Cowboy Boots - Where Do They Belong?

Cowboy Boots

Where Do Boots Belong?

You don't have to be going to the rodeo. You don't even have to be headed to the bar to ride a mechanical bull. Where do cowboy boots find their place, then? The grocery store. The mall. A park. Blame it on The Dukes of Hazzard. Blame it on a designer's wish to be unique in bringing back the Old West. Wear them proudly, as they are a piece of American history.

What Can You Possibly Wear with Cowboy Boots?

• Skirts. Minis, knee length, long, or flowy--boots can flatter them all.
• Jeans. Some wear their boots tucked into their jeans. Others wear them underneath the flare of a bootcut fit. And, of course, cowboy boots go with any shade of blue--from the darkest denim to the lightest wash. Black's questionable, but if you can make black jeans work at all, go for it!
• Dresses. Any length goes, just like with skirts. Jessica Simpson has been spotted off-screen in a light and airy pastel calf-length dress paired with cowboy boots! She seems to love the look, but she's not the only one able to pull it off. Anybody can.
• Shorts. Yes, even shorts. Short jean shorts can pair nicely with cowboy boots. But, tread carefully to avoid looking like you're Daisy Duke's sister.

What NOT to Wear with Cowboy Boots

• Work clothes. Unless you're a rancher, leave the boots for your off duty hours. You may think this is a joke, but there's a doctor somewhere wearing boots and a button-up with his white coat and stethoscope. He's the laughingstock of the medical world.
• Tight, tight, tapered jeans with a western-style shirt. Looking like Howdy-Doody is a fashion don't. Some of the new jeans are designed with a slightly tapered leg to fit inside boots. Wear a looser shirt.
• Tuxes. Some men think proms and weddings are the perfect opportunity to pull out the old cowboy boots. Please don't!  And ladies, set the ground rules before he gets the chance to let his mind go there.
• Gym clothes. Did I really have to tell you this? That means no leggings, no yoga pants, no short purple cotton shorts with the waistband turned down.

Shopping Tips

The style of cowboy boots is usually pointy-toe, mid-calf height, and in leather or snakeskin. Upscale stores offer a modern twist on an old classic. Cowboy boots can also be sexy boots.Try before you buy whenever possible. Boots often fit differently than your work loafers in the same size. The pointed toe that most of them have can influence how they wear. You don't want to order something for a night out only to have them pinch your toes to misery.

Many department stores now carry cowboy boots because of their popularity. You can also find them at Western-themed stores, and quite a few online boot stores. Just Google "cowboy boot fashion."

And Don't Forget to Add Boot Toppers

Our Top of the Boot Tan Chinchilla boot toppers look great with cowboy boots!

Free Shipping January 2013

The Right Boots For You

The Boot Bible: How to Buy Boots for Your Body Type

Nancy Sinatra may have told us that boots were made for walking and right she was, but I’m here to tell you that boots should also be made for flattering! While body shape is an important consideration when buying your clothes, your body shape is equally important to your boot purchases. There are many styles of boots to choose from, but before you venture off into a retail abyss, let me help you determine the styles that will help compliment your glorious figures.

Don’t Get the Boot!

Now that we know we must consider our body shape when purchasing our fall/winter boots, where do we go from here? Well, here’s just a quick summary of some body types and which boot styles may work best for each:

• Short/thin women: knee-high, calf-length, and ankle boots will suit your body type best while above the knee may shorten your height further.
• Short/curvier women: knee-high and ankle-length boots will suit you best, as calf-length may shorten your build or widen your calf.
• Tall/thin women: All lengths (ankle, calf-length, knee-high, and above the knee) will work best for you.
• Tall/curvier women: All lengths are appropriate for you; however, anything above the knee may make you appear shorter.

Hurry Up and Boot Up!

Whether they are flat, high-heeled, ankle-length, or knee-high, boots come in every possible style. So, let’s get down to the nitty gritty of how some of these styles will flatter each body type…

Ankle Length Boots

These boots have always been the most popular considering they look great with every body type and can be worn with pants, skirts, or dresses. However, these boots cut your leg off at the ankle, so for short thin girls, make sure to include a good size heel and pair them with skinny jeans/leggings of the same boot color to create a longer line. When pairing your ankle boots with your skirts/dresses, careful to not shorten your legs. Make sure the boot fits closely at the ankle and your skirt/dress ends above the knee.

Calf-length Boots

Now, these boots come with a warning label, so proceed with caution. This style tends to cut your leg off at the calf and some wider shafts styles can visually widen the size of your legs. Therefore, they tend to work best for those with slimmer calves. If you want to tuck your bottoms into these boots, only wear your skinnies or leggings to avoid the MC Hammer ballooned pant look (yikes!). If you are short and want to appear taller, try buying a calf-length boot with a heel to create the appearance of height.

Knee-High Boots

These boots are for all body types and are a fall/winter “must-have” item. Knee-high boots elongate your legs giving them a longer, slimmer look and can be paired with any number of outfits, such as, dresses, skinny jeans/legging, mini skirts, etc. If you have shorter legs, avoid knee-high boots with any horizontal detail, such as straps or buckles, as these details may shorten your leg’s length. And remember, a knee-high with a heel will dress up your look, while a flat knee-high lends to a more casual look.

And This… to Boot!

Wait, you’re not ready to raid the shoe racks just yet! I have just a few more important tips to buying your perfect boot this season.

The Right Fit

Don’t forget when buying online to look at the circumference and shaft of the boot. Circumference will tell you whether or not your calf will slide easily into a knee-high or thigh-high boot, while the shaft will tell you whether or not your boot will come to the point on your leg that is most flattering.

The Right Heel

A quick note on heel shape…

• Kitten heels work well for smaller feet.
• Flat boots work best for longer legs.
• Stiletto heels work best for those with slimmer legs and calves.
• Wedge heels with a thin back heel are good for slimmer types and wide back heels work well for curvier types.
• Stacked heels flatter curvier shapes.

And, since Elle magazine rated us “One of the Best Boutiques in the Country”, one good plug deserves another…check out elle.com and type in Shop the Trend Boots for the latest fall boot styles. In the meantime, check out Nancy Sinatra’s hit song, “These Boots Were Made For Walking” on YouTube for a little inspiration before hitting the mall.

Okay boots…start walking!

Boots for Petite Women

Boots for petite women are as much of a fashion accessory as belts, hats or scarves. Many petite women choose heeled boots, but others opt for flat styles. There are many variations in fabric, design, and heel height to meet a petite woman's needs for style, flair and functionality.

Where to Buy
Cinderella of Boston: This company specializes in petite shoes for women who wear sizes two to five and a half. Their selection of boots ranges from low-heeled booties in neutral colors to sexy tall boots with high heels.
Nordstrom: The company's online Boot Shop is a fantastic source for all types of boots, ranging from trendy booties to functional cold weather styles.
Shoebuy: Shoebuy makes it simple to shop for petite shoes. No matter what size you are, there's a strong chance you'll find a boot here that fits.
Alonai: Alonai offers a nice selection of petite women's boots that range from booties to ankle boots to platforms in a wide variety of hard-to-find shades to coordinate with most of your ensembles.

Boot Shopping Tips
The key to boot shopping is to know your size and find a boot that fits you well and feels comfortable all day. Boots are not like dress shoes that are worn for a few short hours, and many women wear them from the office to after hours events without a break in between, so the right fit is essential.

Extra tall boots,such as those that hit above the knee, can make the legs appear even shorter and ruin a woman's overall proportion, so opt for a slouchy style for best appearance.
Ankle boots can show off trim legs and calves and elongate an individual's silhouette if you choose styles with slender heels or match dark colored hosiery or tights to dark shades or black boots.

Measuring for Fit
Solving styling problems is as easy as measuring your leg to determine the boot shaft size that will best flatter you. A shaft any taller than 14 inches is generally considered too tall for a petite frame, but it's always wise to determine this for yourself before dropping any amount of money on a pair of boots. Simply run the measurement from the inside of your leg to the area right below your knee.

Boot Styling Tips
Most petite women look best in a boot that has some sort of heel rather than a flat heel, as the extra inches the heel provides elongates the silhouette. Here are some styling suggestions:
If you must have a flat heel, select a slouchy flat and pair them with skinny jeans and a boyfriend blazer.
Ankle boots are best paired with pencil skirts, fitted leg slacks, leggings or jeggings.
Riding boots and boots with tall shafts go best with slacks with fuller legs and longer skirts and dresses.
Boots with peep toes or pointed toes make the foot look longer and slimmer.
Too many laces, straps and buckles can add girth to the calves and make the leg look short and stumpy.

Shopping for the Right Style and Fit
While it can seem overwhelming at times to find boots to fit your smaller sized feet, you do not have to settle for childish looking styles with no fashion flair. By utilizing resources such as the Internet, you can search for and locate many vendors that cater to petite women. These manufacturers understand the challenges that petite woman face in finding items to fit, and their products lines are tailored to your unique needs. In addition to finding a wide selection of perfectly sized cute boots and footwear, you can also find petite clothing and accessories to help you look fashion forward no matter what the occasion. By shopping in the right places and choosing the right style and fit, you can find boots that look fabulous for your smaller frame. And, of course, don't forget your boot toppers!

December Promo

Wine and Chocolate at the Lakeridge Winery

Wine & Chocolate Festival

Spend your weekend with us at the Lakeridge Winery in Clermont!

$2 Donation to benefit The American Heart Association 

Wine and Chocolate is the theme for this very special event at this seasonal time of year. Local Artists and Crafters are invited to display their work. Enjoy live music by incredible bands on outdoor stage throughout the entire weekend. Lakeridge wine, beer, soft drinks and a variety of food will be available for purchase, along with complimentary Winery tours and tasting. 

Come Join Us: 

Dec 8, 2012 10:00 am - 05:00 pm

Dec 9, 2012 11:00 am - 05:00 pm

Home is Where You Hang Your Boots!

Create Boot Hangers out of Cedar Boot Trees 

We absolutely love this idea for the boots that we really ought to take better care of and this helps them keep their shape.

 Try these high-quality cedar trees and simply replace the knob that comes on top with a large cup hook, making them closet-rod-ready. Cedar trees like these are available at The Container Store for $59. (Watch for the new Container Store opening soon in Tampa near Westshore Mall or shop online at www.containerstore.com.)