Boots: A Love Story
13 Jan 2010 8 Comments
in all about me
It started with a sweet pair of chestnut-colored cowboy boots I found online. I ordered them for myself as a not-so-subtle boost for my spirits after a rough spring about four years ago. We had been on a string of uneven luck, and then I was in a car accident that shattered my right forearm (yes, I’m right-handed) and left me with a terrible fear of driving that took me months to overcome. So I took a jump and bought some cowgirl boots to stride forward into my future.
Then I started teaching at my current school and got a generous gift card during the holidays, which allowed me to purchase a lovely pair of brown leather knee-high boots with olive-green laces up the back during a post-holiday sale. I wore them with a long olive green skirt, got lots of compliments, and started feeling pretty sassy every time I wore them. One more year, and one more generous family later, and I bought a pair of black leather boots kind of like these in another post-holiday sale. Teaching at my current school requires a very different wardrobe, and making that upgrade has definitely been an undertaking. I didn’t always feel like I was getting it right, but in these boots, I felt adult and attractive and appropriate every time.
During the most recent post-holiday sale, I was reading a blog I like and came across a link to a sweet pair of wine-colored suede boots the blogger had ordered herself. I kept going back to that link, and building outfits in my head, and convincing myself that they were such a deal. So finally, I bought them! I wore them last Friday, and they are comfortable and stylish exactly what I had hoped they would be. Slowly but surely, all my favorite cold-weather outfits are featuring pencil skirts, tights and knee-high boots. I love the way they look, the feel of the leather under my fingers, the way they cradle my calves on a chilly day, the polish they add to an ordinary Tuesday.
Maybe it’s because I wore uniforms to elementary school, or maybe it’s because I never had the eye or the money to be fashionable in my younger years. Maybe it’s the increased confidence and comfort with my body that I’m feeling, or the feeling of moving beyond cuteness into definitely adult territory. I’m thinking about hand-stitched red or black cowboy boots, slouchy gray suede heels, smooth caramel stilettos.
Either way, this is one affair I don’t see ending any time soon.
Jan 13, 2010 @ 10:06:41
Great post, Jackie. And this hits home for me… I have the same thing for clogs. Just bought me another pair off the clearance rack at TJ Maxx. I have clogs bought at different phases of my life, and they’ve come to represent me in so many ways.
Jan 13, 2010 @ 10:08:30
Boots!!! Sweater, skirt, tights, boots, scarf is totally my winter uniform.
Jan 13, 2010 @ 14:25:13
I love boots, but right now I am struggling to find the right skirt to wear with them. Where, o where, should I find it? Any thoughts?
Jan 13, 2010 @ 18:11:18
@Anjali– clogs are backless, right? For some reason, I have a lot of trouble with backless shoes. But that’s one reason I don’t go to TJ Maxx–too tempting! The homegoods section alone….
@Becca: I’m trying to get more into scarves, but I always have trouble working them into outfits.
@Kim: What kind of boots do you have? Are they knee-high? My favorites to wear with knee-high boots are pencil skirts, but that is also because all of my boots are kind of sleek. There are many options, though, but the ankle-length skirt and the just-above-the-knee skirt are usually good bets.
Jan 13, 2010 @ 18:23:37
I have knee high suede boots a lot like the ones you linked to only with very low heels, because I never wear heels. I think I just need to do some shopping, I just don’t love shopping most of the time.
Jan 13, 2010 @ 18:32:12
Yeah, shopping can be tricky. I’ve worn a corduroy pencil skirt with those boots twice now (one solid, one patterned) and that has been a good look for me so far. Denim would look good too.
Jan 14, 2010 @ 14:09:39
OK, you just sold another pair of those boots–I clicked right over and bought them in my size. I can already envision the outfits. Thanks!
Jan 14, 2010 @ 18:39:54
Libby, that is too funny! One of the teachers at my school liked them so much on me that she ordered a pair too! Did you get them at the $40 price?! Now I really want a gray pair…..