I love the look of equestrian boots, but that is not the type of riding I am referring to here.  Yes, there is a horse in my back pasture, but he actually belongs to and is cared for by our neighbor.  The closest we currently have is the ‘Iron Horse’ that belongs to my husband; the same motorcycle which, I am told, is anxious to come out and play for the current late-summer to fall season.

Honestly, I had already started turn my attention to this Fall’s boot offerings; both to keep an eye on trends as well at to possibly find off-season clearance deals on 2007 styles (despite temperatures in the 80’s). But, today I am specifically focusing on styles that will be functional in the role of motorcycle boots. 

So, what is an appropriate boot for me as a motorcycle passenger? Here are some basic considerations to take into account:  Our back seat has foot rest ‘pegs’, so a slight heel is advised to reduce slippage and leg strain (For the driver, this bike has flat ‘boards’ rather than pegs up front, so even a flat heel would be okay there.).

• Comfort is important.
• So is Safety: Leather and Kevlar are two products which offer extra layers of protection compared to most other materials.
•  A little bit of a heel is okay, but not necessarily practical depending on the destination (Riding is not what I consider to be stiletto-appropriate conditions!).
• I prefer styles that are not top-stitched cowboy-boots; most boots of this style simply don’t call to me.
• It should work well with boot-cut jeans or leathers and it should offer a layer of protection to the lower leg; ankle boots may be in fashion - but for riding, I prefer calf or knee-high lengths for maximum coverage without affecting the full range of motion of the leg (You won’t find me on the back of a bike in sandals, shorts,  T-shirt and no jacket. Ever. Road Rash?  - No thank you.). 
• It should also be practical, attractive, and hopefully, feminine.
• Finally, an under $200 price tag would be nice.

So, first, from Harley Davidson (As if I could write about motorcycle boots and not mention these?):

• The ‘Christina’ ($104.40 Zappos.com) has nice color and shape, but it’s still too much of an ankle boot for my taste.

• The ‘Strut’ ($129.45 Shoebuy.com) has a bit of that cowboy silhouette. However, the studs give it just a little bit of edgy appeal.

• How about the ‘Darla’ ($128.00 Zappos.com); still a bit of the western silhouette but with classic biker hardware.

• But wait, the ‘Carina’ ($139.95 Onlineshoes.com /$144.00 Zappos.com) is a higher calf-boot with a solid but attractive heel and a little bit of buckle detail that is not too overdone :

OK, now for some non-Harley Davidson options:

First, a few styles by Seychelles (One of my favorite brands & very friendly to the higher-arched foot):

• The ‘Shotgun Wedding’ ($101.25 6pm.com); aside from the saucy little name, this is a bit of a wing-tipped granny boot with attitude.  However, I would hate to see those laces come undone at the wrong time. Sigh.

• The ‘Overtime’ in distressed brown or black leather ($101.25 6pm.com/$127.99 Shoes.com). I love the extra pockets that fit a cell phone and any other small personal items.

• The ‘Do It Yourself’ in brown or black ($101.25 6pm.com/$135.99 Shoes.com) is a lower, engineer-style boot that also appeals to me. Again, maybe it’s that darned useful attached pocket.

Next, how about these styles by Report?

• The ‘Nymph’ buckle boot ($124.95 Solestruck.com). A decent brown-leather buckled style.

• There’s also the ‘Victory’ in tan ($77.63 6pm.com / $109.95 Solestruck.com); Yes, that is another cargo pocket attached at the calf (Believe me, the last thing I want to worry about on a motorcycle is a purse).

Last, here are some miscellaneous options from Ecco, Born, Timberland, and Red Wing:

• The ‘Esmeraldas’ buckle boot by Ecco ($219.95 Onlineshoes.com); an attractive combination of leather and suede.

• The Born ‘Kale’ ($179.95 Onlineshoes.com / $184.95 Nordstrom.com / $189 Zappos.com) an understated leather boot with subtle but attractive buckle detail.

• Timberland’s ‘Charles Street’ ($130.90 Endless.com / $159.95 Onlineshoes.com / $164 Zappos.com) is another lace-up style with a low functional heel; waterproofing is a nice bonus.

• Red Wing’s ‘Loretto’ ($219.95 Onlineshoes.com / $224 Zappos.com); yet another buckle and lace-up style.

Of course I could just throw all caution to the winds an use this as a justification to pick up my first pair of Doc’s:

• Dr. Martens ‘Vonda’ 14-eyelet boot ($127.46 Onlineshoes.com/Shoebuy $149.95/$149.99 Journeys.com/$150 Shoes.com/$154 Zappos.com). How’s that for an attention-getting boot?

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The last time I mentioned Graffiti and the current graphics trend in shoe adornment, the shoe silhouette itself (Platform wedge) definitely fell under the “Funky and Chunky” category.

If you are attracted to this type of edgy detail in your footwear, but prefer more classic or feminine designs, the following styles are in much more traditional shoe shapes and may be more to your liking.

First, for the less budget-constrained among us: Christian Louboutin’s red calf “Madison Tag”boots down from $980 to $784 at Bluefly. This is some seriously sexy, flirty, attitude-packed fun.

Or, there is also Mr. Louboutin’s Pigalle detailed in gold leather and graffiti priced down from $675 to $540 at Bluefly.com.

Of course, for those looking for a less hefty price tag, there is still an option: Report’s “Adri” for $74 at Zappos.com; in Black/blue or Grey/orange color combinations.  These would seem to be more in line with the shopping budgets of a younger, college-aged crowd that still wants to add a little bit of attitude to their walk.

How do you feel about claiming some of that attitude for yourself?

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Black Leather Boots by Marc by Marc Jacobs: 599 dollars

Vintage Black Leather Ankle Booties by Rave Review: 13 dollars

Winning one in the turf war with designer price inflation: Priceless

I fell in love with these Rave Review booties the minute I saw them. I have never heard of the brand Rave Review (and still can’t find them on the internet), but I could tell from the luster of the leather that we were going to be great friends. Sadly, this budding relationship was destined to end in near heartbreak. Being vintage, the shoes were available in only one size which was a full two sizes too small for me. Never one to be defeated by practicality, I grabbed the shoes off the shelf at Beacon’s Closet* and ran over to my shopping buddy, a girl of diminutive foot proportions. They fit her perfectly and with a little pushing, she was convinced to take them home with her. It was an act of selflessness of great proportion. But at least I know they have a good home and I got the opportunity to photograph at will.

Two weeks later, I was in the West Village and meandered into the Marc by Marc Jacobs store. What should I see as a focal point in the store but ankle boots nearly identical to those I had sent my friend home with before. Though the ones I saw in the store are not yet available online, the ones above are. These can be found at Zappos are are basically the boot version of the bootie to come.

Moral of the story: a stylish bargain shopper’s friends are oft rewarded.

*Beacon’s Closet {bē’kuhnz kloz-et} -noun: a Brooklyn thrift store/paradise of deals.
If you live in New York, you have probably heard of Beacon’s Closet, the quality establishment where my recent shoe adventure took place. If you are a Californian, think Crossroads Trading Company, but cheaper. If you are a Manhattanite who doesn’t go to Brooklyn, shame on you. If you are unacquainted or looking to visit the big apple, let me fill you in. Beacon’s Closet is a Brooklyn thrift store. It has two locations, one in Park Slope and one in Willamsburg. They are very particular about what they accept, so they tend to carry really cool stuff. Even more awesome: their prices range from about $5 - $50. Some of my past find at Beacon’s include an adorable pair of Marni heels ($50), a Catherine Malandrino sundress ($19.95), and a Dolce and Gabbana snakeskin belt ($25). These prices are actually a bit higher than the average (because I might be a tiny bit of a label whore). More common are the Abaete for Payless pumps I found for $9 and the vast array of Urban Outfitters wear available for around $13. I prefer the Park Slope location; it’s a bit smaller and more manageable.

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Well, after episode two’s rather bland shoe offerings, last week’s episode three was a definite improvement. 

I have been drooling over the Gucci “Eva” wingtip platform pump and booties since I first saw them at the Gucci website last fall.  Unfortunately, even at Bluefly’s best sale prices, these have yet to drop below the $450-500 range. This is just too rich for my blood - and my bank account.

So, I was happy recently to find several reasonable and affordable alternatives to satisfy my attraction to the basic style of the Gucci originals.

• Guess by Marciano’s “Egeria” $129 at Zappos.com/$125 at Shoes.com. In black or brown:

• Report “Ellis” $189 at Zappos.com/$185 at Shoes.com.  In black, grey, or nude:

• Bongo “Square Dance” $46.00 at Zappos.com:

And, for those of you attracted to the green Cavalli sandal already seen on several episodes, Chinese Laundry has this affordable copy. Which, interestingly enough, seems to come in just about any color except for green.

• Chinese Laundry “Mika”, $63 at Zappos. In black, red, royal blue, and white:

I love the challenge of finding affordable styles for those of us who are on a budget or who live in small towns where we see very little variety. I hope these help you to look like you just walked off of a fashion runway.

And as for tonight’s show? I’m hoping to start seeing stronger designs tonight, both in footwear and in fashion.

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Recently, Shoesense quite neatly beat me to the punch regarding fringed footwear. I can’t help but shudder when I see many of the fringe-bedecked styles that are coming out.

Be warned. Its use is everywhere and seems to growing. As proof I offer Rachel Zoe’s picks of fringed moccasins a la Minnetonka at as a major trend for Fall 2008. Gulp.

I should have seen it coming. Once Skinny Jeans came back into fashion, causing a whole new generation of gals to look for the perfect tuck-in boot, it was only a matter of time before Minnetonka once again rose to ascendancy.

Think of a young Kurt Russell (Not an altogether unpleasant image, I’ll happily admit.) in Big Trouble in Little China.

Sleeveless T-shirt and blue jeans, tucked into these:

Actually, I just had to stop and watch the movie, just to be sure. Sigh, the sacrifices I am willing to make. Jack Burton’s boots laced up the side and were closer to these babies:

I know there are gonna be both guys and gals who love these. And, if they didn’t live through it the first time around, this is probably a fine time for them to do so. However, I’ve never regretted that I didn’t own any back in the 80’s when these were last in fashion. I hardly think I would, could, or even should attempt to take part in the trend this second time that I’m around to witness it.

As for the overall fringe trend, I have seen a few styles that I find that I almost like.

• First, from Pleaser, specialists in lingerie for your feet, a flirty, fringed high-heel suede sandal (At 6pm.com):

• Next, is the Steven “Bijoux“:

• And my personal favorites from Betsey Johnson, Shoe goddess extraordinaire:

The Tisha:

And the Taylor:

In 3 colors, the purple almost has me won over.

I do love a glam, over-the-top shoe as much as the next shoe addict. Unfortunately, I am uncertain that I am the right personality to successfully rock this shoe trend.

Maybe you are?

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