In My Closet

And now for the exciting sequel to last week’s “A Boot Story”……

 

Unabashedly I say that I am a fan of comfort.  Living in a city that has a transportation system based on walking everywhere, I soon shelved my 21-year-old sentiment of “I always wear 4 inches or higher”.  Gah.  The nerve of that girl.  I am glad the off-duty cab situation that always occurs when I need to get somewhere whipped my ass into gear.  I soon found that I could somewhat have the best of both worlds in the form of wedge boots that still give me height but allow me to hold my head high, walking proudly with little to no wincing.  Here are my my wedge winners:

1. Jean Michel Cazabat – a wedge AND a point?  I knew I had to have them.  And let me tell you that they are truly one of the best boots I have ever purchased.  Your feet need them.  They will thank me later.

2. J. Crew Wedge Boot (similar here) – The color of these boots scream Fall, while the moderate heel height allows me not to scream at all when wearing. A little more of a casual vibe when wearing these – think cozy sweater dress and tights. See it? Now stick my head on that image. There I am! Look – I’m waving to you in your image. 

For the days that I want to be uncomfortable, I look to my stiletto heeled ankle boots.  And don’t get me wrong, they are a beauty but those gray jams on the left – ooof!  Sass with a side of searing pain after an hour or two.  But I am still a slave to it all and so I oblige like the fashion lemming I am.

1. Gucci Suede Stiletto Ankle Booties (similar here) – Damn these are one hot shoe and they look amazing with skinny jeans, pants, leggings – anything!  Gucci can do no wrong, right?

2. J. Crew Ankle Boot (similar here) – the heel is significantly shorter on this boot so they do wear quite well for most of the day, though I don’t recommend them if you will be walking the whole time.  I even went so far as to pair these with shorts in the early Fall.  Who’s a fashion daredevil??? *raises hand*

A middle ground between the previous two categories.  Much gentler on the feet though still giving the much needed height that my 5’3″ frame warrants.  Walking is possible in these, though they tend to be reserved for a more casual ensemble.

1. J. Crew Aggie Boot – I just purchased these boots and am already thinking about another pair.  True story: I went to brunch with a girlfriend two weeks ago and she loved the look of these so much that she texted me 30 minutes after I got home to say she bought a pair online.  Just waiting on my commission check, J.Crew…….any day now, right?

2. Madewell Black Stacked Heel Boot (similar here) – I tend to call these my “granny boots” though I am not sure my grandma would have worn them.  I do find them a mix of modern and vintage – as much of Madewell’s clothing and shoes tends to resonate between the two.  A little higher heel which make for a louder stomp when walking.  If I am behind you on the street, I sound like the principal walking through your middle school hallways.  But I look gooooooooddddddd.

There you have it – part 2 of my boot miniseries.  I am sure Lifetime will be calling shortly to pick it up so you can say you knew me when…….   The final installment will be later this week.  These past few weeks have been quite a whirlwind, but new outfit posts are coming soon showcasing all the boots.  Please contain your excitement.  Until then…….

Being raised in a beach town in Virginia, boots were not a regular staple in my wardrobe.  Flip flops (platformed ones, I know, I know – I atone for my sins), shorts, sundresses and jeans were in rotation but very rarely did a boot make its appearance in my daily attire.  After college, I moved to NYC and that weather welcomed me with a big ol’ icy, cold, ‘get-that-beachy-crap-on-outta-here’ hug.  Snow fell occasionally in Virginia, and there was definitely a winter season, but it was all child’s play compared to having to put on my big girl weather pants in New York.  And one of the first items I had to begin buying in bulk were boots.  Tall, ankle, flat, heeled, brown, black, snow, fur-lined – I was hoarding them all like a shoe chipmunk.  I have since honed my boot shopping skills, identifying all the necessary (and sometimes unnecessary) styles.  Here is a look at my collection.  We go left to right when looking at pictures in this part of town, ya’ll:

Stuart Weitzman (similar here and here)  – I feel like a fem-bot when wearing these boots.  The heel is just high enough that I can wear all day and not yearn for a foot amputation at the end.  Dressy or causal – these boots mesh well with almost anything I wear.

Yves Saint Laurent (or Saint Laurent Paris now – blah) (similar here) – Chic and sophisticated to the 10th power.  My favorite boots to wear with pencil skirts and polished, lady-like ensembles.  Mildly comfortable – a cab is needed after walking for a few hours.

Yves Saint Laurent (similar here) – Steam comes off of me when I wear these boots – that is how hot they are to wear.  And these are the boots that get the boys’ attention (married gals need attention too!) – sadly it’s often for just a minute while I am desperately flagging down a cab, offering them my first born to pick me up because my feet are DYING.  Stilt walking has nothing on me in these boots.

Yves Saint Laurent (similar here) – Down a few inches in height, these pretties are easier to walk in and hug my calf with their built in Lycra panels.  And that little tassel in the front makes me want to do a Rockette kick every time I wear them. 

Stuart Weitzman Flat Elf Boot (similar here) – If only the toe curled up slightly and had a bell……..  But visions of Santa’s helper aside, these are the perfect flat boot to wear for any occasion.  Perfect with a fitted sweater dress or skinny jeans and a blouse – it’s the all purpose boot.

J. Crew Booker Boot – Much more casual and often my standard weekend boot.  The leather is supple and  soft so the shape tends to slouch just a tad – best worn over jeans or winter pants.

Frye Lindsay Plate Boot – A recent purchase for me – these flat boots have a great equestrian look, which is perfect for living in……Montana.  But since I reside in NYC, I am OK with being an equestrian poser.  The leather is extremely stiff so it takes some time to break in (probably best done on the farm), but these are quickly becoming a favorite go-to boot for everyday, and when I ride my pony to work.

Oh you thought I was going to show you my entire boot collection all at one time?  Silly blog readers.  I have been amassing a small boot collection over the years so there are multiple volumes to read in my boot series.  Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion to the sleeper hit “A Boot Story” – due out early next week.  It is sure to be a blockbuster hit.
 

Pssstt….psstt….one last thing….I keep hearing around ALB headquarters that a giveaway is coming up soon, and it is supposedly a good one! So if I were you, I would keep all eyes and ears peeled for the news.  Eek! So excited!