Boots
Horse Shoes
Have you ever seen those photographs that circulate around the internet and seem to pop up on every single celebrity blog of celebrities without makeup on? Well, every day that I’m at the barn (and that is four days out of seven) I am afraid that there will be some malicious Sole Envie reader (not that there are any of you out there, but fears are generally irrational) intent on my destruction who will pop out from behind the manure pile and spot me in my barn clothes…and my barn SHOES. Such an embarrassing photograph would render me completely discredited if I did not first acknowledge what I must now confess: I wear ugly shoes. Only to the barn, and only when I am doing work, but I put them on my feet all the same and I hope that you will not be as grossed out by my footwear as you are by some of Hollywood’s most famous sans maquilliage. That being said: when I ride, I also wear gorgeous boots when I’m in the saddle. Unfortunately, Irish dance and Riding have given me such big calves that I am now forced to look into $1200 custom boots. Of course, this actually delights me. So while I cannot show you the exact boots that I wear while riding (because they haven’t been customized yet, but I promise I will debut them here and nowhere else when/if I actually get around to having them made), and wouldn’t dare post pictures of the boots I wear when it’s mucky and muddy outside, I can give you some examples of what I find gorgeous farm footwear. Proceed with caution, these do look out of place in some scenarios.
This delicious little piece of sports equipment (left) is the Ariat Monaco Zip Field Boot. The great thing for non-riders who purchase boots made for equestrians is that if you go with a well respected brand such as Ariat you will always be assured of quality and durability.
This is a Sergio Grasso Imperia Field Boot (above). The Epitome of yum. One of the convenient aspects they have started to incorporate into the design of riding boots is the zipper. Usually discreet and always easier than using boot hooks to pull it on and enormous shoe horns to get it off, the zipper was a life saver when it was first instituted.
These are only a few of the many boots that are available to civilian non-riders as well as to experienced professionals. Happy Hunting.
Posted by alyssa on Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 | Boots, Tips, athletic | No Comments
Make or break it: the shoe trends that have women saying “Oh, no!”
Sometimes, it seems like the gravitation towards the shoe trend of the moment is almost forced: the walk towards overtly festooned heels made of ancient Grecian columns is as wobbly as a woman’s feelings towards the shoe itself. I asked women – real women; women with jobs, leases and discerning wallets – what shoe trends for Spring 2009 they could definitely do without. Responses have been kept anonymous; no stilettos were hurt in this process.
“I really hate that ‘trendy’ shoes only look good in very small sizes,” lamented one woman, an engineer at a biotech startup. “I mean, I wear a size 10 shoe. Anything with clear plastic resin [such as Yves Saint Laurent's styles that made it down the season's runways] elongates my already long foot; and to be frank, looks ridiculous.” “Yet,” she continued,” “what other options does a big-footed girl have? Dumpy, tweed flats or – ugh – manly-looking flip flops?”
I asked another lady (a gradate student at an Ivy League university) what her thoughts were on trends gone wrong, and without a second of hesitation replied, “Zippers. Zippers on high heels. I just don’t get the appeal of being ‘zipped’ into a shoe. It’s way too Vegas for me.”
A third complained about the cost. “There’s a reason why I don’t buy trendy shoes,” she explained. “I mean, why bother spending tons of money on something that’s going to go out of style the minute after you buy it? I just wish that classic shoes, like ballerina flats and traditional stilettos, were more readily available and not pushed to the back burner the second a platform wedge comes clomping along.”
Other responses included, but are not limited to: suede booties (“I only like to wear boots in the winter, thank you very much”); PVC platform wedges (no comment); gladiators (“I’m just over them”) and designer sneakers with logos blazing. And, finally, “those Pocahontas-like sandals with the fringe. I mean, what is it? A sandal or a moccasin?”
Whether cutting edge or effortlessly classic, the reassurance that there are as many styles to choose from as there are women who choose to embrace them is liberating – especially if your toes tend to get squashed in a pointy pump.
-Karyn Polewaczyk
Posted by Karyn Polewaczyk on Thursday, April 23rd, 2009 | Boots, Gladiators, Peep Toes, Platforms, Pumps, Sandals, Uncategorized, Wedges | No Comments
“If only?” Only if.
Often, while browsing around, looking at shoes, as we all know I am want to do, I see a design or pattern which I find, frankly, bizarre or unsightly. Whilst gazing at the computer screen, tilt headed like a puzzled Golden Retriever who seems bewildered by human actions, I too wonder what on earth some designers who I have observed to be otherwise sane and rational could possibly be thinking. If only I could get into the minds of these certain designers and put to them the questions racing through my brain. Instead, I present you with a short list of shoes which make my “I would only wear that if…” list.
Sorry Marc Jacobs
I would only wear those if I were playing Guitar Hero in my rec room. Alone.
Excuse you, Jimmy Choo
Only if I were on Rock of Love, heaven forbid, would I don such a creep toe. Or if my family and I didn’t have our own cheese grater at home and I thought I could put the heel to work on a block of Romano.
Yes, Indeed, UGG Australia!
I would LOVE to wear these boots. They would be perfect for my costume only if my feet were playing the part of “The Bedsheets” in a play entitled “The Unnecessarily Rustic Country Inn.”
Burberry, Burberry, Burberry
I’d only don this pair if I didn’t believe in taking any style license whatsoever and insisted that the design of my footwear had to match the design of my underwear. FYI, by those standards, the correct re-nomer of a Flip Flop is “thong”, not “G-string.”
Tory Burch, I admire some of your more adventurous creations but this:
is something I would subject my feet to only if I were playing the part of the Lumberjack in the village people (is there even a lumberjack in the Village People?)
So there you have them. What I consider five terribly botched attemps by five designers to create something fasionable. I should mention, however, that such transgressions are comitted by many more designers every single day. Do I perchance envision a more careful scrutiny by these couturieurs before they unleash more designs like these in the future, post this very blog post? If only.
Posted by alyssa on Tuesday, March 31st, 2009 | Boots, Flat, Platforms, Pumps, Sandals, Uncategorized | No Comments
The ES.S.ence of Ugly: Jack Sparrow Inspired Footwear?
Ahoy, maties! And welcome aboard the U.S.S. Heinous. There is a trend I have seen popping up in several places (I’ll admit it’s mostly in internet searches on shoe-only sites which I forget to curtail to avoid lower end selections), including my college campus. I’d like to take the opportunity to offer some reflections on the subject, if “ye scallywags” will permit me.
It is called the fold over boot, and while pirate culture has made it’s way into our society recently due to the Pirates of the Caribbean films which have become extremely popular, I would like to explain to those whose responsibility it is to design clothing and footwear that there exists a difference between costume designer and clothing designer. Clothing is what we wear when we are intending to go outside in public and do not want to face public ridicule and embarrassment. Costumes are for people who are either acting or playing pretend. Since a New England college campus is neither the set of Master and Commander nor a Renaissance Faire, the grade is F for those of you I’ve seen sporting this re-imagining of a nautical antique. Pulled up over dark jeans, they invite the eye to drift upward in expectation of the accompanying Justacorps , the only truly appropriate matching attire for such a set of footwear. And these boots are for women! All right, all right, you may be saying, but that certainly cannot be the worst faux pas in knee high footwear category. Certainly, that assumption is correct. Enter THIS:
whatever this is. It’s an Airwalk, as I feel uncomfortable putting this photograph out into the world without naming the fiend who birthed this hideous progeny into the public sphere, claiming unsavvy victims left and right on whichever shelves it is unwisely placed. If you can imagine, I have seen an individual wearing a similar shoe with even more strappy embellishments, danging around like paper streamers between the knee and ankle of the shoe in a design irrelevant to anyone not dressed as a toilet paper mummy for Halloween. I am not exactly certain about what it is that irks me so terribly about this shoe.
I am certainly not biased against round toed flat boots, I suppose I’m offended by the lack of design that seems to go into these contraptions. Yes, contraptions. I am through referring to these abominations as shoes. They are either copies of what we’ve seen in popular culture, or simply themselves seemingly thoughtlessly thrown together. Creative license is extremely important but a designer must always ask themselves and their teams that one fundamental question: Is this ugly?
Here, the answer is most certainly yes. Fortunately, there is plenty of diversity for shoppers out there, and in the near future customization will allow us to escape the dominant reign of those who insist on designing unsightly things for our consumption and let us create footwear that we actually like in lieu of having to invest in a pair of boots that might not meet all of our aesthetic desires and needs.
Posted by alyssa on Monday, March 16th, 2009 | Boots, Flat | No Comments
Time to buy? Not so fast, fashionistas
Put down those Christian Louboutins and slowly back away. The fashion police, on full recession alert, are here to offer proverbial smack down to any fashionista who dares to defy the rules of sale shoe shopping.
First things first: everything is on sale right now. Televisions, cars, Botox and shoes are just a handful of consumer products that retailers and specialty stores are anxious to push onto wallet weary customers. A properly fitting, well-made shoe is worth its weight in gold (or leather, or suede, or crushed velvet), almost regardless of the price. If marked down, $200 zebra-print Jimmy Choo strappy sandals with crystal heel embellishments really strike your fancy, by all means – go for them! But if you foresee those sandals getting more action in their box than the dance floor, think twice before dropping hard-earned cash on a name. Staples, such as wear-with-everything pumps in neutral brown and black, are worth buying at full price. The return-on-investment of a shoe that truly speaks to you and your style is multiplied with each wear.
Second: we’re mid-season. To get the best deal on winter-friendly gear, wait until June or July, where venerable steals will abound. Likewise, spring and summer sandals, flip flops and peep-toe pumps will beckon from the sale rack come October and November. Planning ahead, the same way a gourmet chef would stock up for her kitchen, can pay off. Visualize, visualize, visualize, and ignore the snow falling outside when you’re trying on the perfect gladiator lace up flat at 75% off.
Last: re-evaluate what you already have. Spend a weekend afternoon reworking various wardrobe/shoe/accessory combinations – mix and match pieces you wouldn’t dream of possibly pairing. You might find a new best friend for those hardly worn slouchy suede boots in a camel blazer; or, consider consigning the lime kitten heels that just don’t do it for you anymore. With days of excess in our past, sometimes a good housecleaning is just what the doctor ordered.
-Karyn Polewaczyk
Posted by Karyn Polewaczyk on Wednesday, March 4th, 2009 | Boots, Flat, Gladiators, Peep Toes, Sandals, Tips | No Comments
The five F’s of shoe shopping.
When shopping for shoes, there are a plethora of minute decisions a girl makes well before slipping her tootsies into a sole. Consider the following the five F’s - a handful of factors that go into almost every decision I make on a shoe - before your next purchase.
1. Find.
Are you perusing for the perfect pair of camel riding boots (I know I am) with time to spare, or do you have 15 minutes to score some strappy slingbacks for something festive? Time, the luxury with no price tag, can direct where to browse - and where to avoid. Keep mental notes of consistent lines; Aldo, for example, can always be counted on for sparkly and well-heeled party shoes at a reasonable price, and Bloomingdale’s has great after-season sales on the normally pricey Frye line. (Don’t forget to check out your local consignment shop for especially sweet deals on gently worn shoes - I’ve been pleasantly surprised more often than not.)
2. Function.
Clogs may be work well for the weekend, but can they deliver at the office? How often will you really wear lace up gladiator stilettos, aside from that one night with that one dress and those gold hoop earrings that complement them so well? If you’ve got specific shoes for specific tasks, great; some of us (yours truly included) try to get the most bang for our buck. This is, of course, where price starts to come into play. Try to envision a variety of places, people and purposes you can wear your prospective new purchase(s). I buy to keep, rarely choosing seasonal styles that come and go like the wind. And if you’re determined to spend a month’s rent on something outrageous and impractical - all the power to you.
3. Fit.
How well does your shoe fit? Form goes well beyond the scope of heel height. Without sufficient space for your feet to breathe, every pinched nerve, squished toe and misaligned arch will feel that much worse. I recently learned how going a half size up - despite being a coveted 7 for almost ten years - made all the difference.
4. Fabric.
Being high maintenance is not just about more drama for your mama. How far are you willing to go to keep a pair of say, sandals, around for five weeks, five months or five years? Shoes made of satin, while lovely, can make their way to an early grave with an undetected spill of red wine. Quality leather should be polished and moisturized on a regular basis to avoid looking like a South Beach octogenarian. Scuffs, soles, and the tiny rubber pieces that mold to the bottom of even the pointiest stilettos - these all eventually need TLC, even more so if you’re a city slicker constantly on the go. On the plus side, your favorite pair of shoes will remain that way for years to come.
5. Fun.
Bring on the leopard print! And the patent leather in sherbert shades of yellow, pink and orange. Experiment with new styles, colors, designers and heel height. Mix and matching can give even the most lifeless of wardrobes extra oomph. Veering off the straight and narrow can change your look - and, dare I say - change your life.
Above all, be true to yourself - and be confident with each step that you take!
Posted by Karyn Polewaczyk on Thursday, January 15th, 2009 | Boots, Flat, Pumps, Sandals, Tips, Uncategorized | No Comments
He has a point!
I recently came across this video clip of On the Street, and feel inclined to share it with my fellow fashionistas.
“Don’t be depressed by the stock market,” says New York Times commentator Bill Cunningham. “You just jump right in and do something imaginative yourself.” His voice, endearing, convinces us like a pat on the head for good behavior that everything will be okay - if the shoe fits.
What do you think? Can a patent platform wedge distract us from shaky geopolitical news that flames off the front page of the newspaper? Will fabulously feathered stilettos (check them out at 1:25) fly us away from the ups and downs of the Dow Jones Industrial Average? Are those boots made for walking, or kicking ass at your next job interview?
Posted by Karyn Polewaczyk on Thursday, December 18th, 2008 | Boots, Celebrity, Uncategorized | No Comments
Weathering the storm.
Photo: Tourism Saskatchewan
- When it rains in Boston, it pours Wellies.
Wellies, formally known as Wellingtons, are rubber boots worn by hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts to protect themselves from the sticks, stones, and other muddy debris that one can be faced with in nature. However, dodging puddles amidst chauffeured town cars in the great outdoors of Beacon Hill hardly requires more than a little bit of resolve and creative thinking.
One solution that has fared well for me in my 20-some odd years is weatherproofing my leather shoes against the elements, including the heaviest of New England rainstorms. Kiwi’s Camp Dry Water
Kiwi's Camp Dry Water Repellent
Repellent (spray or aerosol) has worked consistently well on my leather and suede boots, loafers and pumps, and can be purchased at your local hardware store for under $8. Check out Kiwi Shoe Products for more information on Kiwi products.
Ladies, reject ridicule and salvage your souls - Wellies look out of place on anyone over the age of 5 or not involved in the task of hunting a duck or classifying oak trees and can turn your rump into what my friend describes as the “Canadian Royal Mountie” look. Protect your feet by protecting your footwear - and don’t forget a toasty pair of socks if you’re so inclined.
Posted by Karyn Polewaczyk on Thursday, December 4th, 2008 | Boots | No Comments
Calling all Shoe Lovers!
Do you love peep toes, ballet flats, wedges, and all things shoes? Do you eat, sleep, breathe and dream about shoes? Do you find yourself at work all set to start on the huge project that your boss wants today, only to find yourself browsing for shoes instead? Then you may be interested in blogging about shoes! And we’ve got the perfect gig for you! Sole Envie is now looking for resident shoe bloggers.
We can’t pay you, but the exposure and visibility you’ll get as a writer and style expert will be shoe-tastic! This is a great opportunity for you to showcase your writing skills on the web and of course brag about your shoe knowledge.
If you’re interested, send us a note (info@soleenvie.com) with a sample blog post about a favorite pair of shoes, a shoe-buying experience, a shoe-related article, or anything to do with shoes!
Posted by ShoeGuru on Thursday, December 4th, 2008 | Boots, Celebrity, Flat, Gladiators, Peep Toes, Platforms, Pumps, Sandals, Uncategorized, Wedges | No Comments
Shoe-fficiency.
As I sit massaging blisters that dot the pads of my heels, battle wounds from maneuvering through a Monday in 3-inch St. John calfskin d’Orsays, I wonder if I’ll ever turn into one of those women who bravely marches through the subway sporting sneakers and socks over their pantyhose and under their Calvin Klein suits. I’m reminded of a particular episode of Sex and the City when Miranda, shortly after she moved to the dreaded side of the Brooklyn Bridge (or, Brooklyn) from her beloved Manhattan, complained to Carrie about how sore her feet were after walking a far distance from the subway. Carrie, clearly on the right side of the bridge, asked why Miranda didn’t wear sneakers and carry her shoes like everyone else, to which Miranda replied - and I quote - “Stop. You can take me out of Manhattan, but you can’t take me out of my shoes.”
What is it about our egos that refuses to embrace practicality - L.L. Bean duck boots when it’s cold and wet; Reebok hightops when you’ve got to get somewhere quickly - and instead embrace the idealism of making our way through the day in 3-inch heels with the occasional Band-Aid poking out the back to shield us from abused Achilles tendons? The ancient Greeks had a word for “tragic pride”: hubris. Then again, they typically got around in gladiator flats, and while theirs may have helped build the Parthenon, my modern day version are bejeweled and meant for pairing with twill shorts and a venti soy latte from Starbucks. The truth of the matter is, we affiliate lots with our shoes: our wardrobes; our moods; our plans for the day or evening, and heck - I’ve even gone with a flat over a stiletto depending on how long my bangs are. Shoes can be icing on the cake (us!), and whether that confection comes in leather, pleather, suede or satin, it truly can help a girl put her best foot forward.
Besides, being practical is for your 30s.
Posted by Karyn Polewaczyk on Wednesday, November 19th, 2008 | Boots, Flat, Sandals | 1 Comment
