Outfit Du Jour: Give 'em the boot!

In an earlier blog, I briefly went over some of my favorite items for fall to keep you toasty and tantalizing. Now, I want to go more into depth in the area of footwear when it we transition to the cold seasons.

Boots that are marked with an asterisk are the ones that I consider to be the most bang for your buck; enjoy!


WOMEN'S BOOTS

1. Gangam Style: The Riding Boot
This boot is one of my favorites due to the fact that it is a timeless piece. From police officers, to Vogue, this boot has adorned many feet with few variations. What I love about these boots is their length. Paired with a skinny jean or leggings, they fit high on the calf and help keep the cold out. They also offer a "preppy" or "classic" look that look awesome with a peacoat or an argyle sweater.

Here are my Ralph Lauren leather riding boots in black:

2. Rise Above the Rest: The Heel Boot
The heel boot can be any boot listed with the variation being in the height of the heel. By having a heel boot, you can up the style factor and the formal factor as well. These, like the riding boot, can look awesome with a mini skirt, tights, and a turtleneck.

Here are my BCBG heel boots in black:

3. *Miss New Booty?: The Bootie*
These boots are easily dressed up or down and come to about the ankle. You can find them in all kinds of materials, patterns, and heel sizes. This is probably the best cold weather shoe to invest in for a woman in my opinion. I myself am the proud owner of several pairs of booties. I personally would invest in a bootie in a neutral color rather than in a pattern or intensely vibrant color to ensure maximum use. However, I can never object to a pop of color in say, red! (:

Here are my Bamboo ankle boots in red:

4. Get Low: The Ankle Boot
Unlike the riding boot, these boots give you more freedom to move easily. Riding boots can be confining due to their length. As the boots suggest, these boots reach to the ankle or a little beyond and can come in many variations such as having belts or zippers on them. These are casual boots if they have lacing in the front. If not, they are semi-casual.

Here are my Vera Wang, lace-up ankle boots in black:

MEN'S BOOTS

1. Fried Without the Clogged Arteries: The Frye Boot
They come a little above the ankle and can lace up or zip-up. I prefer the boots to be in some form of leather minus the lacing due to the fact that they can be dressed up or down.  They are also available in other materials such as canvas. Another factor is the "wash" of the leather or faux leather. What I suggest is to get more bang for your buck by getting a dark leather boot that is not distressed at all so it is possible to transform it.

It's a great look to get a slim fit or boot cut jean to pair with this boot. Put the pants on first and the boots second. Then, tuck the pants into your boots and zip them up. You can always leave them on the outside of the boot, but by tucking them in you can achieve a militaristic style look.

2. Lacey Days: The Lacer Boot
The name doesn't leave much mystery: they lace up. These boots, though similar to the Frye boot, come to about mid-calf and are a more casual alternative to the Frye boot. They too come in different washes but I suggest a dark wash since, with age, the boots will age naturally and more uniformly.

3. Workin' It: The Work Boot
Similar to the Lacer boot, these boots are heavy-duty. They also come in variations that include "fur". These are more recreational than the first two boots I listed for men so although they aren't formal, they will keep you warm and ensure you don't slip and slide in the rain.

4. *Low Profile: The Ankle Boot*
This is a boot that, like the Frye boot, can be dressed up or down. This is probably the best cold weather shoe to invest in for a man. Once again, like all of the other boots mentioned, a dark wash (one without distress to it) should be purchased to ensure maximum use. These shoes should also be paired with a DRESS sock.

NOTE FOR BOTH MY LADY AND GENTLEMAN, BOOT-WEARING READERS: Make sure you treat your shoes with respect! Seriously, keep them treated by shining them and wiping them down every so often. Also, as stated in an earlier blog, you can maintain the shape of the boot by stuffing them with newspaper or tissue paper.

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XOXO Midori