Cheap Boots on Sale at Medici

Tromping through the slushy snow to get some skiing gear for last weekend’s trip, I saw these boots on sale for $30 at Medici at Columbus and 80th. Score for rainy spring, once covered with some waterproofing spray!

The place was packed. Go get your cheap boots now! The quality is surprisingly good for these prices, but Medici has always been known to be reliable.

Bottega Veneta’s New Spring Cruise Reds

Not just a few isolated department stores or boutiques are chucking out the winter pinks and bringing in the late winter/early spring cruise reds. A visit to Bottega Veneta on 5th Avenue showed that saucy reds are back, whether for business or pleasure.

I love these red pinstriped pants for work! Celebs like Ashley Greene and Penelope Cruz were entranced with the red pinstriped suit Bottega Veneta showed on the runway. Penelope looks smashing in red, I think, but I would’ve made the suit tighter on her, wouldn’t you? She’s got those sexy curves to flaunt!

The Pourpre Calf Sandal is $920.

Inside the cavernous Bottega Veneta space, there were more lovelies, but they wouldn’t let me take any photos, so please check out the lovely shoes and bags here.

When Did Clarks Get So Cute?

The Clarks Semi-Annual Sale is now going on so all of these prices may be cheaper than they were as listed during the holiday sale.

The Indigo by Clarks Rae is $140.

These Clarks Artisan Diamond Exchange boots are $123.

The Ruby Claire is $140.

I couldn’t find this shoe, but the similar Kara Rose comes in burgundy patent leather as well and is $100.

A large collection of winter boots are available as well.

Alexander McQueen’s Thigh High Stegosaurus Boots

The windows at Bergdorf are intricate, impressive and memorable this year. More photos and descriptions of those windows to follow. But for now, let’s discuss these FIERCE thigh high boots in the window. I dub them the Stegosaurus Boots for the pointy spine of pyramid spikes lining not only the back of the boot, but also the back of the heel.

Houndstooth is Alexander McQueen’s statement of the year. Artfully draped, it makes a fine Scottish statement (the history of houndstooth purports it to be a wool cloth originating in the Scottish lowlands, and McQueen has mined his Scottish history before).

McQ rarely does anything that doesn’t make a statement, but are these boots, with their spike heel, pyramid spikes lining the entire back of the boot and the heel, wild yet classic pattern, and skintight fit, too much?

Does the mono effect of matching the boots to the rest of the outfit make for houndstooth overkill? Or would you wear these every day if you could?

Inside the store, in the Shoe Salon, I found that the boot was available in black. A little less wild, but somehow I liked it less.

When I was at Bergdorf, in the flurry of picture-taking, I neglected to ask the price on these carnivorous stegosaurus boots. So I called today, and the sales rep said they didn’t have them anymore — that they had been “sent back to the vendor.” (I got this image of Alexander McQueen’s office getting a box that said “RETURN TO SENDER” with a ton of spiky boots crumpled inside).

Did they get sent back because they weren’t moving units, or because they were defective somehow, or why? Why would they send extra shoes back when they’re still in the window through the holidays? Surely people will be asking for them.

She did say that they were in the realm of $1000, which is MUCH less than I was expecting. I wonder if she’s right.

Join the Band: Everyone Wants to be a Majorette!

Majorette style is sharp and militaristic, but still feminine and sexy. You get the feeling that the majorette kind of girl would march her dates around and they would like it. How could you not want to be one of these cute, tough, in-charge gals?

So I wasn’t surprised when I saw a whole lot of majorette style on Anna Sui’s runway for Spring 2010. But Bergdorf’s band windows really drove the point home.

Want in on that style? A short, flirty skirt or shorts and a military-style structured coat are key. For shoes, short white Western-style boots, especially with tassels, or high boots with straps that look like frets in a guitar. This LAMB Belgrave boot is the perfect example (though, sadly, it’s mostly sold out online except this Ebay listing).

Or you could go straight to the source and buy a traditional leather majorette boot at Spirit Mall for $57.95.