Shoe blog

What I want in a boot

Happy New Year to all fashion lovers (and since I’m in a good mood, why not, to fashion non-lovers alike)! Hope one of your New Year’s Resolutions was to always look and feel fabulous, no matter what. I know that’s one of mine!

These days I’ve been craving boots, and in particular tall (knee-high). It’s the weather, of course, but also something else–a deep need for sturdy, comfortable, stylish footwear that you can rely on during these cold winter months.

Buying boots is not something I do every day. Boots–well made knee-high boots, that is–are expensive and I have to weigh my options most carefully. So what do I look for in a boot? Well, a few things. 

1) Comfort. Why, of course! Cold weather is uncomfortable enough for me to also worry about constraining, painful, ill-fitting, or flimsy shoes. My knee-high boots have to keep me warm, comfortable, on my feet. I have to be able to move with ease and a certain obliviousness to the vagaries of cold weather.

I can’t depend on boots with stiletto heels (well, I can’t wear them, plain and simple)–and if you saw In Her Shoes, you’ll remember Cameron Diaz walking through Rittenhouse Square (downtown Philly, where I live) and breaking the spike heel of a Jimmy Choo bootie. Now, let that be a warning for all of you who want to wear high heels on ice!

2) Quality. As I said, knee-high boots are an expensive purchase I don’t do every day. In fact, I would expect to wear those boots for quite a few years (I’d say, a minimum of 5-6 years, a max. of 10-15). For that, I have to have sturdy leather, flawless construction, a solid sole (leather or rubber), good lining and insulation, sturdy zipper, etc. Usually, most of these are more or less guaranteed with a name brand, and it’s a hit and miss with anything less than that. It’s almost always a miss with, say, Payless Shoes. So, you can’t really skimp on a good pair of tall leather boots. You won’t regret it a few weeks, months, or even years down the road.

3) Styling. This is a delicate matter. Fashionistas are prone to choosing style over function, and I’m no exception. But since I’m not willing to sacrifice 1) and 2) above, style has to come in the shape of [comfort+quality], and that’s where my choices start to be severely limited.  I have to ask myself, since I want to get as long a wear as possible from these boots, will this be likely to be in style next year? a few years from now? How off-beat am I willing to go? How timeless can this style be without looking boring or outdated? Would I be likely to wear pink boots with gold trim 3 years from now, or should I stick with a more classic option? Where am I most likely to wear these boots–casually, functions, what?

So yes, I prefer to get 2 or 3 pairs of tall boots that will take me through many winters rather than a handful that I will toss out next season.

These Costume National boots from Yoox fulfill basically all my criteria. They have a sturdy, comfortable heel of just about 2 inches, the leather is good quality,and the styling is very chic and fashionable without running the risk of getting outdated any time soon. The price is rather high (just under $400), but in my opinion, well worth it since I’ll probably get many years of use out of them. They are also a good mix of casual and fashion, rendering them perfect for just about any occasion, from a stroll in the park to a fancy party.