Boot Season!

It’s officially fall.  It’s October.  It’s… boot season!!!  Tall boots, short boots, all boots under the sun: it’s your season to shine. 

Problem: boots can be pricy.  They regularly cost $200 or more, and that’s not even luxury brands.  With an eye on your wallets, I give you a selection of boots all under $50.  At that price, you could get them all and be ready for the entire season!

Let’s start with a classic:

The Reina Riding Boot by Dexflex Comfort is a lovely classic silhouette, with just a touch of metal around the ankle.  The heel is one inch tall, and there’s a zipper on the inside and a stretch panel in the back for some give.  Oh, and there’s a memory-foam insole, people—memory foam!  Ugh, I want my feet in these rightnow.  (And PS, available in wide calf sizes too!  Yay!)  Available in this dark brown or black; your choice on sale for $50 from Payless.

The Fennel by Jellypop is a little more involved with buckles and straps—but it’s that split of fabric down by the outer ankle that just sells me on these.  I love that.  I have no words for how much I love that little split of fabric.  The heel is two inches high, and the shaft and circumference are both just over 14 inches.  Also available in black in addition to this taupe, but I just don’t like the black as much.  Find them at 6pm for $40.

Booties too, don’t forget!  The Breanne by Kelly & Katie is a quilted faux leather bootie with almond cap toe, zipper up the front, and three-inch heel.  It’s the quilting on this that makes it feel like fall to me—like I should be wrapped in a lovingly-made blanket in a cozy chair in front of a fire with a book and a mug of pumpkin tea.  (It’s not too early for that yet, is it?)  Yours for $50 from DSW.

I love a black and brown riding boot, and the Ralph by Nature Breeze delivers.  Plus it’s an over-the-knee boot for a little va va voom!  It’s got a 1.25 inch heel, buckle detail at the ankle, and a zipper halfway up the inside to assist you in getting in.  Find them at Overstock for $47.

Beauty and brains bring both boots and big bucks!  (Ha ha, I got started with like two Bs there and couldn’t stop myself.)  But really: with these inexpensive boots you can have it all this fall.

Sales this weekend:

Bakers: Buy one get one half off entire site

Bloomingdales: 20% off regular and sale with code FRIENDS

Bus Stop Boutique: Party tonight from 6-10 PM!

Call it Spring: $20 off lace-up boots, and extra 30% off sale

Lord & Taylor: 20% off regular and sale items with code BIG

Macy's: 20% off one pair, 25% off two pairs, and 30% off three pairs or more

Nine West: Buy two and get 20% off

Ask the Shoe Fairy

Dear Shoe Fairy,
Help!  I've just been invited to a January wedding, and I have no idea what shoes to wear!  The wedding is at the Thatched Cottage on Long Island, and I'm planning to wear this dress:

However, I've only ever worn it in the summer, with strappy heels.  Do you have any recommendations for close-toed shoes that would match?

Here are my specifications: 

I'm a size 10, and my feet are kind of wide - depending on the style, lots of shoes squish my toes, but wide shoes are sometimes slightly too wide. Heels or flats worlds be fine, but I'll probably fall over if they're backless or taller than 1.5 - 2 inches!  Also, I'd like to spend around $50 ($75 at most), since I'm a poor starving grad student.

Thanks!
Kristin

Dear Kristin,

Ah, a winter wedding!  There are so many types of shoes that you can wear with a black dress: it truly is the blank canvas of the fashion world.  A black shoe has the most rewearability potential, but I’d be careful to make it a fun black shoe lest all the black look too funereal!  Something like this, maybe:

A little subtle sparkle!  Love it.  The Barbie Glitter Pump by Mix No. 6 has a 2.5-inch heel—a little over your requested height, but still very sensible, I promise.  It also comes in gold if you don’t like the black; find them at DSW for $40.

Want to be a little festive, but not sold on the glitter?  How about these:

The Change by Christin Michaels is a shiny patent leather number that comes in (get this) ten different colors!  I love the stone pearlized metallic (shown here), but the burgundy or pewter metallic would be beautiful also.  It has a 2.75-inch heel and is on sale for $35 from Zappos.

A satin shoe would also be festive but still rewearable:

The Angel Pump by Jellypop has a 2.5-inch heel (and in a cute little kitten heel shape!), layers of satin, and a bow.  I love the idea of a red shoe with your black dress, but it also comes in black, charcoal, brown, and champagne.  Find them at DSW for $40.

Whichever shoes you pick, have a fabulous time and dance the night away!

~The Shoe Fairy

Update from Kristin:

I really like the burgundy patent heels, but they're sold out in size 10 - and so is every similar shoe from both Zappos and DSW!  However, yesterday I was walking around Manhattan with my boyfriend, and we happened to pass by a DSW.  I dragged him inside ("I promise I'll be quick - I'm only trying on shoes that were pre-approved by the Shoe Fairy!"). 

They were sold out of both the gold Mix No. 6 and red Jellypop, but I was able to try on both styles in black.  Mix No. 6 was cute, but squished my toes.  When I put on the Jellypop, I was immediately struck by how comfortable they are - and that in addition to looking great with my dress, in black they would also be really cute for work.  They also earned an immediate "I like those better" from my boyfriend.  Sold!

Thank you, Shoe Fairy!

You’re welcome!  There’s nothing I love better than bringing together people and shoes.