A WOMAN’S RIGHT TO SHOES (OR BOOTS)
Earlier I was speaking with a friend in an attempt to find a topic to blog about. After politely declining the subject of the Middle Eastern conflict (you can read about that elsewhere), he suggested “the fleeting nature of women’s fashion and how it breeds unnecessary consumerism.” Seemed to me that was a bit of a sore spot so I probed further…
As it turns out, his wife was petitioning to him for a new pair of boots, justifying said boots because they were on sale from $350 down to $250. It seemed reasonable to me. His argument, however, was that she already has a number of perfectly good boots. And further, she wanted these new boots simply based on the fact that “the toes are more blunt on these ones.” And with that, I sided with him instantly.
I can readily admit that it took me a long, long time to finally understand the concept of shoes beyond basic function. I could appreciate how essential it is to own a pair of sneakers, a pair of heels, maybe some galoshes for the winter and, most definitely, snowboard boots for obvious purposes. But it wasn’t until I finally hit my mid-20s and decided to buck fashion trends for what I wanted to wear that I was able to recognize just how crucially footwear is correlated to fashion.
They say that shoes make an outfit, and it’s true. Imagine a dreamy, creamy summer dress paired with black, square-heeled pumps instead of ballet flats or espadrilles. Or a sleek and tailored pantsuit with a pair of Doc Martens. Ridiculous, I know. But does this mean that it’s necessary to hit the shoe shops for countless pairs to match with each and every outfit? I think not.
Why did I disagree with my friend’s wife’s attempt at rationalization as mentioned above? To purchase a pair of boots simply for a different toe style is completely unnecessary. Flip open any Vogue magazine. While the pages are plastered with couture, cruise wear and the unconventional, a running theme is fashion that exudes class, style and tradition. I’m of the opinion that it’s okay to spend several hundred on a pair of boots – bearing in mind that they should be both functional and timeless in their design.
While my sturdy pair of Frye boots may run upwards of $350, will I still be wearing these a decade from now? The chances are quite likely. The same can’t be said of footwear (or any fashion, for that matter) that is trendy or fad-ariffic. Style du jour will fade with each season and disappear like a tumbleweed. And other items, such as the perfect pair of jeans, a stunning little black dress or delicate heels are comparable to a Chanel suit – iconic fashion statements that transcend the passing of time. Those pieces are what are worth the extra dollars.
Something For The Men
On a final note, what is it with men and boots? My friend also confirmed to me that almost every man finds a woman in boots irresistible. Perhaps I’m just a little naïve (or maybe my brain doesn’t function as imaginatively), but what goes through a man’s head when he sees a woman in boots? And further, do you men prefer a woman in boots or a woman in a sexy pair of shoes?
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Boots, jeans and a t-shirt.
Practical, not frilly and frankly in the right above items can look just as (or even more) sexy than in what are considered “sexy” clothes.
Big, clunky Sorel snow boots all the way.
A few classic well made pieces whether clothing or footwear go a long way.
I’m pretty frickin’ happy with the two pairs of boots I scored at the thrift store the other day…. grand total… 10 bucks.
But I also love my $250 pair of Tolley’s from New Zealand.
And I can’t live without my mush teva flipflops…
oh and sorels are a must…
I am a bootaholic.
italian leather outdoes all my other tries with boots. but they have to also be made it italy. (that said some holt renfrews did me over for almost seven years in flat heel to the shin boots, but you gotta break it to europe for the bit of heel that functions the best. i would not trade my chacos for the world in the summer, they save my spine and i have hiked in those in the yukon where most people use hiking boots. the best west coast invention-you never see them in the east yet. as far as inside shoes, i adore my morrocan slippers-soft leather and cusioned on the soles, they are like a milk bath indoors. next up, cowboys, but i still feel those will be more sexy when i am in my thirties or fourties-i think they are perfectly attractive for older women at the moment.
Boots are hot,yes.
But it’s the sultry, confidence which emanates from the woman that really makes us crash our cars…