Fashion & Photography Inspiration

Winter Boots - Motorcycle

Continuing my series on the fall/winter boots, the motorcycle boot is another very comfortable and fashionable choice.

I think it looks the best when the boots are juxtaposed to something feminine because it's all about breaking rules and mismatching this year - rough with soft, black with brown, etc. However, these boots would also look great with a pair of leggings, a long t-shirt and a cool moto jacket for the rocker/tomboys out there.

Key attributes for a motorcycle boot are the chunky soles, a bit of hardware and the fact that most motorcylce boots only go up to the base of your calf.

If I had all of the money in the world, these Rag & Bone boots would by first choice because of the suede/leather and black/brown combination which would transition well into spring. Macy's has a pair of Mark Fisher boots retailing for $129 that are a close second.

Boots by Alexandra Evjen featuring a vintage brooch

Winter Boots - Over the Knee

Boots are THE shoe for fall and winter, and there are so many colors and styles to choose from. In winters past it seemed as though there were only high-heel and flat riding boots, but now (even more than last year) you have your oxford booties, over the knee boots, calf-high boots, motorcycle boots and those occasional snow bunny boots such as UGGS.

Now, which boots should you wear or buy? How do you even wear these different shoes?? Every week I'll feature a different type of boot and an outfit I would wear with it to help anyone that is a bit lost or overwhelmed by all of these choices.

Feel free to ask questions! And, if you're going to go shopping for boots, so far the best selection and reasonably priced boots can be found at Macy's.

fall 2010 by Alexandra Evjen featuring a merino wool cardigan

Now, ignore that my Polyvore model looks like the tin man, and notice a couple of things...

1. You don't have to look like Pretty Woman while wearing over the knee boots. Like any other boot they work well with skinny jeans tucked in, leggings and knit tights (as shown).

2. If you're wearing mostly black, wear brown boots and vice versa. No longer should you dress so matchy matchy.

3. If you choose to wear a dress or skirt, there should be noticeable difference between where the boot stops and the skirt begins.

4. These boots look best when they don't have a heel mainly because you avoid the stripper, Pretty Woman look that way.

My all time FAVORITE knee high boots are the Stuart Weitzman 50/50's. They fit any leg because they have leather in the front and Lycra down the calf. They have been selling for MANY years - long before the fashion trend. However, they cost about $600. EEEK!

So, my next boot choice would be Cole Haan's Air Marisol boots. They cost $349 at Macy's. Again, that's a large chunk of change, but any boot is going to be an investment. AND this style is going to be back next year because it's the first year they've really shown up. Trends usually stay for two years at the least.

My third choice would be the Jessica Simpson Botta Over the Knee Riding Boots. They actually look like they would hit by knee because my legs are longer than most, but I think the style is really classic and I like the hardware.

Good luck boot shopping! If you need a shopping buddy, give me a holler!

Menswear Friday: Just Wear It

Fashion’s a funny thing.  One piece awry, and you’ll look like a fool.  Every piece in place, and you blend in so completely that you’re basically invisible.  There are some items that carry a weight of baggage with them, associations that we’d never intend, and most of us avoid them for fear of bringing that baggage along for the ride.  But some items are just too cool to get hung up on.  Here are a few favorites.  (As great as they are, mixing and matching them is probably a bad idea)

1. Cardigans.  Yes, Mister Rogers wore one.  And he looked like a stone cold pimp in one, too.  It’s the perfect layering piece, easier to remove than a sweater when the weather changes, and it works particularly well with a button up and a tie.  Buy one instead of a crewneck sweater.
2. Saddle shoes.  The insult here is that they’re for kids.  But they have two very grown-up things going for them.  First, they’re usually very lightweight, a rarity among dressy shoes.  And they’re two-tone (duh), which gives them more character and pop than plain brown or black ever will.
3. Cowboy boots.  This applies to the more rugged Justin Roper/Red Wing types and the fancy Lucheses alike; yes, you might look like a cowboy.  But if you’re living in The West, you might as well look the part.  Think of it as community pride.
4. Bow ties.  Oh boy.  There’s no question that this one is going to make you stand out.  That’s why you skip the whole “whimsical biology teacher” vibe, with the bright colors and patterns, and go with something muted and grown-up.  Think navy, burgundy, and charcoal, not lime green and pink.
5. Handkerchiefs.  Stop calling them “hankies”, and be a man.  Kleenex is for children and old women, so get something cotton that you can either actually wipe your nose with, or provide the finishing touch to a suit.  Yes, this sounds contradictory, which is why you want cotton, not some overpriced flashy silk pocket square that will make you look like a TV preacher.  The old axiom is “one for show, and one for blow”, so put one in your outer jacket pocket, facing the world, and the other in an inner or pant pocket, for dirty work.
6. Denim above the waist.  Whether it’s a shirt or a jacket, denim can be a great material, regardless of its “Canadian tuxedo” heritage.  A chambray shirt or denim jacket can be worn with jeans, even, provided that it’s a shade or two different than the jeans themselves.  i.e. raw jeans with a worn-in, faded jacket.

Fashion is all about the confidence to wear something so well that people don’t notice that you’re wearing it.  Each of these items could be part of a great get-up if you keep that in mind.

(Photos found via Selectism.com)