Boots

By Anna Lynn C. Sibal

Boots are such nice footwear. They can be trendy yet very practical and comfortable. And boots can also be sexy things to wear, as Jessica Simpson reminded us some time ago when she sashayed her boot-wearing booty for the video of her remake of the Nancy Sinatra classic “These Boots are Made for Walking.”

In fact, it was Nancy Sinatra who made wearing boots fashionable for women. Nancy Sinatra is famous for her signature ensemble consisting of a miniskirt or a mini-dress paired with knee-height boots. The knee-boots she had popularized were called go-go boots and were originally designed for dancing. At the height of its popularity in the 1960s, go-go boots were considered as one of the symbols of female liberation and empowerment; it is still seen that way even now.

Boots come in different heights, not just the knee-height ones. There are boots that rise just a little above the ankles and there are boots that reach just around the calves. And there are boots that go beyond the knees, or even up to the hips, like those boots Julia Roberts’s character wore in Pretty Woman.

Boots also come in different types. Lace-up boots are one of the more popular types of boots. Lace-up boots are easy to wear because the gap that the laces hold together is usually wide, making it easy for the foot to slip into. The laces also serve as adornment for the boots, and the laces can range from plain to whimsical.

Zip-up boots are another type of boots. As the name implies, zip-up boots have zippers, and they are often found on the in-seam. Just how hard a zip-up boot is to wear depends on how long the zipper is, so it is best for you to check the length of the zipper on the boot before you buy it.

Another type of boot is the stretch boot. Stretch boots, well, stretch. They have upper parts that are made of elastic material. Stretch boots are nice for people with wide calves or shapely legs. They can be quite uncomfortable too, so it is important to pick a boot that is not too tight when buying stretch boots.

The simplest type of boot is the pull-on boot. Pull-on boots do not have any fastenings like laces or zippers. They are just pulled on or off the foot, like you would a pair of socks or stockings.

When buying a pair of boots, you may want to consider doing a few measurements to see if the boots you are thinking of buying are indeed right for you, especially when buying online. The measurements you need to take are the width of the widest part of your calves and the length of your leg that will actually be covered by the boot, starting from the instep of the foot. Then you compare these measurements with the actual length and circumference of the boot’s shaft, the part that covers the leg.

Boots are great, toasty things to wear against the chill of autumn and the cold of winter. Have fun parading your boots this season.

Also see: Shoes and Sandals