Bootie call

So, I bought ankle booties. Don't hate. I feel like a total hypocrite because I've long decried them for making me look stumpy. That is, until I found these suede gems from Boutique 9 at hip South End shoe haven Leokadia:

["Santani" booties]

The gray suede is very now and dip in the front of the shoes actually make my leg look a little longer, especially when I wear a dark dress with opaque patterned tights.

And don't worry. These aren't some kind of bootie gateway drug. If I ever, ever wear these peep-toe monstrosities from Steve Madden, you have my advance and express permission to call the fashion police tout de suite:

["Midory" booties]

Are these sandals? Boots? Pumps? Some designer at Steve Madden must have come to work hungover, mixed up a few Fall '08 prototypes, and came up with this impractical, clunky boot-dal. For shame.