Tis the Season..... for BOOTS!

Even tho boots can be worn all year long..... especially in LA where celebrities think UGGS go with everything and everywhere..... boots typically tend to be worn more in the fall and winter months.  There are ankle boots, knee boots, over the knee boots, snow boots, riding boots, dressy boots, suede boots, leather boots, rain boots.... boots, boots, boots.... ultra comfy, very stylish, and very utilitarian as well.

Just like in the summer time with my sandals, I have several pairs of boots in the same style but in different colors.  Most of my boots are of the VERY inexpensive (aka CHEAP) kind, and come from the Children's department of Payless Shoes or Target... although I do have 2 pair of expensive boots I ordered online because I needed/wanted stylish dressy boots and I'm just unable to find "Big Girl" boots in my teeny foot size in stores.  My girls love to tease me about finding an item I like... whether it be clothing or shoes... and buying several items of the same style in different colors.... but hey!..... if it fits, looks nice and feels good, I want to have options for any outfit!

My current favorite boots are a pair of riding boots I bought from Payless Shoes a couple months ago.  Every time I wear these boots I get stopped by total strangers telling me they love my boots and they always ask me... "where did you get them"?.  I then enjoy seeing the total shock that crosses their faces when I say Payless Shoes... and then... they always say... "REALLY"!!! ???  Cracks me up every time!  In fact this happened to me twice yesterday in the mall!  I have a similar pair that I purchased last year from Target and wore them all fall/winter long to the point they were looking rather shabby and worn out... which made me go in search of another pair for this year because they are soooo comfy, and soooo cute I needed a new pair.  I always got the same reaction when I wore those boots last year too.

One night this past August when I was home alone and bored, I went online and started my quest for replacing my old riding boots from last year... I ended up ordering several pairs of boots (but in my defense it was "Buy one, get one 1/2 price").... I bought 5 pair to be exact.... brown, black, over the knee, riding boots, rain boots... and of course they arrived the one weekend when my husband was home!.... GO FIGURE!!...isn't that always the way it goes!!!  His immediate response was.... "Vickie WHY do you need all these boots?"... and I replied... "Because I do"!  LOL  He of course knew they were all inexpensive, cheap trendy boots, so it wasn't that I had actually spent much money on them, he just didn't think I would really need or wear all these boots... but now that we have been out several times together when I am wearing these various boots, and he too has seen the reaction and heard the comments of other women of how much they love my boots.... he just shakes his head and smiles!  How is that for winning an argument and getting in the last word!?

I personally find it quite rewarding to dress trendy and stylishly inexpensive .... as in bargin shopped items!.  Case in point.... my husband's boss held a "Farewell Dinner" for us before we relocated here to Kansas... and she is the ULTIMATE stylish lady... she dresses VERY EXPENSIVELY and LOVES it... while I dress stylishly as well.... just on a way way wayyyyyy lower budget!  At this dinner... while I was with several muckity muck corporate wives standing around chatting... his boss notices my new boots and comments on them and asked me where I got them.... so..... I told her  Payless Shoes (I don't lie well.... nor can I think that quickly).... I honestly don't think she has ever been to a Payless Shoe store in her life.... but... the look on her face was priceless.... as was the look on the other wives... but it made me feel like a million bucks because, cheap as my Payless boots are.... they looked very stylish and expensive!  And.... honestly.... they may be cheap, but they are soooo much more comfy than the two pair of expensive boots I have!

It's not that I never shop for pricier clothes.... I do.... but.... only when I am need of something for an event or when I have a gift certificate (birthday, christmas... etc)... and once I'm in a pricier store... I can easily get into trouble quickly because I find more than I need... but when things look sooo good and feel sooo good I just can't help myself... however, the items I buy in pricier stores are the items that I keep in my closet for a long time, and wear often because they stay in style for many years.  Having said that tho.... I more often shop in stores like Old Navy, Payless, Target, and such because I can find more seasonal trendy items much cheaper and then when they go out of style I don't feel badly because I didn't spend much on them anyway.  It is the way you accessorize your outfits with shoes, boots, jewelry and such that make you look expensive and stylish... clothing/shoes don't have to be expensive to look expensive... this is what I have learned from my youngest daughter who went to a Fashion Design school in LA and has taught me to 'step out of my comfort zone', and how to put the whole look together.  She is the queen of clearance rack shopping!  I have learned a lot from her these past few years and see "Style" with a whole new eye!  THANK YOU Lauren!

So ladies.... it's time to put your boots on!!  After all.... "These boots are made for walking... and that's just what I'm gonna do"!  In case of any youngsters reading this blog have no clue what that means.... these are lyric's from a 1960's song by Nancy Sinatra (Frank Sinatra's daughter).