the perfect boot finale

part one and part two are here.

a new season! a renewed sense of hope of finding the perfect boot! in typical fashion, the world of fashion has caught up with me--every time, for as long as i can recall, if i've searched despearately for an item, there is always a plethera the following year. this is why i was studying fashion merchandising in college before i dropped out, to fulfill my own needs of having access to the clothing i wanted before it was easily available, and to use my knack of being one step ahead of the world of ready-to-wear, and get paid for it.

a sit-down on the zappos site and confirmed a large selection of tall leather boots, both functional, quality, and stylish. i quickly settled on two pairs and convinced blake to let me max out our credit card and order both, see which one is better, and send the loser back. you will recall last time my saga took place over january, so most of the boots my size and color choice were sold out. i was just a wee bit paranoid about that happening again. but here i was early in the season, with all these hot boots fresh for the picking!

last year, when i gave up the search, i ended up surviving the rest of the wet season with a fine pair of black rubber rain boots with laces up the front that i found for half-off online. they are great but don't live up to many of the criteria of that "perfect boot." the perfect boot, just for review, needs to be leather, an appealing shade of brown, have secure tread for slippery surfaces, and (the toughy) needs to have a large enough circumference in the calf (sadly, my calf is the same circumference as last year dispite my efforts to lose weight.) plus it has to be pretty.



pair #1:


the franco sarto telluride. mmmmmm.......this boot gives me the chills. its seeeeeexy, but would be even sexier broken-in, like a true leather boot. the buckle (which i'm usually opposed to) is just the right touch, not too tough, just there. the shade of brown--warm, reddish, yummy. the zipper was beefy and industrial and, the twist, on the outside of the shaft--oh, yeah.

the fit: a no-go. shit, shit, shitty-shit. not big enough around the calf, and stretching would have been a risk at that price. and in the foot area: ow. ow. ow. very narrow with stiff leather. one trip around the living room and i was wincing. with a sigh, i printed the label for their return.

besides all of that, its still my favorite looking boot i've seen all year. i guess it will remain "boot porn," and i can imagine wearing them in my dreams.


pair #2:
i gave another pair of timberlands a shot. these were $100 more than the timberlands of boot search part one, so i knew the quality would be better than those cheap-o's. i liked the color, too--very different. almost a grey or green hue to them in person. compared to the tellurides the style is....um, bland. but the beauty of these is that the style could go either way: a little country, a little rock and rock, a little boho...they are a whatever, wherever and don't make a huge statement. the tread: respectable. the fit: a clear, clear winner. they went on like butter, had a roomie, comfortable footbed and didn't squeeze. the calf was just enough with no room to spare, but a small hidden panel of elastic to make them work. phew! the relief!!

what i've discovered it that the best bet for a larger calf is a pull-on style boot--these are meant to, on a smaller-sized calf, have space between your leg and the boot top so it can be pulled on and off without the need for a zipper. no harm done if your calf fills up the extra room--especially nice if there is a small section of elastic at the top for comfort and ease.


the leather is soft and does slouch a bit now that they are worn-in, but not so much that it affects the tallness of the boot, or kills the shape of my leg--i still have an ankle, but also they are easy to wear, not stiff at all. i can run errands and crouch and carry kids, and my feet don't hurt at the end of the day. my look has been these with opaque black tights and a sweater dress almost everyday: my fall look is complete! and to think, i have all of the remainder of fall and winter to enjoy my perfect pair of boots...isn't that how it should be? only time will tell if they last more than one year, but until then, after all i've been through in my search, i am already getting my money's worth.

the search for the perfect boots

sadly, this i've been on this search for almost 2 months already. 2 months of rain, ice, snow, and general coldness. 2 months that i could have been donning my perfect pair of boots. that is assuming that the perfect pair exists, which now the doubt weighs heavy on me like a pair of steel-toed, lug soles.



it all started with this pair of camper boots. they had everything i wanted in a boot. not trendy, but classic, something that reminded me of a boot someone would have worn a hundred years ago. a capable pair of boots, ready to work, to walk the fields, gather firewood, and to carry buckets of...i don't know, something. ready to age gracefully. a boot that could be worn with tights and a skirt or a wool dress or with skinny jeans stuffed into them. just enough traction. quality materials. a dark brown that could be paired with black or any of color i threw at it. tall enought to hit at the point where the calf starts to thin before the knee. these boots had it all! they were inspired by the mexican industrial revolution and are called "1910 Mexico." these boots spoke to me. there was just one hitch. the calf circumference was 14" and i need 15". you can expect to stretch a boot calf 1" at the most BUT if it didn't work, then i would be out $275. the risk seemed too high. so i searched on, assuming there must be something out there that met my criteria.

next i came to these. i had some doubts. like "do i really like the laces...?" and "don't only ganstas wear timberlands....?" but after scrolling over the multiple views a few hundrend times, i decided they did look very rugged yet feminine, the laces would make them very adjustable and might be pretty darling with my whole tights and skirt look i had been visualizing. the price was only $145. i should have been suspicious right then. when they arrived the week before christmas (these wre actually intended to be my solstice gift from B), i mused at the lightness of the package yet tore the box open in anticipation. they looked...cheap. the materials now up close were flimsy, not the supple, durable leather i had imagined. i could see some glue in the construction. and the zipper...plastic. such a bust. zappos is so good about free shipping both ways, so off they went. now what? i asked myself

i am not exaggerating when i tell you that hours were spent looking at boots. i believe i have seen every boot available on zappos, j crew, the sundance catalog (thanks to a tip from my stylish friend rebekah!), boden, and frye at least 10 times....

ah, frye. this is a company that makes a boot to last. a boot i could trust! yet, it was not that simple. the biggest problem with the frye boots are the soles. they are slick, like a cowboy boots and i must have traction in this climate--i can't be slippin' and slidin' all over the place.

these are my absolute favorites...the tops are a sexy equestrian style, but look at the wimpy sole. rejecting this sole narrowed it down a lot, yet they do have a few selections with a decent rubber tread.












one was called the millie. great color, adorable pull-on styling...but the shaft was short, would hit right at the thickest part of my calf which is extremely unflattering. trust me. only gals with long skinny legs can and should wear boots that stop at the fattest part of the calf. shall we move on?








this left me with the new veronica slouch. very popular new boot, very. probably the most coveted frye boot this season. i envisioned this boot on my foot many, many times. i even placed it in my basket just to see how it felt. what was holding me back?....well, the buckle at the bottom. too tough, too motorcyle for me. and what about this so-called "slouch"? i don't mind a soft wrinkle but will they drown my ankles? AND they're $330. my budget was around $250 which especially now is a LOT OF MONEY. i am not saying that a good boot isn't worth that, in fact, as we learned before, a boot is priced accordingly and anything decent that will have that looks-better-after-some-wear quality should cost anywhere between $200 to $400. but to go over budget by that much for a look that i don't LOVE....i had to step back and assess.



one of the main problems i was having was that there were some boots that i liked a lot, and fit the traction, color, circumference, and quality standards were met...but they were lined in sheepskin. that is great and all during the cold months, at least half the year, but it seemed a shame to invest in these boots and not have them be year-round, like the Campers. oh, Campers, damn you!! like this ugg boot, so simple, sturdy...but i had big doubts about the sheepskin.






the site i mentioned before, sundance, had some boots that were also very tempting--crinkled leather, rugged sole, a optional turn-down-or-up cuff. the best look by far but also had the sheepskin conundrum. and the price was over $300. but ooooh, made in italy. italians and boots go together like....oh, shoot, something that goes together well. they were also off the list....unless....what was this? on my tenth visit to the site, suddenly the boots are over half off!! my mind begins to spin and calculate.....if they are only $140 (down from $338) then it might be worth it to have them only be cold weather boots, and i can just deal with a warmer-weather boot when the times comes, maybe find something on consignment...then i remembered that when i returned my zappos boots, i opted for store credit (so that i could get free overnight shipping, see...) and now my funds were all tied up there, and yes, i could call them and change it, but i would still have to wait a few days for the bank to process it and by then would they even have my size left.....are you still following me? life should not be this complicated!

i resigned myself back to finding a pair on zappos. meanwhile, life is rolling on, the holidays pass, the snowdrifts melt, the rain comes and floods, and subsides, then threatens to flood again. i lay in bed with visions of boots marching by, some for their beauty, others for their functionality, never quite attaining a perfect blend of both. except for the Campers--the perfect boots with the not-perfect measurements. i finally began pouring my woes to blake, even though i knew it would all be way over his head. his look of bewilderment confirmed this, but i pleaded with him to focus and hear me out. "i need your help making a decision." and as a man who is also picky about his shoes, he listened. once i had it all out, i proposed the risk--how about i just get the Campers and have them stretched and hope for the best? we calculated this together and thought that yes, it was possible, if the zipper is metal it should be able to handle the stress. he had my back.

i ran downstairs, happy to have just made the call, consequences be damned, one cannot live in this boot-shopping purgatory forever!! i found my "favorites" tab, loaded my cart and hit the check out button.

we're sorry these are not available in that size and color combination. but here are some other options....

i don't want black. i can't wear a 36, i need a 37. fucker. give me my goddamn boots.

i quickly moved through the disappointment, and decided that it was important to just make something happen. i quickly navigated to my second choice--the ugg broome, sheepskin be damned, i'd cross that bridge when i came to it.


not available in my size either. not even close to my size--they had like 5.5 and 10's left. well. then. if you are starting to think this story is getting to be too long, then i'm with you.

finally, last night, i floated back to the sundance page, and those gorgeous italian sheepskin lined boots were still there. blake stood stirring our pasta and homemade spaghetti sauce....was this some sort of sign? i made one move foreward to see how it felt, clicking on the "online help" button and i was connected to michele instantly. i had never done this before and it was exciting. i asked her if she had a pair in my size and what the calf measurement was.

Michele : Hi Leah. Do you know the item number?
leah : yup hold on
leah : 47294
Michele : We have one pair left in the size 37. The circumference is 15"
leah : ooooh wonderful!
Michele : You can order them online if you want.
leah : what is your return policy if they dont fit?
Michele : You just need to mail them back to us and we will give you a refund for the price of the boots.


i give blake the blow-by-blow and he says "just go for it. we'll do a money juggle tomorrow." i felt like i was bidding on something coveted during the last 30 seconds of an ebay auction, i was all adrenelined out. when i put them in my cart they came up as only $119! plus shipping, but geez, that was over $200 off.

i am awaiting the boots with my fingers (or toes) crossed. either i scored an awesome pair of boots that will last me through many stylish yet rugged winters, or they suck and i send them back and the saga continues. i called zappos today and they are transferring my store credit back to my debit card. the guy mentioned that someone was in the process of returning a pair of the Campers in size 37 and that i can check back every day. we'll see. its not like i have 200 and something dollars laying around for shoe purchases. i promise, dear readers, to share the ending with you, whether its happy or not...


but tell me....what is the best pair of shoes or boots you ever scored?

Ode to the Prairie Underground Hoodie

i could have and should have done this a long time ago. every time i discover another reason to love the this sweatshirt, i think to myself, gee i should write them a letter...or better yet write a blog!

i first time i saw this garment was on a lady at the farmers market in Summer '06. my fashion-loving friend Jen and i both saw it at the same time and reached for each other. it was definitely love at first site. not just cute but different. but before i could act on it, the hoodie/dress/jacket/sweatshirt had disappeared into the crowd. luckily, i spotted her again later on and asked the owner where oh where she purchased it. Habit on Minnesota St.

i went there and fell deeper. it came in Mauve but soon was coming out in a greyish-green called "Drab." (also there was a shorter sassier version available.) at about $178 a pop (a little less for the short) it was not a decision to be taken lightly. but it was over, man--it was a must have. the immediate reasons were clear, which i will list below, but then over time, i learned more and more about the versatility and sheer awesomeness of it. even after the "look" itself wore off, and it became a popular garment, more new reasons kept it in heavy rotation.

so, Prairie Underground hoodie, let me count the ways....:


1) it's organic. made from thick, quality, and delicious organic cotton--one of the reasons it made the price understandable and forgivable.

2) it's flattering. the zipper front creates a v-neck for showing off my mama cleavage (or smaller chested ladies can zip it all the way) and the little panel in the back with small gathers let you keep your waist and sexy lower back instead of drowning your lady-curves in cotton like normal hoodies do.

3) it's big. in terms of amount of fabric, when all laid out it covers some ground. for this reason it has been used countless times at the park as a picnic blanket.

4) it's warm. and b/c its also big like i mentioned above, i have used it as a blanket on airplanes and car trips. i have also folded it up and used it for a pillow on airplanes and car trips.

5) it's absorbent. i have, on one occasion, used it to mop up a large spill on the kitchen floor.

6) it's easy to wash. sometimes in with the towels, sometimes in with the clothes, it's never gotten a stain that i could not easily remove (which is saying a LOT considering use #3 and #5)

7) it's durable. again see all uses above and still no tears, holes, snags, or anything needing repair.

8) it's versatile. i have worn it to go to yoga classes, and also with jeans and heels at a nice restaurant. there is nowhere this hoodie can't go.

9) it has a giant hood. think Lord of the Rings, very middle earth. somehow doesn't stick out when down and covers an amazing amount of head while up, with room to flare out so i can still hear what is going on around me and it still shows off my cute earrings. not to mention how handy this all is in the rain.

10) babies like to chew on the strings and beads. (although i will admit that i did lose the beads long ago)

11) it's not bulky. one of my fave looks last winter was to layer it under a wool coat and let the hood and hem hang. very cute and very warm.

12) it has a 2-way zipper. so you can control how much under-layers you show both top and bottom.

13) it doubles as a robe. this falls into the versatility category but deserves it's own number. its the perfect thing to put on after a bath or shower. and when everyone started getting them and they were all over the place, this became my #1 use.

14) it was used by a bride. i will never forget the day late summer when a friend was getting married in Sisters. there was a forest fire in the area, and the wind was blowing like mad which no one expected, and the sun was setting. the bride had this very cute custom-made dress with cream and lavender and green panels, but it was too cold for the outdoor ceremony. i offered her my garment which totally complimented her earthy dress and she looked beautiful and stayed warm!

15) it's ingenious. it's a hoodie and a dress and jacket and sweatshirt. all-in-one.

and the latest reason to love my Prairie Underground hoodie....

16) it works as maternity! thanks to it's zipper front and shapely back, it has hugged my growing belly perfectly with plenty of room to spare.



people frequently comment on it and i always say it's the most functional piece of clothing i have ever owned. i am confident that i will soon find another reason to add to this list.