Shady Boots

As you saw a few posts ago regarding my travel uniform, I've been preoccupied with the perfect light colored suede ankle boots. I discussed how they are an appropriate shade to transition from polar vortex to spring, the slip on design is easy for TSA checkpoints and the low heel add just enough height and structure to an otherwise very casual outfit. 

I already have an old taupe pair of Steve Madden boots, but my husband has gone from calling them "leprechaun boots" to now calling them "momma's beater boots". I became rather self conscious and started to review the alternatives that I suggested. The Enzo Angiolini Gimm boot seemed like a good and affordable replacement but it was just plain awful. The suede was actually more of a lilac than a taupe or grey. The stacked heel was not leather stacked but more of a block heel with painted stripes for a leather effect. Lastly, as many ratings suggested, they were horribly uncomfortable, even for the brief time I was trying them on. Oh and they were a bit high on my leg which gave me cankle effect. Booooooo!

After the strongest beer on tap at my Wednesday burger joint, I felt financially overconfident enough to try on the ubiquitous Isabel Marant Dicker boots. I don't even really like them...they seem ridiculous and severe. Pretty much how I'd picture a leprechaun's boots. But a short suede boot that you can wear in any season feels like a sound investment. I tried them on in taupe and these boots are amazeballs and I'm still not sure what kind of scheme I'm going to have to pull to get them. The toe is not as extreme as it appears and the lower heel is comfortable without being frumpy. They just feel so damn luxurious as you slip them on. But life is about choices and right now I have some other choices to make with those funds. Otherwise there is not a damn thing wrong with those boots!

So now the third option (which I should have done last year when stock was more consistent) is the Ash Spiral ankle boot. Even though it is nearly impossible to find, it's a reasonable compromise compared to the Dicker.

So what do a do with only a few days left and the need to stay financially solvent? I got a suede brush and a suede stick and cleaned up my beater leprechauns. This will have to do until I figure out a hustle.

Before --> After

First Boots: Isabel Marant Dicker Boot | Second Boots: Ash Spiral Suede Bootie | My leprechaun/beater boots: Steve Madden