Comfy Walking/Work Boots That Aren’t UGGS

I just want a pair of WARM, comfortable boots that I can wear to a day of ministry and then go for a walk on the beach in. I have pretty boots, I have warm snow boots, I have motorcycle lug sole boots, I have cowboy boots. None of those are good for walking.

Any suggestions for this old lady who wants to get out in the cold and move her bod and not get cold or achey feet doing so?

These are a few that caught my eye on Zappos although they’re either suspect for comfort (little heel) or just too danged ugly:

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I kind of like these:
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These look like they might be warm and comfy, but they’re just not making me happy design-wise.

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Ankle Boots Guidance

Hello, Cookies!
How was your week? Mine was busy and interesting and full of learning and falling leaves and having my first train ride into Boston from my new location and THE RED SOX ARE IN THE WORLD SERIES YEA BABY GO BO SOX BOSTON STRONG WOOT WOOT and things of that nature.

Some of you have been furrowing your brows about how to wear short booties so I want to make a few suggestions. First of all, don’t furrow your brow; it gives you wrinkles. Second, don’t sweat it too much about making fashion disasters happen in your cute little boots. Just consider these important guidelines, courtesy of your ever-loving PB:

1. Ankle boots break up your leg. I mean, not literally. They don’t snap your tibia, they break up the LINE of your leg. If you don’t have long legs, wear your booties with opaque tights of the same color if you’re wearing them with a skirt.

2. Because ankle boots break up the line of your leg, they make the leg look somewhat shorter and stouter. Maybe you don’t care about this. Maybe you have legs that go all the way up to your chin. If so, enjoy! Wear mustard tights and purple ankle boots and a knee length pencil skirt in a wild print and just be that girl with crazy legs (well, no, don’t actually do this, as you don’t want everyone’s eyes to be glued to your lower limbs). People of average stature probably want to avoid having gaps of flesh between their boot tops and their skirts or pants. It makes your legs look pretty stubby, even though it can be very cute to wear ankle boots with a rolled pant leg. Again, don’t get too paranoid about this. Just know that your legs will look shorter and that ankle boots with a rolled hem is a very youthful look. Not necessarily a bad thing. Keep it chic.

3. Ankle boots look fabulous with slim cut slacks like these:

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I love this suited up look. Very chic. She’s a fashion model so she can show two inches of bare ankle and slouch and still look beautifully lanky and chic in her ankle boots (which I love):
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The Official PeaceBang Rule about leggings (which many gals wear with ankle boots) is “If you wouldn’t wear the top alone without pants, don’t wear the top alone with leggings.” In other words, contrary to popular opinion nowadays, LEGGINGS DO NOT REPLACE PANTS. I was recently in New York City and there was such a constant parade of derrieres around me I was genuinely embarrassed, as I am clearly becoming more and more prim in my old age. But really. HONESTLY. You never saw such public buttockulosity. These gals either had not seen themselves from the rear, where they looked absolutely, inappropriately, shockingly exposed, or they were exhibitionists. And P.S.? A long cotton tunic doesn’t accomplish much with leggings except to draw more attention to one’s bum in motion. I swear that I’m going to start carrying simple cotton skirts with me to quietly hand out to the worst offenders.

You might enjoy some of the past posts about the Legging Situation. Like this one.

As far as ankle boots and skirts go, your mileage will vary according to height and stature and what kind of heel your boot has. When in doubt, maintain a through-line for the eye from boot to skirt hem for maximum elegance and professional polish. Save the college girl ankle boots-with-stockings-and-socks look for your day off. It’a bit jejeune for clergy.

Send in photos! Mwah!

Shoes!

It has been SUCH a long time since we’ve done a shoe post here at BTFM! Too bad I’m preparing for a short trip to NYC and can’t get to one right now. But I promise I’ll take lots of photos of fabulous street fashion from the Big Apple and try to get inspired.

Meanwhile, whatchya got? What are you wearing? Now that we’re out of sandals I’m back to all oxfords all the time except when I’m in boots. I facilitated a board retreat for a congregation last weekend and felt so strong and grounded in my Fleuvog Wessex boots. They’re my favorite “LET’S GET SOME GOOD WORK DONE” shoes.

Fluevog moto boot

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Neo-Preppy Shoes

Ladies! It’s our LUCKY DAY!
Because we can wear all sorts of comfortable shoes and be perfectly au courant (which means “of currants” — you know, like a scone!).

Seriously! Boat shoes!

I grew up in the prep era in one of the towns featured in “The Preppy Handbook,” and was a theatre kid who avoided the preppy look like the plague. Now as a middle aged gal, I am having a lot of fun seeing the resurgence of some of the classics from my youth in New Canaan, Connecticut (say it with a clenched jaw, please, Muffy).

I find myself really yearning for a strand of graduated PEARLS, for God’ sake! If you spot me in a Fair Isle sweater and turtleneck with an add-a-bead necklace pulled out of the top of the turtleneck, please do something drastic, will you?

I don’t have any boat shoes but I am so happy to see that the Oxfords trend continues unabated. I posted this back in September.

I bought these from Zulily and I love them with a pair of black slim-leg pants, black blazer and bright blue blouse. Or with black slim-leg jeans, a cardigan and a scarf knotted at the neck, my hair in a top-knot and my Warby Parker specs.

And look at the fabulosity of these old-school Bass Weejuns done up in metallic! If you order these (and who could blame you?), remember that Weejuns run a bit tight across the instep and take some breaking in. Once accomplished, however, these babies will honestly last you a lifetime. Muffy and Biff still have theirs from 1987! Although not in silver, which would be far too flashy for the country club.

A friend bought me a pair of these Calvin Klein tie-less Oxfords in sand color. I am LOVING them. The nailhead detail and heel make them just a tiny bit tough.

Now, a word of caution. Oxfords and other neo-prep flats require some styling or they will instantly identify you as Suburban Realtor On Her Day Off, Tennis Mom or Boat Mom. I love tennis and boat moms, and I love suburban realtors (especially the one I’m working with right now), but you are a community leader and you need to present with more panache.

Click on all these photos to enlarge.

Also? Need I say? These are NOT to be preached in.


photo by chictopia

Naturalizer To the Rescue!

[RETRACTION OF APRIL 6th: Naw. I don’t like any of these very much except the yellow. But I’m TRYING! I’m trying to stay positive about flats! – PB]

Well looky here, gang! Naturalizer makes a few flats with some support that don’t make me feel like crying into my sleeve!

They’re pretty but not cutesy. The colors aren’t barfy.

They’re fine for the pulpit:

They have a bit of detailing. I bet these look downright handsome from a distance:

Or how about in a metallic? I like this one a lot.

And they’re all under $100.

Faith restored!