Fall is here, which means it’s boot season. I love wearing boots, but boots have not always loved me back. In recent years, I’ve gone through about 10 pairs of ankle boots. Most of the time, I wore them only for a season, then put them up for sale in my Poshmark closet because they didn’t fit me right. No matter the heel height, these boots weren’t comfortable over time and would leave my feet feeling achey. A couple years ago, I also developed an issue with my right foot, so I need arch support and cushioning. On the rare occasions I did find ample arch support, the boots weren’t wide enough for my wide feet.

I haven’t found the perfect ankle boot yet, but the one that has come the closest is the dr. Liza bootie. Founded by Liza Egbogah, a Nigerian Canadian chiropractor and osteopath, this brand came on my radar last year. I bought a pair of dr. Liza flats in August 2020, which I reviewed here. Those impressed me enough that I soon ordered the booties. I’ve had them for 11 months now.

** This post contains affiliate links, but was not produced in partnership with any brand. I bought these boots myself **

First Impressions: These are pricey boots, and the price tag does seem to reflect good workmanship and quality. Like the flats, these boots are crafted in Brazil out of Brazilian leather, which is not a buttery soft kind of leather, but a stiffer one that holds its shape. The outsole is rubber, adding a bit of traction. It’s also royal blue, as is the back zipper. This is a signature color for dr. Liza shoes, but honestly, I could do without the blue, particularly for the zipper, in favor of something that matched the color scheme more.

Fit: I’m generally a 6.5/37. My feet are on the wide side. I sometimes wear wide widths, but I can also get away with wearing medium widths depending on the brand. These booties come only in a medium width. (Some of dr. Liza’s other shoes, like the sneaker pumps, come in medium and wide widths). I took my regular size, 6.5. So these boots run true to size.

One thing that makes these boots different from other brands I’ve tried is that is has a rocker sole to redistribute weight. Walking in them doesn’t feel like other boots.

Comfort: These boots have a 2-inch heel with a .5-inch shock-absorbing EVA platform, so they’re a very walkable height. The footbed, which is lined in leather, has cushioning in the important places. Arch support? Check! By looking at the boot, you’d never guess it, but there’s actually an orthotic insole in there.

One thing that makes these boots different from other brands I’ve tried is that is has a rocker sole to redistribute weight. Walking in them doesn’t feel like other boots. There’s a slight rocking motion to them as you move forward. It does take a little getting used to. Egbogah says, “I designed them to move like a stability control cross trainer with the biomechanics of an orthopedic rocker sole shoe.”

Whatever is going on, it works. I don’t feel achey in them immediately like I do in other boots.

I find them generally comfortable, though that also depends on how long I’m wearing them. When I first emerged from shelter in place in the spring, I wore them to run errands for two to three hours at a time with no problems. Out and about on my feet the entire time, I stopped by the bakery, the bookstore, the coffee shop, and a grocery store. Though the footbed doesn’t feel super cushiony, it does feel supportive.

Now that I live in New York City, though, I’ve really put them to the test. The other weekend I wore them to meet up with a friend at a museum, take a walk through a park, and buy groceries. Then, I carried my groceries home on the subway. I was on my feet for seven hours. I walked up and down a lot of stairs.

By the end of it, my feet felt fatigued (though arguably, they could have felt tired in any shoe since I’m not used to being on my feet so much during this pandemic). However, my pinky toes also hurt as they had been rubbing against the side of the shoe. While the website describes these boots as having a “generous toe box and ankle opening to accommodate a wide range of foot and ankle sizes,” the toe box is a tad too snug for my wide feet. This is particularly the case after a full day of walking around; my feet probably expanded.

Sadly, I can’t wedge my shoe stretcher into these booties like I can with heels or flats. I wish dr. Liza made these in a wide width. So for me, I wouldn’t wear these booties two days in a row. But if your feet aren’t wide, you probably won’t have this problem.

Aesthetics & Style: Can we take a moment to appreciate how gorgeous these boots are? I love the almond toe shape, not too pointy, not too round. I find the curve of the heel tasteful. The shaft height is a bit taller than other ankle boots I’ve owned, so sometimes I have to roll up my pants, but I don’t mind. (If you are not a fan of the taller shaft, there’s a version of these boots, the dr. liza Bootie 2.0, with a higher heel but a lower shaft.)

Styling these are so easy. They look great with pants, skirts, whatever. I wear them with just about anything. Behold:

All black with a pop of leopard print:

With a fancy top and skirt:

With skinny jeans:

With straight leg jeans:

Overall, these boots are a win for me. Though they aren’t the perfect fit, I find that I reach for them often. They’re well made, have held up beautifully, and they go with everything. I’m contemplating buying these in a half size up to see if they’d fit better for my wide feet, though I worry they’d be too long for me.

And although they’re pricey, dr. Liza holds good sales. I’m not talking about a puny 10% off. I mean 40% off or more. Last year in November, Egbogah held a spectacular sale for her birthday (70% off!), and she’s doing it again this year on November 16. If you’re curious about dr. Liza shoes, it’s a good time to try them. I’m already making plans on what to try next. (Do note that sale items can be exchanged — with the customer paying return shipping — but not returned, so plan accordingly.)

UPDATE 12/16/21 – I ordered these booties in black and size 7 (part of my holiday shopping for myself) and am happy to report that the bigger size works for my wide feet. The width is more comfortable and the length isn’t too long to cause my heel to slip out. If you have wide-ish feet like me, I recommend going up half a size.

---

If you found my review helpful, please consider using my dr. Liza affiliate link to make your purchase. This earns me a small commission, which helps keeps my site running. Thank you so much.