For years I have avoided the "nice" shoe aisle in favor of the more affordable footwear section. I don't believe I have compromised on style or comfort but I've never really dove right in and spent a fist full of cash for boots.
But my son-in-law, the economist has shown me the value of the theory of "poor man's boots" in a variety of areas in my life. And I have over the years adopted the "pay for good stuff and you will actually spend less" approach to shopping. By and large this has been successful, so why should it be any different for boots?
In my search for the ultimate great boot, I have encountered a few problems but ultimately just one.
Problem #1: I am short and I have thick calves. Most pull on boots can't be pulled past my ankles. And it's even more embarassing trying to cram my calves into a zippered boot. So many adorable boots….zipped up to just past my ankles.
Problem #2: I don't want to sacrifice style/fashion for fit. Sure I can find a pair of gumboots to wear but how cute is that with a skirt?
Problem #3: I really just have one problem. I struggle to find cute boots that fit. Both of the above problems combined…if I can pull a boot over my calves it's ugly and if it's super cute, it won't fit.
So about 4-5 years ago I was strolling through the mall when I saw another pair of really cute boots. I sucked up my courage and tried them on. They fit perfectly. But then I was faced with buying "cute, cheap" boots.
As the girl described them - "synthetic leather" I shuddered to think what my economist son-in-law would think about this purchase. But Dang! These boots were cute, they went over my thick calves without concern and would not cost a ton of money (and they were cute). Plus, I rationalized that I could wear these boots while actively searching for some really good quality leather boots that could last a lifetime. These were to be my one season, disposable boots and I was okay with that.
I bought the tall riding boots.
(tall pull-on riding boots)
The next day I went back and bought the short boots, as well. If I was going to do this, I may as well go all the way. I was going to enjoy having some cute boots.
(short boots)
And my cheap boots served me remarkably well that season. But in the back of my mind, I kept thinking I needed to find some really good leather boots…
I kept looking at and trying on good boots. That season and the next. And the next….I went to Eddie Bauer, Roots, Browns, Landend, etc. etc. etc. never coming out with a pair of boots that would fit.
So each fall I would pull out my cheap "synthetic leather" (aka plastic) boots and shine them up for another season. And these boots lasted me for a full 4 winters. The soles were starting to wear and the sock liner fell out two winters ago but by and large, I managed with the cheap boots.
Then last fall I saw some really nice boots online at Landsend. They were leather riding boots and all the reviews said that they were wide enough for thick calves. I had a 25% off couplon and so I thought I'd take a chance and order the boots.
(landsend riding boots-100% leather and
NOT Cheap)
The boots arrived and they were gorgeous! They were soft leather on the outside and fully lined with more soft leather. They zipped up over my thick calves and they had leather soles to add to the quality. I was so excited! I wore them the first Sunday after they arrived with a skirt and I proceed to wear them to work with my skinny jeans a couple days a week after that. I could not have been happier. My old, cheap, plastic riding boots were definitely showing the wear and these were a positive upgrade.
Then it got cold outside and it snowed a couple of times. And then it got colder….
The first time it happened I was walking across the church parking lot and my feet just kinda went out from under me. Splat! Me and my cute boots bottoms up in a skirt on the way to church. I picked myself up and dusted myself off and hobbled into the building unsure of what had just happened. But a few days later it became very clear to me when I hit the pavement as I walked into the office.
The beautiful leather soles on my gorgeous leather boots offered no traction whatsoever in the cold. As a matter of fact, when these boots get cold, the soles must freeze up and magically turn into blades (like on ice skates). The transformation is so subtle, I don't notice that I'm in peril until I am on the ground.
There was only one thing to do. I pulled out my old boots and began wearing them again. At least in my old cheap boots, I had both feet planted firmly on the ground.
As Christmas approached, I began looking for new boots in earnest. I understood my supple leather boots were "fair weather" friends at best and I would get a hundred years of wear out of them if I could only wear them for 4-6 weeks a year. So I rationalized another, more seasonable pair would not be out of the question.
That's when I bought the Clarks. They looked like the perfect boot for work and they had rubber soles and a warm lining. These would be my winter boots and I would wear them everyday with jeans and pants and I would be "stylin'. Which I was, until something happened on my left foot and the boot sort of just ate up my pinky toe one afternoon. I could barley walk to my car that night and now I was really getting depressed. TWO pairs of good quality, fashionable, expen$ive boots and two fails!
(the clarks - pain in one small package)
Back to my old standbys. Tall cheap boots a few days a week and short cheap boots the other days. Of course, it never warmed up enough to wear anything but boots so I was stuck.
Then I started to do some calculations in my head. I had paid less than $100 for two pairs of boots 5 years ago. That worked out to $20 a year for boots that didn't look too bad and kept me warm and upright throughout the seasons. That was less than $.05 per day! Suddenly "poor man's boots" made no sense at all.
I went a little "boots nuts" over the next little while.
I bought these on sale at urban outfitters-
two pairs for less than the cost of 1/2 of one
expensive boot. (and so many compliments when I wear them at work.)
Plus, super, sturdy soles that can stand up to the cold.
These were $8 at the Gap and got 10% off for
bringing in my reusable shopping bag. 100%
plastic and 200% pure comfort.
I got these little cuties at the shoe warehouse for close to nothing-
they were the free shoes when Wally bought a pair on the BOGO.
So I own expensive, good quality boots in an effort to make sensible purchases and I wear cheap, cute, synthetic boots in an effort to keep both feet on the ground and walk strong all through the day.
Sometimes, in spite of all good intentions, I need to do what FEELS right!
Walk on, my friends.
