Boots & Pieces (Saturday Night Fashion Thread)

Posted on October 29, 2011 by Michigoose
Why the fascination with boots—both for men and women? Women, even when men in boots don’t necessarily turn them on, like boots on other women. Men just plain seem to like women in boots, also. My theory, and there must have been dozens, if not hundreds, of psychology Ph.D. dissertations written on the subject but—since I’m not a clinician—I don’t know the right way to find them on PubMed, is that boots connote power. And in this day and age we all like women who feel empowered.

Power caused by income inequality (how timely!!). After all, it cost a lot more to cobble a pair of boots for a rich landowner riding his horse to inspect his estate than it did to cobble a pair of sandals, or wrap rags around one’s peasant feet.

Power caused by the ability to enforce the rich land owner’s (or owners’) will. Those who were hired to enforce the will of the establishment were (and often still are) clothed in the manner of the rich land owner. . . see cavalry/military officers, law enforcement officers, and the like. Besides, the heel adds height and can aid in physical intimidation by the boot wearer.

You walk differently when you’re in boots than when you’re wearing shoes. Try, just try not to strut a little when you’re wearing boots. . . it’s practically impossible. There’s something about the configuration of the last and the heel that force you into it. They also make your legs look longer (for both genders) which, at least in Western culture, is highly attractive. I suspect that both of these aspects play into the American mythology of the cowboy. . . the sheer difficulty and dirtiness of what real cowboys do and their lifestyle can’t really be the reason why cowboy boots are so popular (and, ashot, I think we need to see a picture of your boots, too!). It’s actually why I don’t like wearing cowboy boots—to me, they take me back to my mucking out stalls and flinging hay bale stage, which I loved because I was working with horses, but was really, really hard and dirty work. lms can attest to that!

So what boots have I been acquiring? Well, I have a relatively mundane pair of gray suede boots that I like because they’re understated but still give me that little titche of attitude that you get when you’re wearing boots. My one regret. . . these boots are made by Impo and they also make this style in fire engine red and I haven’t been able to get my hands on a pair. My kingdom for a pair of red boots this cute! J


Boots and power. . . but add a little girly touch like a ruffle and you’ve got these. Again, pretty understated, but I like the dichotomy involved.

Wear boots with a skirt rather than jeans or leggings and they can pretend to be demure. Brown leather with a buckle on the side; almost, but not quite, motorcycle cop with a stacked heel. I know that wedges are back in right now, but I just really like a heel rather than a wedge. . . seems a little more edgy to me.

Brown suede Calvin Kleins that make legs look ridiculously long—how can you not love that?

And some boots just send a message. These are the ones that started the whole boot buying spree.

OK, folks, weigh in with your commentary!

P.S. ashot—have I attained super Lib status now??

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18 Responses

  1. Unknown's avatar
    okiegirl, on October 29, 2011 at 11:05 pm said:

    Love it, michi! If you are the model, holy moly…I think I'll be staying out of the rest of the conversation. Go girl! (Mirror pics is the answer?)

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  2. Unknown's avatar
    Michigoose, on October 29, 2011 at 11:15 pm said:

    Yep, okie, that's me. Took me several days to get the pics–bad lighting.

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  3. Unknown's avatar
    tao9, on October 29, 2011 at 11:31 pm said:

    I LOVE THIS BLOG!

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  4. Unknown's avatar
    Michigoose, on October 30, 2011 at 12:16 am said:

    tao, you rock! Thanks!!

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  5. Unknown's avatar
    ScottC, on October 30, 2011 at 12:41 am said:

    Mich:And some boots just send a message.Uh….I think it's the pose and the flash of skin that's sending a message in that last one.

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  7. Unknown's avatar
    Mark in Austin, on October 30, 2011 at 1:21 am said:

    "Be nice, and show respect, and all will be right with the world."Respectfully, the boot pics are nice, Michigoose. All will be right with the world.

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  8. Unknown's avatar
    kevinwillis.net, on October 30, 2011 at 1:56 am said:

    Best. Blog. Evah.

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  9. Unknown's avatar
    Mike, on October 30, 2011 at 2:13 am said:

    Whoa. Uh, nice boots, Michi. Thanks for the fashion show.Slightly off-topic, apparently the shorts with Ugg boots style is still in fashion with some young college ladies. I never really got the idea of wearing Ugg boots in warm weather, but that's just me.

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  10. Unknown's avatar
    Fairlington Blade, on October 30, 2011 at 2:56 am said:

    If you're into boots, Goose, I mean really into boots, then you should watch a movie about boots, Kinky Boots.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434124/BB

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  11. Unknown's avatar
    AllButCertain, on October 30, 2011 at 6:41 am said:

    Ah, Michi, you just made me long for my favorite boots from the past. Wedgies are back? I had a pair of calfskin-colored boots with a boot-top cut and a wooden wedge that sliced all the way forward. I bought them at some place real like Fleet Farm. If I had it to do again, I would have gotten a lifetime's worth. They were great for work, gave me a couple of inches of extra height, and were surpassingly cool. That's a sweet memory.

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  12. Unknown's avatar
    Michigoose, on October 30, 2011 at 12:27 pm said:

    ABC–yep, wedgies are back and you might even be able to find a recreation of your favorites. I'm finding that shoes in general fit better now than they did in the past–I think that women are designing them now. 🙂

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  13. Unknown's avatar
    lmsinca, on October 30, 2011 at 12:55 pm said:

    I don't know about "super lib" status michi, but it looks like you've definitely picked up a few admirers, lol. Great boots, all of them. That was fun and very clever.

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  14. Unknown's avatar
    Michigoose, on October 30, 2011 at 1:43 pm said:

    Scott:Uh….I think it's the pose and the flash of skin that's sending a message in that last one.That's less skin than shows with my running shorts, LOL.

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  15. Unknown's avatar
    ScottC, on October 30, 2011 at 4:02 pm said:

    Mich:Looking forward to those pics too.

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  16. Unknown's avatar
    Michigoose, on October 30, 2011 at 4:07 pm said:

    Scott:*chuckle*Careful–if I start competing with SP and her Runner's World cover McWing might get mad at me. . .

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  17. Unknown's avatar
    Michigoose, on October 30, 2011 at 4:13 pm said:

    BTW, Scott, glad to see you're here, since you must have power. How many inches did you get?We had our first dump a month ago and it stuck for about three days, but haven't had any since.

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  18. Unknown's avatar
    ashotinthedark, on October 31, 2011 at 1:14 am said:

    Michi- Super Lib status bestowed.

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