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
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