As we close in on the last week on February I finally have a little break in my blogging schedule to do the boot post I have been thinking about for awhile. Its well known across my family and friends that I have a thing for boots. From booties to cowboy boots, I just have this thing for quality boots. It wasn’t always that way, and believe me when I tell you I did not just go out and drop 1,000 bucks on boots in two weeks. This fall/winter/spring I did a systematic boot turnover. As my less than top quality boots wore out I replaced them with quality boots that I had done a lot of research on and knew would last for years.
Everyone has different needs when it come to a good boot based on where they live and what they do. Here are mine. 🙂
- Boots must be leather(REAL LEATHER)- unless they are rubber rain boots
- Boots must be waterproof, or have the ability to be treated.
- Riding/Tall boots must be wide calf(18 inch calves over here!)
- When you invest in good boots you don’t need to buy a new pair every season. Quality boots last years!
Here are my favorites, ones that have the lasting power to stay with me for years to come!
Here are my basic boot must haves- Black riding boot, brown riding boot, black wedge bootie, brown wedge bootie, healed bootie. If you follow Curls and Contours then you know I am a BIG foundation wardrobe fan, I have each of these, so I am always ready for whatever occasion!
So lets get started with some of my favorites! All of which I currently own and wear.
In this photo this boot is 3 years old! I know it looks amazing, I will tell you that with horses I have worn Ariat’s for years. This is my first “Fashion” boot from Ariat, and it does not disappoint. This boot meets all my needs (listed above) and it always looks great. I love Ariat’s for riding, and they are great as a casual boot. These fit my wide calves and are comfortable to wear ALL day. I wear my brown boots the most in the fall, but with these being waterproof I can break them out all winter long.
These are my first pair of Hunter boots. because my calves are so wide I can’t wear the regular Hunter boots, or the “Wide calf” Huntress boots. The short boots work great, I just wish that they didn’t turn white so quickly. You buy them, and they are that glossy beautiful boot you have read so much about. And within 3 weeks they have that white film covering them. I scoured Pinterest for ways to turn them black again, I tried the olive oil trick and never boxing them trick. But they are still that frosty white color. I find myself passing them up when it rains for a waterproof leather pair because these ones need constant up keep.
These boots were SO FREAKING HARD TO FIND, the duck boot trend is here in a big big way!! You have to size up in order to have them fit. I ordered these after scouring the internet for a pair of Bean boots, when I found that they were backordered until April, I knew the next best quality boot was going to come from Sorel(I own 4 pairs of Sorel boots lol). I love wearing them with skinnies, and leggings. They are a perfect casual boot that with the right sock can be SO warm and cozy. These booties are only 100 bucks, and worth every penny.
Sorel Joan of Arctic Mid Wedge
Ahhh the boot that started it all. I fell in love with these boots two years ago and just had to have them! If you are a boot lover like me, then you already know how amazing these Sorels are. The wedge in these boots makes them supremely comfortable and sexy. They are waterproof and have great traction for snowy or slippery days. I literally wear them 5 days a week! I purchased another pair this year because I was wearing these so much. If you don’t own a pair, get them immediately! You will not regret it for a second I promise. These boots have been so coveted by the women that own them, that Sorel has expanded the line. They have a brand new beautiful spring collection coming out that features this wedge style boot. OBSESSED!!!
These babes are the newest edition to my boot family. I wanted a heeled bootie that I could wear with nicer stuff, that didn’t have such a rugged feel. These Vince Camuto boots fit the bill to a T. I had to size up a whole size, and I stretched them, I did the ziplock bag of water in the boot in the freezer trick, I found it on Pinterest of course. So it hasn’t been the easiest time getting these boots where I can really enjoy wearing them. But DAMN, they are fantastic looking, understated and so perfectly chic. The wooded heel gives them a nice contrast, and makes them perfect to wear into the spring. The best part? Currently they are less than 100 bucks!
Sorel Joan of Arctic Mid Wedge
This winter, I added the tan Sorel Joan of Arctic boot to my going collection. I love a beautiful tan boot, and as you may already know I have this thing for cream tops and sweaters. The tan boot co-ordinates perfectly with any lighter colored top that you can think up. I wear this boot nonstop and its always stunning. Added bonus I shopped amazon.com for these and got this pair for 50 dollars cheaper!
Frye Veronica Slouch Extended Calf
The elusive Frye boot, known for its supreme craftsmanship and quality this brand has created a loyal following that swears by its comfort and quality. I did my fair share of research on this boot prior to purchasing and I learned a few things about how to properly size this boot, and the breaking in process. I ordered my regular size in the “extended calf” according to Frye, the extended calf boot is 16.5 inches in circumference. What they don’t tell you is that the calf circumference increases with the size of the boot. I wear a size 10 the Veronica Slouch fits my 18 inch calves with ease. In the picture I used for this post, my boots had not been treated with water resistant wax. After I made them water resistant they dulled a bit (bummer). The Frye breaking in process is not an easy one, it took me roughly 10 hours to get my Frye boots comfortable, I started with just wearing tights, then thin socks, now I can wear a regular sock. The quality of these boots is astounding, they are beautiful and I do love owning them. As for wearing? They aren’t waterproof, so winter wear has been minimal. This fall I hope to break them out of the box weekly. Until them I can sit pretty in my truly waterproof boots.
Other boots in my collection