I hadn't seen this many boots come out of the closet since
the Minneapolis Halloween snowstorm of '91. This fall, the
pages of Elle, Vogue, W and a pile of
other fashion rags were filled with images of short, tall,
red, black, laced and zipped varieties.
It's not unusual that thoughts should turn toward keeping
toes warm and dry as the weather turns on us, but rarely
do boots get so much press. As usual, some styles were downright
ridiculous. The Dolce & Gabbana white leather motorcycle
boot with a narrow high heel and ugly black straps was just
plain silly. The exaggerated stilettos were functional only
for models lounging seductively on leather couches.
But several styles appeared surprisingly practical and
even comfortable: a short, mod-inspired, brown leather version
with a durable sole; a pair of rust-colored, softened Tod's
riding boots bearing a striking resemblance to my own Fryes;
traditional, beefy suede hiking boots with thick red laces.
Maybe the fashionistas were realizing what I've known all
along: Boots rule.
I'd like to think that the current boot revival isn't just
a passing fancy. I want to believe it's a sign that women
are fed up with clunky black platforms and wimpy flats and
trading them in for a basic black boot (or at least sneakers).
Not that everyone should head down to the army surplus store
for combat gear. It just seems that having one beloved pair
of some kind makes life better, especially in a city with
so many puddles in which to splash.
Why am I such a cheerleader for this hardy footwear? Maybe
it's the memory of the elation I felt stepping into my first
pair of rainbow-striped moonboots as a Midwestern kid, thinking,
"So this is what it's like to walk on the moon!" Or the
liberation of trading in my sloppy, uncooperative wooden
clogs for sleek, side-zip gaucho boots in grade school.
Or the intuition that led me to a thrift store to find the
perfect shitkickers the day before I climbed on a plane
bound for Phoenix last summer. Maybe my enthusiasm stems
from my affection for Joe Buck in Midnight Cowboy.
Equally poignant are memories of hours spent teetering
on the catwalk in high heels as a model, an experience that
only reinforced my tomboy leanings. I shunned high-maintenance
fashion for comfort, trudging through the Minnesota snow
in sturdy black steel-toes, long-john shirts and Levi's
during college. I had also accepted the fact that there's
no way to hide big feet, so I gave up trying and decided
I might as well aid my accompanying clumsiness with good,
solid footing and a bit of ankle support.
Besides, boots made me feel tough, in a Nancy Sinatra,
"made for walkin'" kind of way. They outlasted trends, travels
and travails, forming to my feet like a second skin, comforting
and protecting me. And who can dispute the fact that boots
are sexy? I'm not thinking of the black, thigh-high, "fuck
me"-heel variety (though you might be), but of something
slightly more toward the fearless "fuck you" realm. (This
rationale, however, is lost on horrified grandmothers when
one shows up for a family wedding in black motorcycle boots.)
Of course, to everything there is a season. By March, the
fashion rags and runways will have forgotten my precious
boots and turned their attention to flimsy sandals and flats,
along with the latest in heels and high-tech sneakers. But
I don't care. I'll be in shitkicker heaven, even in the
middle of June, as I was last summer when a cocky stranger
approached me at a hotel pool in the desert. Surveying my
reclining, olive-bikini-clad bod and the worn cowboy boots
standing tall beside me, he mockingly asked, "Bikinis and
cowboy boots--is that the latest style?" "It's what everyone's
wearing in Paris," I answered sarcastically. At least, for
a moment, I was half right.
There's a pair of boots out there with your name on
them.
Here are a few places to start your search.
Al's Shoes & Boots (5811 SE 82nd Ave., 771-2130)
This
family-run business has been outfitting tough guys from
forest-service firefighters to miners and cowboys for over
50 years. Durable, high-quality steel toes, hiking and western
styles are the focus. The service is pro and the salespeople
don't make fun of you if you're not male or a heavy laborer.
Most of the styles, however, come in men's sizes only, including
plenty of wide and large sizes. The Cardinal black leather
lace-ups I found here for $99 a few years ago have outlasted
jobs and boyfriends.
John M. Newbury Boot Shop (1665 SE Bybee St., 235-7496)
If
you've been whining about wanting a custom-made pair of
boots and you're ready to put your money where your mouth
is, talk to veteran bootmaker John M. Newbury. But don't
waste his time and yours if you're dreaming of something
fancy; hand-crafted, leather western and work boots are
his deal (loggers love 'em). Hard-to-fit types will be especially
pleased with Newbury's creations. Work boots start at $400,
western boots at $600; you'll have to wait a few months
until they're ready, but in the end, they'll be standing
longer than most Oregon forests.
Imelda's Designer Shoes (1431 SE 37th Ave., 233-7476)
This
store is great if you're looking for something more elegant
than men's steel-toes in the $75-$200 range. A wide selection
of quality, his-and-hers Italian and British imports, along
with domestic brands and helpful salespeople, await. I found
a pair of short, black BCBG square-toes here for $140 two
days before a trip to Europe and traipsed around the continent
stylishly for weeks with nary a blister.
Payless Shoes (various locations)
This is a great store to find cheap, trendy boots that
you won't feel bad about dropping off at Goodwill next year.
You may have to sacrifice comfort for price: Non-breathable
pleather and nylon reign, and there's not much width variety.
Even so, less stifling short styles are worthwhile. A smart,
black, ankle-length Rugged Outback lace-up (perfect with
trousers) is
only $14.99.
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Willamette Week | originally
published December 8,
1999 |
