Women love boots. It’s a blanket statement I know, but it’s as true as saying men love cars and kids love ice cream. There’s an episode of Friends in which Monica finds the perfect pair of boots and buys them over Chandler’s objections about how much they cost. “But I’ll wear them with everything!” she reasons. And that’s what she attempts to do until she finally has to admit that her “perfect” boots are killing her feet and to painful to wear.
It’s been a long, long time since I’ve clutched onto something so uncomfortable with such a steely resolve but a comfy pair of gorgeous boots is a truly a beautiful thing to behold.
My own boot search this season took me to a beautiful, black to-the-knee pair I traded an extravagant birthday gift to buy. It also took me down a misguided path to a brown pair of Luv Shoes boots (made in Canada!) that were described to me as pebbly leather. I thought that’s what the uppers were made of until I knocked a toe against a curb on only the second wearing and the thin man-made material gave way like quicksand. That left me with a boot itch still left to scratch.
Along came Black Friday and with Canadian retailers saying they were going all out to keep shoppers from crossing the border I thought, hey, let’s see if they really mean it. They really meant it!
The Bay just happened to be offering 30-50% off all boots. Arturo Chaing is a New York-based, Chile-born footwear designer. He headed Nine West for 8 years and now he does his own thing. These boots brought to mind an old-time photograph of the west, but with a modern edge. I looked up his website and he said something to the effect of, “I wanted to design boots inspired by old photographs of the west, but with a modern edge!” I’m paraphrasing. But if a boot can possibly be art, I think Arturo has done it.
Some women have one pair of boots they practically live in. Some have dozens. I’ve got a few but I think only these ones are going to last me the rest of my boot-wearing life. If I can, I hope to be a savvy senior wearing this pair, all worn-in and soft from years of use. I think they’ll look smashing with a house dress and stockings for those times when I’m not in my fuzzy slippers and robe!