Come Monday, I have to put my boots away!?

It is Monday and the Boot Babe is here to help you with the no more boots blues. It could be the worst part of the weekend being over. With all of the great sales lately on the Boot Babes' page I bet most of us have a hankering to wear our new boot beauties as much as we can. Raise your hand if you have already contemplated sleeping in them because you love them so much!

Do y’all hate the weekend coming to an end because you think it means you have to put your boots away now that it is time to go earn more boot and grocery money? Babes, think again!  If you have a job where it is ok or even necessary to wear your beloved boots all week long, we salute you but are a little jealous.  Now, for those Boot Babes with a 9-5 that are tied to business casual or business professional, this post is for you!

First of all, are you business casual or business professional during the week?  That will make a lot of difference in how Boot Babe chic you get to be with your outfits.  Business casual can embrace all of the fun styles and colors.  Really!  Business professional, you can still show your boots off but are more limited. 

Let’s look at business professional first.  This Boot Babe has seen in the great state of Texas professional women pull off tall boots with skirt suits.  Double D Ranch by Lane Domingo, I am looking at you! For most places and for most babes, I would say this is a bit too much for business professional.  Now if you flip this to pant suits, this is where the sweet spot is in my opinion.  Boot Babes, you can completely wear a snip or even better a pointed (or 0) toe boot with a pant suit with wide or boot cut legs.  It does not look that much different than a pair of pointed toe pumps y’all.  Please just match the boot color to your suit.  Brown, black, burgundy, and navy are all safe in my eyes. 

Durango

Now to the fun stuff. Business casual.  Oh the freedom!  The Boot Babe could go on a rant reminiscent of the shrimp scene in Forrest Gump.   Boots with leggings, boots with khakis, boots with dresses… 

Durango Leopard

First of all, khakis can be switched with black leggings if y’all can’t be that casual.  Khakis that are fitted, a button down, a sweater, and riding boots and there you have an instant Boot Babe work approved look.  Throw on a blazer for an even more polished look if you need to.  The switch up with this is to change the riding boots to a pair of ankle booties. Remember to cuff your pants! This is great for spring and summer when riding boots are just too much to wear comfortably.

Anastasia

 Next, dresses. Pretty much any dress can be worn with boots.  A great solid pair of boots is perfect for patterned dresses. If you are brave and bold, pick a dress with a pattern and boots with a corresponding color either in the leather or embroidery.  Add some jewelry in the same color and you have a super fun and chic look that is still business casual.  If you need it, a blazer, cardigan, or vest can be added to any dress too. This is where us Boot Babes can have fun showing off out gorgeous patterned boots with bright colors, intricate designs, and stud work.  Literally any boot style you can find from Boots n’ Rags can be styled this way.  If you are looking for the perfect dress, they have you covered there too!

Stetson Belted Dress

Fun Stetson Dress

Stetson Black Dress

Now Boot Babes, I am gonna need y’all to back up to something I said earlier. Leggings.  Y’all they still ain’t britches!   You need to cover the booty region or it is no bueno for work. Period. No arguing here.  I can’t let you go and get fired, lose your boot money source, and look less than classy.  For work if your workplace allows it y’all can wear leggings but say it with me, LEGGINGS AIN’T BRITCHES!

Heart Concho Durango

So, now that we have that out of the way, how can you wear leggings to work?  Well, treat them like tights when you were 5.  Your Momma would be proud because you are covered, you will be happy ‘cause you ain’t freezing, and your boss will be happy because you don’t look like a floozy!   You can wear leggings of any color, most patterns, and from any price point as long as you treat them like your unmentionables.  Top them with a dress, the same ones you wear all of the time when it is warm, but now with leggings you can wear them year round.  Top them with a LONG tunic top that covers so much that it is darn near a dress as well. 

Tunic by Roper

I will say fleece lined leggings are best and totally amazing when it is cold.  Also, choose a legging that fits you well. If they are too tight they are see through enough to be tights and that ain’t pretty y’all.  Match your top, leggings, and boots and have fun! Again you can bring in colors and fun boots to show off.  Plus, this look too accommodates boots from the talls to the smalls and everything in between.  Add a cool cardigan or vest when it is chilly and you will be comfortable and totally Boot Babealicious.

Stetson Cardigan

Well, there y’all have it! Try it out and have fun.  If you need help, Boots n’ Rags is always there to meet your clothing and boot needs.  Work is so much better when you get to be a little bit more you in your wardrobe and when you can show off the boots you work so hard for!

Love y’all and until next time, let your boots rock your socks!

The Boot Babe 

Test driving the Cadillac of boots, Let me introduce you to Double D Ranch by Lane!

Well now, there are boots for fun, boots for work, and then there are the special boots.  Y’all know what I am talking about.  The really special boots that are so special they might just set the average Boot Babe back a house payment or so. How can I put this? Y’all they are like Louboutin for the Boot Babe population. They are not for the faint of heart or gal looking for the next pair to wear tee totally out from doing all sorts of things that regular boots are made to do.  Honey, these boots require their own home when you get them home because they are a work of art. 

So, y’all can stop right here and catch us on the flipside if the thought of fancy pants designer boots turns you off. If you are a Boot Babe with champagne taste that would love to know more about just what sets them apart, read on!

Luxury.  Make no mistake, Double D Ranch by Lane boots are a luxury boot.  EVERYTHING. Every single thing about them surpasses any old boot all day long. The stitching, the leather, the studs, the designs, all parts of the boots from Double D Ranch by Lane are the crème de la crème.  Now, they are special. Yes indeed they are. I am not going to shoot the bull though, they are hand made and we all know that humans can make mistakes. You may lose a rivet or the leather may fade differently on one boot than the other.  These are typical issues with any boot that is ever worn though.  They are not indestructible.  However, the materials and craftsman ship overall are superior to all other boots in their price range.

Peralta

Double D Ranch is a family brand from right in Texas and they are Texan through and through. Their boots that Boots n’ Rags carry are made in Mexico where alllllllll the great boot makers must live and they sure do put a lot into these boots for us Boot Babes to drool over and own if we are lucky.   The leathers are heavier, processed with more intricate finishes, and the inside is just a supple as the outside and that makes all of the difference when comfort matters and not just how pretty they are.  For a luxury boot, it has to be more than looks. The feel on must back it up or it is just putting lipstick on a pig. 

How are they different?

The weight. Be ready for a workout! These boots are HEAVY! The hardware used is no joke and you can tell that by how intricate each piece of metal is and by how heavy the boot is overall. This comes from both the thick leathers and the studs and stones used. How substantial the weight is lets you know you got your money’s worth in materials with these beauties.

Ammunition in Bone

The comfort. The insole is padded and it makes for a cushy feel that your ordinary old boot does not have.  Also, there are no seams inside to irritate your legs. It sounds silly, but having the entire inside lined adds so much to the comfort of  Double DRanch by Lane boots. The feel of these boots on your feet feels like you are wearing a million bucks.

Fully lined, no inside seam to irritate your legs.

The quality.  Each boot is made hands on by an artisan. Isn’t that sort of romantic and just like the old west? There is an extra degree of workmanship that is evident in all components of these boots. Right down to the soles being leather and being both pegged and nailed, there is no skimping with these boots.  With these, you can see and feel the quality you paid the big bucks for.

Retro Rodeo

Inside lining. It is the best!

                                           

Ammunition 

Up close and personal! You can really see the quality in the details.

The fashion. There is no comparison and no other line of boots that can capture the flair and style of the southwest like Double D Ranch by Lane.  They are not only western, they are boho, hippie, and rocker chic all in one gorgeous package that screams, “I AM A FASHIONISTA!”.  When you look down at your feet in a pair of these and when anyone sees you wearing Double D Ranch boots, there will be no doubt that you know you are something special and way cooler than the average lady around your town.

Pink Garcitas Half Pint

At the end of the day, can it possibly be that there is a boot that is deserving of a $700 price tag? You bet your britches there is! 

Rough Rider

Here is the sad but great ending to this tale about how euphoria inducing the boots from Double D Ranch are.  Well you see this is like a hello and a goodbye; Lane who has made the Double D Ranch boots so luxurious and so gorgeous is no longer doing so. Do not despair.  Here is what that means for you and it is a good thing!

If you want them, get them while you can because Double DRanch by Lane is limited to the stock already produced.  Yep. If you want it, get it now. The Double D Ranch line will continue on but not with Lane as the manufacturer of their head turning boots. 

Sales GALORE!  Yep. You can snag a pair now and not be on the noodle and bologna sammich diet! That is a promise. A guarantee!  You can even get two or even three pairs for what the retail price was on these off the charts amazing boots!  Hands to the man, this is real y'all.  Boots n’ Rags is YOUR go to source to get a pair Double D Ranch by Lane boots while you can at literally a fraction of retail! Check out the deals at the store here  or in the Boot Babes page for the sample sale! Either place will get you possibly the best boots you will ever own and not cost you an arm and a leg  and it will be from the best darn boot store in Texas, Boots n' Rags!

Double D Ranch by Lane Ammunition, Trapper, and Retro Rodeo

Thank me later y’all when you look like a million bucks and know you didn’t spend it! Trust me, I know and love the Double D Ranch by Lane boots and you need them in your boot closet, especially since now even the most frugal Boot Babe can afford a pair.

Love y’all and until next time, let your boots rock your socks!

The Boot Babe 

What is a Boot Babe?

What is a Boot Babe?

You might read this and think to yourself, self, I am not a babe.  Tell self to hush up because yes, you are always a babe.  I like the acronym BEAUTIFUL AND BRAVE ENTITY. It was a cheesy thing I heard long ago at a leadership seminar for women and low and behold it stuck.   So, what is a Boot Babe? Well, it is beautiful and brave woman that is getting through life one day at a time by pulling up her bootstraps and carrying on.  Forget big girl panties y’all, Boot Babes have boots.  They get us through all of the crap life dishes out and we look darn good through it all. 

Hard to Handle

Boot Babes, have a few things in common.  First of all, they don’t give a rip about what any magazine says about fashion, if we can’t wear our boots, we ain’t goin’.   Church, weddings, work, and of course Wal-Mart, we don’t dare tackle it without our boots on.  Parent teacher conferences, you know you are going to need them. Football game, heck yes, and in school colors.  Paying bills, yep, needs pretty boots and the bright spot is when it is over we get to see how much boot money is left! Boots are a Boot Babe’s second thought each morning. First coffee, then boots!

Stetson Square Turquoise Toe

Now, to be a Boot Babe you do not have to own a dozen pairs of boots. Nope it is a mindset and a lifestyle.  It only takes one pair and an I can do it all and all by my dang self attitude to be a Boot Babe. You may put your boots on to go feed or you may put them on to head to the office. Shoot, maybe you even do both but Boot Babes do all of the above in style and with lots of sass.  

Spitfire

You don’t have to be rich to be a Boot Babe. Nope. Not at all.  You can be living on a string of a budget and know that no matter what, you always NEED a great pair of boots. On the other hand, you might be Boot Babe that shops for boots like others shop for groceries. What makes a gal a Boot Babe is the woman that appears the minute she pulls on her boots.

Crush

Where you live does not matter. You can live anywhere and be a Boot Babe. City or country, coast to coast.  No, y’all don’t have to have ever even visited the great state of Texas to be a Boot Babe.  It does not matter if you rock your boots in your trailer, apartment, dorm, or live at the biggest ranch in Texas, if you get that I am awesome giddy feeling when you slip on your boots, you are a Boot Babe.  It does not matter the brand. It does not matter the style.  That is all as individual as each Boot Babe, what stays the same is the attitude.  Boot Babes are strong and beautiful and oh they know it.

Clover Girl

Boot Babe and Buckle Bunny are not the same thing!  You do not have to have that rockin’ little body to be a Boot Babe, just like the boots we wear and love, Boot Babes come in all ages, shapes, sizes, colors, and styles!   It is always the mindset and attitude that makes a Boot Babe. Plus, like the leather they are crafted from, I do believe that Boot Babes only get better with age.

Victoria Pearl

So there y’all have it. You see, we are all Boot Babes.  We know it when we spot another across the room by that glimmer in her eye and pep in her step knowing that deep inside her sense of self is greatly elevated because of the gorgeous boots on her feet.  It is that feeling of confidence, uniqueness, and a little I do not even care because I am myself and happy attitude that makes us one and all Boot Babes.  No matter what comes and goes, for us there is always boots and Boots n' Rags to make your Boot Babe dreams come true.

Old Glory

  

Love y’all and until next time, let your boots rock your socks!

The Boot Babe

Splurge or Steal?

I don’t know about you, but this Boot Babe is always looking for two things. Of course I am always looking for that next amazing boot but I am also always hunting a bargain.  There is nothing better than knowing you looking like a million bucks but that it didn’t take your entire shopping budget to do so.   When a Boot Babe can get 2 or 3 pairs of anything ok, especially boots for the price of one, it is a beautiful thing!

There are brands out there that are the talk of the town. Frye, Old Gringo, and Liberty Black come to mind but let’s be real for a second here y’all, just one pair of these can often take your entire boot budget!  There ain’t no boots worth eating Ramen for y’all! You may look good but hey, pretty boots on your feet can’t buy tacos!

To save you some money and to quench your boot thirst, I have made a little Splurge v. Steal for you to think about when you set our on your boot shopping quest this weekend.  The brands I am going to show you today are Independent Boot Company, Eight Second Angel, and Redneck Rivera. Boots n’ Rags proudly carries these brands and can hook you up with an amazing look and a great boot for less! 

SPLURGE!  Liberty Black Fringe.  MSRP $280

STEAL!  Redneck Rivera Pepper. MSRP $199. Now $85 from the Boots n’ Rags sample sale!

SPLURGE! Frye Veronica. MSRP $328.

STEAL! Independent Boot Company McKinley. MSRP $250.

SPLURGE! Liberty Black tall harness. MSRP $295

STEAL! Independent Boot Company Allyson. MSRP $239.

So there y’all have it.  I am thinking with boots like these you can have it all.  You can have beautiful boots that won’t break the bank but they might help you break a few hearts.  Let Boots n’ Rags have your feet looking like a million bucks and it can be your little secret that you didn’t spend that much!

Love y’all and until next time, let your boots rock your socks!

The Boot Babe

What do you mean I can only have one pair?

Do you know what WESA is? Technically speaking WESA is the Western and English Sales Association. Basically, it is like New York Fashion week but way cooler and with the perfect western vibe. Well let me tell you a little more about what that means to this Boot Babe and all y’all out there.  It is the yearly market in Denver where the stores and designers meet up to unveil what the next year in western EVERYTHING will bring to you, the consumer and lover of all things western chic and of course it is first look of all of the bootastic fun that you will find on the racks later this year. While this is exciting and oh so much fun, it can be a little daunting.  Here is a little guide for how a true Boot Babe sorts this out to find the perfect pair of boots!

Let’s start with the concept that for a Boot Babe, boots are like diamonds. They are your best friend and will get you through all of life’s “pies” with a certain air of confidence that only a great pair of boots can bring. So Boot Babes, when buying a diamond there are the 4 C’s. With boots, it is fit, style, color, and leather. Don’t be intimidated or bedazzled by the WESA pictures.  With a little patience and some sage words from the Boot Babe, your perfect pair awaits!

Size. Yep. That my loves is the first step to Boot Babe bliss. Know your size. While I could write an entire article about boot sizing, the best bet is to go try before you buy. Take my advice and spoil yourself. Go to your closest boot retailer and spend some time there.  You do not have to spend a dime. Just browse. Get comfortable and try on anything and everything. Walk around in each pair. Try different brands, heel heights, and toe shapes. Feel the different leathers and how they feel on your feet. Heck, even make notes for later. This is your very own personal guide to your fit. This investment of your time will pay for itself time and again. Everyone has a foot shape and size that is unique and ever changing and this is truly the only way to discover what works best for you.  With the knowledge you gain from your boot adventure you can then search for your boots online and know with pretty good certainty what size you need. 

Ok, so size. If you can’t immediately take a long romantic walk down the boot aisle with yourself or your best friend, what is a gal in need of a boot fix online to do?  Stick to your regular size! Yep. It is nothing but a tall tale that snip and pointed toe boots fit smaller because they squish your toes together. Yes, 0 toe, I am looking right at you kid!  Indeed the fantastic designers and manufacturers, literally boot architects took that into account when making the boot! Imagine that! Now, how they feel might be different from a wide square or round toe but I pinkie promise that your size does not go up based on the toe shape.  What you DO have to watch out for is that sexy high heel boot that may not feel so hot in your size.  If the heel is high it pitches the foot forward and to this Boot Babe, that is no bueno unless you go up about ½ a size. 

Leather. Luxurious leather. The material that drives us Boot Babes wild! The color, that amazingly addictive smell, the texture, the ability to mold and decorate it in countless ways matters.  Take it from me and unless it is dang near free, buy a leather boot.  You want leather because it will mold to your foot. Literally, you and your boots will become one.  They will end up fitting you like a glove. Knowing this, realize leather comes from an animal and just like our skin is different not all leather is the same.  Even from the same animal, same breed, and dyed from the same dye lot, it is skin and like our skin it will have variations.  Your boots will be one of a kind. How the leather holds the dye, how it is veined, how it looks on the pair of boots will vary.  This my friends is not a flaw. It is just being honest about what you will get and experience. While the leather is matched to get a pair as close as possible to matching when they are made, in time that can change and there may be subtle differences in your pair but just know that is normal and what makes YOUR pair yours and perfectly unique. As perfect as the sample you saw in a post from WESA or stock photo looks, always know that your pair may be a touch different but that is 100% normal.

With this too is what texture or type of skin you want. There are dozens of varieties out there from goat to fish and even kangaroo. From these even the finishes vary. Wheew, there are more types of leather than a Boot Babe can shake a stick at. Pretty simply put, if you live in a wet area or need your boots to stand up to the elements, pick one that is not a soft or suede type leather.  If you want a boot that you can get muddy, it doesn’t have to be plain. Just consider that tooling is just as fancy as embroidery but it will wear much better over time. If you want boots you can wear to work, embroidered and studded boots are a great choice and they can take you straight from work to Margarita Monday and Taco Tuesday at your favorite watering hole.

Color, ahhh yes.  When the WESA posts come out, the boot lust begins. While we all want the boot rainbow and want to be the Imelda Marcos of boots, before taking the glorious leap into buying a pair of boots because they are cool, check your closet.   Look at your style and what you already have. Decide what is missing and what new trend you truly love. Keep that in mind when picking a pair to make sure it is a pair you will wear and that will become a wardrobe staple. Look at what color boots will compliment your style and existing clothing so it “fits” your style as well as it fits your foot.

Style. Well now, that is a personal preference if there ever was one. Some like the 15-18 inch tall boots and some like the shorter booties. Again, just look around online and in your closet and see what works best for you.  If in doubt, the traditional 12-13 inch boots are usually a safe bet and are extremely versatile.  Along the same lines is toe shape.  You have to really find your own favorite and rock it. The snip is the most standard shape though it appears round is making a huge comeback based on the runways and WESA.  As for the heel height, this Boot Babe suggests that unless you rock your sky high heels frequently that you skip the high heeled boots your first go round.  Stick to a lower or mid height heel to maximize your comfort as well as what you can wear your boots with.

Research. I can’t stress to y’all how important it is to read up on what you are buying instead of going in blind.  Good boots ain’t cheap so to me, boots are an investment.  If you have your heart set on a pair, look around the internet. Read reviews from people that have that pair because your dream boot may fit a little differently because of how it is made and straight from the horse’s mouth is always your best source of information. Ask your friends and other Boot Babes about the pair you have your heart set on and that will fill that special void in your closet.  Next, choose a retailer that you trust and can love doing business with.  As always, Boots n’ Rags is that store.  Boot Babes can’t go wrong with a store that is their friend. That goes above and beyond to chase down YOUR special pair and that will drive 5 hours to bring you the special sample sales you love!!  Let WESA be your inspiration, the Boot Babe be your guide, and let Boots n’ Rags make your boot dreams come true!

                                               

Love y’all and until next time, let your boots rock your socks!

The Boot Babe