Fall/Winter 2009 Fashion Trend: Open-Toed Booties and Shooties

Some fall 2009 fashion trends are more wearable than others. A great example of a not-so-wearable trend are over-the-knee boots. Over-the-knee boots emerged last fall and have amazingly managed to stick around for this fall as well. For some reason I just can't picture myself wearing them without feeling like a streetwalker. Other trends, however, are still daring but slightly more wearable. One such trend is the opened-toed bootie and shootie. Opened-toed booties were prominent on the fall 2009 fashion runways. Above: Alejandro Ingelmo, Hermes, Roger Vivier, Manolo Blahnik.

Open-toed booties, like the moto jacket and the over-the-knee boot, started to emerge last fall and now seem to be widespread as opened-toed booties can be found in high end and lower end stores alike these days. Should you wish to acquire a pair yourself, I've assembled a few less daring but more wearable options to chose from above: Aldo "Hurtgen" bootie for $130 in black suede; BCBGirls "Chester" bootie for $129 in cognac and black leather available on www.piperlime.com; Charlotte Ruse ruched bootie for $26.99 in faux black leather; Forever 21 "Odette" cage bootie for $28.80 in faux black leather; L.A.M.B. "Rasta" bootie for $345 in black leather available at www.piperlime.com; N.Y.L.A. "Isabel" studded bootie for $109.95 in black leather at Nordstrom; Stuart Weitzman "Yugo" bootie for $395 in black leather available at Nordstrom.

Opened-toed shooties also appeared on the fall 2009 fashion runways. Above: Calvin Klein, Nicholas Kirkwood, Oscar de la Renta, Versace. If you are wondering what the difference between a bootie and shootie is, it is the height. A shootie comes up to your ankle, while a bootie goes a tad higher.

I decided to go ahead and purchase a pair of opened-toed shooties myself a few weeks ago and picked up the above pair of BCBGenerations "Rimy" shooties for $128.95 in black suede available at Nordstrom (they are also available in grey and brown suede). They look great with a short dress with my moto jacket or paired with jeans. If you are concerned about wearing the opened-toe shoe with tights and having the tip of your tights exposed, don't be. It is also a trend currently to wear the opened-toed bootie or shooties with tights. Listed above are a few more options if you are interested in snagging a pair yourself: Charles by Charles David "Fluster" shootie for $125 in black and plum leather available on www.piperlime.com; Charlotte Ruse bow tie shootie for $29.99 in black, brown, charcoal, camel, and purple faux leather; Charlotte Ruse studded shootie for $29.99 in black and dark purple faux leather; Seychelles "Charm" shootie for $100 in clay leather available on www.piperlime.com; Soaring shooties for $158 in tawny leather available at Anthropologie; Steve Madden "Merriee" shooties for $90 in black patent leather or purple suede available on www.piperlime.com; Unlisted by Kenneth Cole "Top Shelf" shooties for $60 in black and brown faux leather available on www.piperlime.com.