After a lifetime in Maine, what with the snow and ice and cold and need to look stylish through it all, Bag Lady and Shopping Siren have honed a working definition of a great boot:
It looks good with at least half a dozen outfits.
It keeps your feet dry in an inch of snow.
It doesn’t rub, pinch, poke or contort.
It conveys style and confidence with an optional degree of fierceness.
Now, do you want the good news or the great news?
Auburn is absolutely awash in boots right now.
The great news: Aside from two pairs of stiletto heel stripper boots, they all look very sharp and super comfortable.
Flat riding boots are clearly still on-trend. Ditto for slightly heeled Mad Max-ish boots (straps, grommets and zippers for an office-wear-meets-biker vibe) and anything with faux fur or some other ultra soft lining. Knee-high is trying to unseat ankle-high in a boot-length fight-to-the-death and it’s doing a decent job.
Bag Lady and Shopping Siren walked five stores declaring, “Love that, love that, would wear that, ooh lookit!” It was an absolute lovefest. Mostly. There were also UGGs.
Actual conversation from the aisle of Super Shoes:
BL: “I don’t know how anyone can go out of the house wearing those. I’d be too self-conscious.”
SS: “I just saw a girl wearing slippers.”
The lesson here: UGGs are a step up from slippers. All other boots are two steps up from UGGs and you should check them out right now.
Except for the stripper boots.
* Life Stride Cowgirl tall riding boots for women, Super Shoes, $59.99
Simple and sleek in black or brown, wide or traditional. Each boot has a little strap and elastic on the back of the calf because not every cowgirl is a size 8.
* MIA pascal black combat boots for women, Super Shoes, $49.99
Lace-up combat-style boots with a slight heel, side zipper for easy in-and-out and OMG THAT’S SOFT shearling lining. Cute and OMG SOFT. The best of boot worlds.
* Dexter work boots for men, Payless Shoes, $44.99
Sturdy, camel-colored, waterproof boot on the outside and a cushy, padded heel on the inside. Nice but pretty standard … until you pair with:
* Smart Fit mini work boot for kids, Payless Shoes, $29.99
A duplicate of the Dexter boot in little kid miniature! Perfect for daddy-and-me time this fall and winter.
* Lower East Side gray flat slouch boot for women, Payless Shoes, $34.99
Flat, cute and perfect for the apple orchard or the office. Grab its taller, even more slouchy cousin for $49.99.
* Sorel 1964 Premium CVS winter boot for women, Lamey Wellehan, $140
Rugged winter duck-style boots with hot pink laces and sole. A cool twist on the classic L.L. Bean boot — practical and brawny yet girly. As all good boots should be.
Bonus Lamey Wellehan shout-out: Sheepskin steering wheel cover, $24.95. So flipping soft. Like driving with an actual sheep slung over the wheel, minus any visual impediments or surliness at being slung.
* Western Chief firefighter rain boots for kids, Lamey Wellehan, $24.99
Black with yellow striping, these little rubber rain boots look just like the kind worn by firefighters. Only, you know, even more adorable.
* Madden Girl wedge boots for women, Famous Footwear, $49.99
Our only wedge-boot sighting of the day, which either means this trend is blissfully on its way out or everyone else is sold out and — quick! — wedge yourself over there ASAP.
* Roxy pepper boots for women, Famous Footwear, $69.99
Shopping Siren grabbed a pair of these last week and loves them. Lace-up brown or black ankle boot with a thick, 2-inch stack heel, which makes them practical. Faux leather upper with a knit collar that can be worn up or down, which makes them stylish. Bound to be this winter’s go-to boots. Unless we don’t get a winter this year. There’s always hope.
Best find: Totes Maryliza knee-high riding boots for women, Super Shoes, $39.99
In black or brown, with a slight heel. So much to love about these, from the buckle accent around the ankle to the side zipper to the super soft inside. Also, they’re waterproof. And less than $40. Which. Blew. Our. Minds. These boots have it all. And with these boots you, too, can have it all. Or at least dry, stylish feet.
Think twice: Kenneth Cole platform stiletto knee-length boots for women, Famous Footwear, $59.99
Thin, black velvet stretch. Stiletto heel. Do we have to point out they’re impractical ankle-breakers? And they look like they belong to a stereotypical stripper? Normally $149.99 according to the box. Not even our penchant for a deal could have talked us into these.
Basement update
Bag Lady headed into the basement last weekend with Mr. Bag Lady to try to tame the clutter within. Among the things we found/tossed/recycled/donated: 18 juice glasses. Two TVs. A criminal amount of empty cardboard packaging. And EIGHT snake skins.
Seriously. It’s time to give those snakes the boot.
Bag Lady and Shopping Siren’s true identities are protected by a pair of stylish, sweater-wearing Doberman pinschers (who refuse to wear dog booties, no matter how many treats are employed in the effort) and the Customer Service counter at the Sun Journal. You can reach them at baglady@sunjournal.com and shoppingsiren@sunjournal.com.
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