I want: striped shooties, but for now I'll settle for less

I don't often lust after NEW things, preferring to dig up even my foortwear in thrift and charity shops. But I saw these multi-colour striped shooties by United Nude in a Toronto shop a few years ago while doing my shopping column, and oh, how I wanted them. Then, just a few weeks ago while in Annecy, France scoping out an apartment with my hubby, I saw a young lady wearing a pair very similar to these (hubby even commented how neat they were) .... and my lust was reignited.

Remember: I will be traipsing over uneven cobblestone streets in Annecy on a daily basis, and I've dislocated the toes on my right foot so many times that I don't wear uncovered sandals anymore. I'll need a fashionable covered shoe option that will take me through most of the year and go with almost every thing to boot (literally!). This seems like the miracle shoe/boot, in my opin.

The first pair are an older colour, but it looks like the company releases new stripy hues every year. The "Fold" boot comes in a high (shown directly above), medium (shown in the first pic), low and more fashiony style heel. They're not cheap (around $230 or so US for the mid/high heeled versions), but you can dig around and find older styles on the Internet for much less (an option I am exploring at the mo).

Needless to say, I have to have them. But, to be fair, we're so busy now, and the cash outlay moving has been significant, so even though it's my B-day next week, I may have to hold off purchasing a pair, wah.

These open toe lace-up wedgie shooties by Chinese Laundry are pretty cool too - though not top of my list like United Nude. Still, I'm digging the 1970s vibe of the patchwork-inspired pattern and purple hues. They're a bit too high pour moi and I doubt they'll serve me well on cobblestone streets, alas.

I honestly can't remember where I found these so I am lacking attribution - sorry, will keep looking. If memory serves these booties were a wee bit more affordable. They have a slightly more ethnic look to them and they'd go so well with jeans and long skirts, sigh.

These flat striped booties from Asos are $58 US. Not my ultimate finito, but pretty cute in a desert bootie kind of way.

My short-term summer fix: these woven, multi-striped ballet flats by Lilley &Skinner (perched oh so artfully on a moving box) for 18 pounds. Toute les femmes in France wear ballet flats (they are not at all obsessed with high heels like we are in North America and even the UK), so I will fit right in!