I’ve seen a lot of women wearing the most beautiful boots lately. As I’ve said often, it’s a trend I heartily approve of. For sheer versatility, as well as making a dramatic, sophisticated statement, a good pair of classic tall leather boots in brown or black, with or without heels, is one of the best investments around. If I may say so without presuming to know the fairer gender’s business, they should be in every gal’s wardrobe—particularly those of a preppy bent.
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| Image from the 1979 Mary Baldwin College Bluestocking. |
Like preppy style itself, boots are always with us, but sometimes they’re more important than others. The late 1970s were one of those times. While the popular designs and heel configurations of the period ran the gamut from east coast equestrian to more counterculture- and western-inspired themes, all but the most extreme examples were easily imagined in the company of cowlnecks, fair isle sweaters, wool skirts, and the multitude of other chunky, layered looks influenced by the 68-degree-thermostat zeitgeist of the period—even if today, some of the more ornate variations seem cringe-worthy.
To illustrate this, below is a wonderful selection of seventies-era boot advertising I found while trolling the web for period artifacts last weekend.
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| 1977. |
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| Another 1977 specimen. Note the conspicuous absence of spike heels and ridiculously pointy toes. |
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| 1978. I love the model's blazer, but there's really no explaining that third foot. |
Frankly, I think a good pair of riding boots should be in everyone's closet. I had a pair in junior high school I wore everywhere for any reason for about a year.
ReplyDelete...something to add to the shopping list.
Boots, yes. But I find people quickly cross over from riding boots to an entire equestrian outfit and that is just odd. As an avid horse rider, it makes just as much sense as wearing a fly-fishing get up anywhere but a river.
ReplyDeleteRiding boots are amazing! That street style look has such polish to it.
ReplyDelete