Today, my evening class is being observed by a very nice and encouraging colleague. I'm a little nervous, but I'm mostly nervous about whether I will speak too fast. Here's hoping that this won't make me speak faster. This skirt is too big in the waist, but I hiked it up with a thrifted belt and now it's at the perfect length for me (with tights, of course). I was thinking about fun tights, but maybe on a non-observation day.
Now, onto real news:
After reading the champagne tastes post of D-Med over at In Professorial Fashion, and reading the comments where by Sal directed us all down the dark path of the lace up boots section of Endless.com, I've fallen under a lustful spell.
So true.
So these Charles David Regiment boots, a mere 300 clams, are beautiful and perfect. I think. They are brown, but dark enough to wear with black and grey for me "all neutrals, all the time" ensembles. They look like they can be waterproofed. There's a 1" heel, to help me with my stumpification concerns. And there's cute detailing.The retail gods (whom I've been silencing during GAAD, but GAAD does allow shoe purchases) were smiling when I saw the very last pair in 8 1/2 for a mere $240 at 6pm.com. Just one left, the pop up box told me. OK, I threw them in the cart, I went to check out, and boom, there weren't any left.
Amazon has them with free shipping for $300. I haven't bought a thing in about 3 months now. I could really use "go everywhere boots." In brown. I already have sporty black motorcycle-y ones, so I don't NEED the CDs, but they don't go with everything the way the sleek military ones would.
I don't really have loads of money sitting around, and poor little Buster needs to get neutered soon (why does it cost so much to do this in NYC?), so it would be a bit of a budget stretch.
What would you do, Style Nation? Is this the sort of thing best left to lusty dreams? Or, like the illustrious D-Med, should I see if my dreams can come true?
Skirt: H&M (old)
Cardigan: H&M (last fall)
Shirt: Loft (last fall)
Tights: Target
Shoes: Ecco, thrifted
Belt: Thrifted
they are very very lovely!
ReplyDeleteI know the done thing here would be to say 'buy them!' but I'm not sure I'd personally spend that much on a pair of boots, particularly if money was tight. Though of course it depends on how tight money was, and you do make some convincing arguments for buying them. Plus, I've just gone and spent £60 on a swimsuit, which is probably the equivalent of your boots purchase when you think about how much swimsuits usually cost.
I guess that's not very helpful, is it?
LOL at "boot porn"! SO true! I would wait a week and see how you're feeling about them then. I do this to make sure I'm not making an impulse buy. Over the course of the week (or longer) I think about how I'd wear them, imagine outfits I'd style to go with them, and try to get a better feel for whether they'd be a good cost/wear investment. Sometimes I realize I don't need the item, and sometimes I realize it would be a good investment (like with my teal mary janes of late).
ReplyDeleteAlso, did you know you can use your .edu email address to get free 2 day shipping from amazon on anything they ship? It's called Amazon Student, but it's open to anyone who has a university email address. I think if you google Amazon Student it should come up. I haven't even gotten any annoying promotional emails from it or anything.
Also, I like the "skirt hiking" you've done here, and good luck with your observation! I talk too fast, too.
-Liz
They are very practical boots and would probably last a very long time. I think I actually saw a grey version of those (well, they were high, lace up, and Charles David) at Nordstrom and they were very pretty.
ReplyDeleteI don't balk at buying expensive boots (up to a point, that point being about $250, so far) because I know they will get years of wear and it's important that they be comfortable. It's not like a boot like that is going to go out of style.
But I won't say "Buy them! Disregard Buster's balls!" because an un-neutered male cat is a bad thing.
Have you looked at boots by Born and Miz Mooz though? They seem to have high leather boots, very stylish, for about $100 less.
I have been lusting over those boots for months. They are perfect, indeed. Thanks for reminding me how much I want them.
ReplyDeleteAnd Cynthia is right - expensive boots are a good investment in the end because they will last forever.
Oh lady, so sorry to have triggered this boot-related conundrum!
ReplyDeleteThose Charles David boots were also my favourite of the choices that Sal sent us and I am seriously considering not buying them in the black/grey.
ReplyDeleteI like Liz's suggestion of thinking about them for a week. Probably they will be around on various websites for a while as it is only just fall. Can you visit them somewhere in person to try them on? That might help you decide. I love internet shopping for the convenience, and because the shopping here is so craptacular, but for big ticket items I like to know how they really look and feel on me.
That said, I think you are a boot person (love those brown Born boots of yours!) and I think these are BA and timeless and classroom-appropriate. I bet you'd get a lot of wear out of them. Will they be a gateway purchase though? These boots make me want a long, almost-ankle-length swirly skirt, even though I already have one.
Egad, I should go on GAAD. Except, for the record, I hate the name. Maybe I'll think about going on EGAD--Eliminating Gratuitous Apparel Diet. OMG, I'm going to go and make up the rules right now!
I couldn't do it if I needed the money for other things. Honestly, I'm not into slapping down that much cash for a pair of boots - have you considered spending a day hitting all the high-end consignment stores around you? I bet you could find something similar for a song.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I have $300 burning a hole in my pocket right now...and I'm looking at boots too. Gah, the power of the Boot Porn!
Everyone else has offered very stellar advice here, so I won't repeat their comments. I will say, however, that I spent over $300 on boots last month and am still paying via lack of extra cash for tiny treats like Friday night premium sushi, and a between-appointments haircut and colour (I hate my current colour, but now I have to wait to get it fixed).
ReplyDeleteIn other news, I love that purple on you. Also, you look super profesh. I'm sure your observer today will be impressed by your mad professorial and sartorial stylings.
p.s. "sartorial stylings" - does that work at all?
ReplyDeletep.p.s. You'll be awesome.
Okay 1. yes those are great boots
ReplyDelete2. Boots are a good investment. But, (3.) If it's a budget stretch that's not good.
I've found that the less and less I buy the harder and harder it is to justify pricier purchases - no matter how fabulous they may be.
So personally I would feel guilty if I spent a lot when I needed the dough for other things.
Thanks for all this great advice! I of course still have no idea what to do. I wanted these beautiful $400 boots last fall and did not get them. I did get money from my mom would I thought should go into savings, but then the boots started to whisper my name.
ReplyDeleteBut maybe I'll be practical for now and see if they go on sale. It's so much better to not shop with StyleNation than to not shop alone.
I have spent over $200 on boots that I've worn for over 2 years, almost everyday between fall-spring, so at my current income level, I think one pair of kick ass, pricey boots at this price range every few years is OK. Maybe one more year, though, voices of reason (or one more 1/2 year, when these babies go on serious sale).
Also, I've had bad luck with thrifted boots. Maybe because of my very wide feet?
Boot porn is evil. I am coveting a pair of cognac boots, but want to save my money.
ReplyDeleteI don't see anything wrong with buying a pair of $300 boots if they are a pair you will get lots of wear out of, but I might wait if you feel like it is a budget stretch right now.
Cat first, boots next. Put Buster's $$ aside. When that is done, concentrate on the boots. You are not a crazy shopper so $200-$300 seems responable for you. Have a few options available so you wont be disappointed when the purchasing time comes. Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteYou look very prof today. I think the hiked up skirt is a great idea. Your legs are awesome.
$300 boots is a tough argument.
ReplyDeleteIf you are like me, and will easily spend the next four months pining after them, then just get them. It's not worth the emotional anguish.
If you can move on, and a $60 pair of boots comes your way and you can love those too, then I'd pass.
Hope your day went well!
Chic on the Cheap
You've already gotten a lot of great advice, but I'll weigh in too and say definitely look around for something slightly less costly first. Even if you end up getting the $300 boots, at least you tried to find a less expensive option. That said, they are really beautiful :)
ReplyDeleteI would order them and see if they fit. Because they might not, and then "Poof!" you don't need to worry about them any more.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all this great advice! I of course still have no idea what to do. I wanted these beautiful $400 boots last fall and did not get them. I did get money from my mom would I thought should go into savings, but then the boots started to whisper my name.
ReplyDeleteBut maybe I'll be practical for now and see if they go on sale. It's so much better to not shop with StyleNation than to not shop alone.
I have spent over $200 on boots that I've worn for over 2 years, almost everyday between fall-spring, so at my current income level, I think one pair of kick ass, pricey boots at this price range every few years is OK. Maybe one more year, though, voices of reason (or one more 1/2 year, when these babies go on serious sale).
Also, I've had bad luck with thrifted boots. Maybe because of my very wide feet?
Okay 1. yes those are great boots
ReplyDelete2. Boots are a good investment. But, (3.) If it's a budget stretch that's not good.
I've found that the less and less I buy the harder and harder it is to justify pricier purchases - no matter how fabulous they may be.
So personally I would feel guilty if I spent a lot when I needed the dough for other things.