Do Boots Work in Business?
Do boots work in business? In 1996, according to John T Molloy, the answer was no. From the book The New Women’s Dress for Success:
Boots do not work in business. Every couple of years the fashion industry brings them back and tells women they can wear boots to work. It is not so; even the most conservative boots do not work very well.
quoted from googlebooks.
I am going to suggest two reasons why that is (mostly) no longer true:
- Mr Molloy’s very well-researched book came out early in the “business casual” work environment revolution.
- Sarah Palin.
One of the reasons certain looks are not accepted is that they are not expected. Someone needs to get people used to seeing it; for example, seeing boots worn with a business look. Presently our eyes are quite accustomed to boots with pretty much everything. I still think knee-high boots, worn with a knee-length skirt, look most conventionally professional.
A footwear treat for president’s day: Shop Shoes.com and Receive 25% off Sale + Free Shipping with DEAL25
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When Trends End
How to spot a trend nearing its expiration date:
a popular piece is increasingly burdened with laborious design embellishments.
Here at The Space Between My Peers, I publicize my own mistakes in hopes you will not have to repeat them. For example, a couple of years ago, I bought a funky pink velvet blazer. I love the color, but the buttons and pockets and ruffles have made it a less-than-stellar investment (although I didn’t spend much). Simpler would have been better.
How does that relate to today? Boots!
After I bought the boots pictured here, with my birthday money, I started searching the internet for comps. Apparently this knee-high boot super-cycle is very mature; shoppers searching for an elegant, classic pair will be paying bank. Or shopping thrift! That is the upside: when a trend is mature, it is usually abundantly available in thrift stores.
Here are some of the more tortured offerings to be found:
For more information about any of the pictured boots, click on the picture. Don’t let me dissuade you. They are all under $100. Except the ones I bought; unfortunately, they are no longer available.
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Celebrate Wendy Day
This coming Thursday, December 16th, would have been Wendy Buckner’s birthday. Unfortunately, her life was tragically cut short on June 19th by a heart attack. She left her last comment here on June 18th. Although we never met face-to-face, I considered Wendy a true friend. She openly shared with me what she had: opinion, encouragement, expertise, and her stunning photographs.
Wendy’s signature accessory was the brooch; she wore them regularly on her blazers. Won’t you join me in celebrating Wendy’s life of grace and style this December 16th by the simple wearing of a beautiful brooch on your blazer or coat?
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Reminiscing … and Some Really Good Deals
Every now and again, I miss the old days when I could blog alot. And I mean to spell that “alot”. So, here, let me throw a bunch of stuff into one random post!
1) Shoes are a better bet than some items for online purchasing. New to The Space Between My Peers affiliate shopping family (where you can support me in some small way by using my links to purchase): ShoeSteal.com! That sounds appropriate, doesn’t it? Well, not the stealing, but … you know what I mean.
Coming Soon: Three Day Sale!
Save an additional 25% off sitewide at ShoeSteal.com with promo code STEAL25. Valid 10/25-10/27/10.
2) Is This Modest? is giving away a skirt from the Modest Mom. 16 different patterns and a couple of great skirt styles…
AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AND LEAVE A COMMENT!
3) I wanted to let you know about two Old Navy sales. Starting tomorrow 10/22, get 30% off Hot Trends or 40% off Hot Trends when you use your Old Navy, Gap, or BR Card. Enter promo code ONTRENDS at checkout. Offer ends 10/28..
Starting tomorrow 10/22, get Get Free Shipping when you spend $50 or more on OldNavy.com merchandise. Enter promo code ONSUPER50 at checkout. Offer ends 10/26..
4) Unfortunately, I didn’t get this out before the last day, but …
Have a wonderful weekend! And pray for me, if you are so inclined. I have many decisions ahead of me, including what to do with my virtual real estate and content here. 
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What’s Your Metal Strategy?
(Congratulations if you’re invested in gold, but that’s not what this post is about!)
If you’ve been reading any length of time, you know that I most certainly do not consider myself an accessory person. It’s complicated. I don’t enjoy thinking about accessories, I get overwhelmed looking at them, and don’t honestly think they are all that necessary. They kinda make me cranky. And they do little to cover my nakedness.
On the plus side, I have been able to clear away at least some of the mess in my mind, that mess relating to those extras that so many of you enjoy. This improvement should make accessorizing at least slightly less painful. I’m adding the following to the rules of my personal idiom:
- all metal hardware will be silver
- wear earrings or necklace, not both
- a necklace must be bold
Clearly I’m not there yet. But, since I adopted these guidelines I have had the energy to: clean out my jewelry drawer, biff through my belts, buy a new pair of gloves and a belt, and get dressed every day. Get dressed completely, as in, all the way to the right shoes, belt, and earrings; not just throw on a pair of jeans, a t-shirt (just to be clear, in my idiom this time of year that is a casual cashmere sweater), and comfortable shoes. While under the weather.
No doubt in time I will add to my “guidelines”, ever with the intent of simplifying my life. But what’s kept me from this simplicity before? Good question! For one, my favorite metal has always been yellow gold; my wedding and anniversary rings are gold, as is my watch (albeit with brown leather band). But now I’m not going to let that bother me. They are part of me and my earrings and belt buckles are accessories. For another, I find the hardware options on shoes and purses especially to be limited. Usually I’m just happy to find something that works that I can afford. But I expect silver to be easier to come by.
Do you wear a mix of metals or only one? Do you have any helpful suggestions?
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Boots for Each Energy Type
While I’m cooking on the innovative approach Dressing Your Truth represents, perhaps a pictorial example or two are in order. To learn your ”energy type”, read the book It’s Just My Nature!
A flat boot selection for each energy type:
1. light, upward movement
2. fluid, flowing movement
3. active, reactive movement
4. constant, still movement
BTW, see boot #1? Those are my newest footwear! They are Puma’s and my hero bought them for me (for $45) from an online liquidator. Light colored footwear is generally a no-no for me, as is a mid-calf height boot, but for whatever reason, and I’m sure it’s more complicated than energy movement, they work for me.
Any insights?
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Apparent Body Size
It’s hard to tell how big somebody is just by looking.
In this post with picture, I noted that when I wear these particular jeans a frequent comment is that I look small. To which Maria Palma said it was hard to tell from the picture that I look small. She’s right.
But even in person, looks can be deceiving. I have one friend who is about my size, but somehow she appears to be a larger-scale woman. Presumably her larger scale features and exotic appearance create a greater “presence”, making her seem larger-than-life, so to speak.
So what goes into apparent body size?
- Height
- Width
- Supposedly that’s all. I wonder. That in no way explains why gifts to my two daughters are invariably smalls while mine is medium.
Selecting the everyday purse is the primary reason to identify apparent body size.
What about you, do people tend to guess your size wrong?
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Colors to Choose for Summer Shoes
What color are your flip flops? Honestly, no matter your coloring or proportions, your flip flops probably don’t ruin your looks. That is, when worn poolside. But that isn’t the point of this post.
Fully functional athletic shoes are different. In my experience any kind of white runner or trainer, even worn with the shortest possible socks, looks distressingly unnatural on me when worn with shorts; and a color is worse! But then what on earth am I supposed to wear to play tennis? Or when I am required to wear “gym shoes”?
Of course, to add insult to injury, there are all these people walking around looking perfectly normal dressed like that! But here’s the difference: proportionately my legs are short. And, although recently I have taken a slight detour into dark brown accents, when wearing shorts or casual skirts flats that blend with my legs have always worked for me. Naturally, heels change everything.
(If you resemble these remarks, I recommend reading these posts where Imogen explains what you need to know in all the detail you could want: Body Proportions Explained - Long Body, Shorter Legs and How to Look Taller and Make Your Legs Look Longer.)
Consequently, in my wardrobe:
- my new Chacos work because the upper color blends with my skin.
- my lipstick colored flats have made the mental move from spring (which for me is long pants worn with full shoes, no socks) to summer, where they somehow don’t jump out and call attention to my feet and the low-cut vamp elongates the leg.
- I need a pair of shoes to play tennis in. But I really don’t play often, so I don’t want to spend alot of money. My hero’s grandma, a very stylish 85 year old, was wearing leg-colored keds the other day; do you think I could get away with them?
Now, enough about my problems. Is there anything you have been frustrated trying to wear?
What look(s) seem to work for many people but not for you? And what wonderful alternatives have you found?
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Hot or Not? Summer Leisure Shoe Fashion Lab
Of all the topics we discuss here, shoes - especially leisure shoes - is one of the most volatile. Ladies like their shoes! And they are a very personal thing, in terms of expressing the style idiom of the one wearing them. So, I thought perhaps we’d play another personas and perceptions fashion lab.
Here’s what to do: I’ll post pictures of different shoes, but they’ll all be from the same season (summer) and lifestyle segment (leisure). Paranthetically, I am allowed to use the pictures here because if you click on one, it will take you to a site where you can purchase the product. If you purchase the product, they pay me a small commission. There, full disclosure. Now, back to the lab. :) What you are to do is to identify the age of the wearer and something about their style personality, as well as any other comments you’d like to add.
One last thing: I realize that not everyone can pay $100 for a pair of shoes, even one that promises to last 8 or 10 years. What’s your upper limit in this shoe category?
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A Chaco Story
If you’ve followed my wardrobe conversations for any period of time, you have no doubt heard me talk about my Chacos (pictured here). After a couple of years of online peer pressure, I have reached the conclusion that no dressy casual sandals can substitute for an everyday leisure shoe - and with my lifestyle, that’s what I need. And no summer athletic shoe is more elegant than Chaco.
Learning that Chaco was recently purchased by Wolverine ramped up the urgency for me. I needed to buy a new pair this year! (My old ones have served 7 full summers already and, while they aren’t worn out, shoes were much heavier looking 8 years ago than what is flattering on me.)
So, for an anniversary gift, my hero bought me these:
Chaco - ZX/2 Unaweep (Multi Brown) - Footwear
