! Amongst the many new arrivals this fall, this one is definitely my pick, from the rich cognac brown color to the sharp silhouette and value price point.
Fit-wise, note they come up to mid thigh on me (I’m 5′ tall), so might be too high on someone shorter than me unless you let the material slouch a bit, which I think also looks nice. There is a grip strip inside the top to help keep these from sliding down, and a zipper at the inner ankles for easier in and out.
Steve Madden OTK Boots $79.90
(Regular $130)
In black or cognac faux suede
Fit: TTS, I got 5.5 and they fit throughout my calves and thighs.
Investment Quality Suede Boots
Gorgeous-looking suede boots that I unfortunately couldn’t find in-store to review, but from what I researched, these look pretty darn classic with a medium heel and almond toe, and these stretch suede SW styles are generally very narrow calf friendly.
Note: most of the unhappy reviews on the listing page are for an older, rather odd leather color in this boot, not for the black suede! There is a second SW OTK boot included in the sale as well, but note that one is a velvety fabric and not real suede, which I would want at this price point!
Stuart Weitzman Zuzanna OTK Boots $499.90
(Regular $795)
Sizes 5 – 12
Splash-able Shoes
1. Platform Wedge Sneaker
I included these in my Top Versatile & Practical Buys from the NSale! What I wrote in that post:
Lots to love about this shoe! Water-resistant outer (note: water resistant means it can wick off light moisture drops if it happens to start raining, but is not intended to be water PROOF), comfy low platform with non slip rubber sole, and low wedge heel for some added height. $50 is a wonderful sale price for genuine suede sneaker-booties.
Caslon Wedge Sneaker $49.90
(REGULAR $100)
Fit: Listing says runs narrow but I felt that they ran TTS. Trying on my usual 5.5 which felt very comfortable.
2. Edgy Leather Hikers
Out of all the shoes I tried on in store, this one kept garnering questions and compliments from passersby, so I think it’s safe to say hiker style boots are sticking around from a fashion standpoint!
Blondo is known for their waterproof footwear (so a little more protective than the label “water resistant” ), and this might be one of their more unique styles especially in the soft mushroom taupe color. Btw, with lace-up boots like these, my tip is to keep the top row untied to minimize rubbing against your leg or ankle.
Blondo Waterproof Hiker Boots $99.90 (Regular $180)
Black or mushroom leather (a beautiful taupe)
Fit: TTS, trying on 5.5.
3. Elegant, Warm Hunter Boots
These were also included in my top 9 picks and might be the most petite and narrow calf friendly Hunter style I’ve tried! The height of these falls in between their classic women’s Tall and Short boots, and hits me at my upper calf. The back buckle is adjustable, allowing me to get a pretty close fit.
These are definitely a more elegant take on Hunter’s usually preppy boots, and the quilting feels warmer as well. My store didn’t have the sale color “Dark Slate,” but from the video on Nordstrom they look like a pretty deep grey!
Hunter Refined Quilted Boots $109.90
(Regular $175)
Also available in black, though those are full price.
Fit: TTS but no half sizes. I wear 5 in all my hunters and 5.5 in leather or suede booties.
4. Stylish Spots for the Fam
Very different from the style I’m recommending above but OH so cute. Nori is going to be delighted when she sees the pink pair I bought her!
Compared to the quilted refined style above, the women’s short measures about 2″ shorter in the shaft and gaps a bit on my legs at that height, as you can see in the below photo. These leopard ones are actually a “refined” style as well, so Hunter’s traditional short boots would likely fit even wider.
Btw, for those who like the Big Kid print, I can wear a big kid size 4 in Hunters (and Im a 5 in their womens), so someone who is a size 6 to 6.5 in womens might get away with a big kid size 5 for a great price! Those are actually taller than the womens short – see my review on their kids Original boots.
Womens Short $99 (Regular $165) – 8″ tall shaft
Kids Original $55 (Regular $90) – 12″ tall shaft
Baby & Toddler $35 (Regular $60)
Other Sale Shoe Try Ons
Adidas Swift Run sneaker ($49.90) – how cute are these? Runs half size big. Knit material is stretchy and the toe area is wider, which my mom loved since it’s very comfortable even over bunions. I got the kids instead:
This is the kids version on sale ($39.90) in black or a beautiful dusty blush/gold! Sizing goes all the way up to big kid size 7, which according to their size conversion chart is a womens EUR 40 (or US womens 9.5-10)! I got those in big kid size 4, which fits similar to a womens 6.
I got these Madewell mules ($49.90) last year in a different print, but if you missed out on those, I love the true leopard print and other colors offered this year! It says runs small – I am trying on a 5.5 and it’s a good fit, but perhaps go half size up if you have wider feet.
Caslon slingback flats ($49.90) Trying 5.5, TTS and seemed comfortable off the bat. Caslon always delivers with well-made yet affordable everyday flats that come in extended sizes 4 – 13. My mom got these in black which I think is the most versatile and sleek color out of the bunch.
Blondo waterproof chelsea boot trying on a 5.5, TTS. Good if you like a lower chelsea bootie, personally I prefer higher shafted ankle boots. This particular color looks like it is temporarily unavailable, but should be back!
Other Keepers I’d Recommend (in addition to my Top 9 list)
- Topshop jeans in “new grey” – beautiful true medium grey color in-person without unnecessary bells and whistles if you don’t want rips or fading. Petite-friendly length if you get “28” length – the inseam on a size 26×28 measures 25 inches long. Go at least 1 size up at the waist.
- Socialite printed tee – ($15) an underrated item that my mom and I . both loved. Very soft stretchy material, casually oversized fit, and extremely versatile. I’ll be showing how to pair this with several different casual & WFH looks.
- Zella kids active / lounge wear – Size kids XL (14-16) can fit a womens xs, and size kids L (10-12) can fit a womens xxs petite or someone similar to my pre-pregnancy size. Again my mom is 5’1″ 105lb, usually size 0P to 2P, and she loved all of these in kids XL (the leggings are still a little long on her): supersoft pocket joggers, twist front hooded tee, supersoft side tie hoodie, live in leggings in green urban. Note their kids live in leggings are a little lighter weight with less compression than their womens, and the rise doesn’t come up as high.
- Gibson soft tops – cozy tunic starting in xxs petite is very soft and comfortable, will get lots of wear as a WFH or lounge top. I personally also like their wrap top in the same cozy fabric (see on me here in xxs) which can be worn tucked or untucked, but note this has a lower V neckline due to regular sizing – looks nice with a lace cami peeking out under!
- Necessaire Body Duo ($35 ; $50 value) – love their more natural products including the Eucalyptus body wash, but hadn’t recommended because regular price is a bit much!
- Oribe Dry Shampoo & Texturizing Spray set ($64 ; $96 value). This one sells out early each year!
I hope this NSale shoe guide was helpful! There were actually a LOT of styles I tried on that I did not care for due to fit, coloring, or off the bat comfort, so if there’s any particular styles you’re considering and unsure about, let me know in the comments and I’ll share my thoughts if I tried it!
