Monday, December 22, 2008

Boots - Street Style - How To Shop Vintage

Keeping with the theme of Winter boots, I have been browsing the web for interesting boot selections. I stumbled upon elle.com street style, and to my excitement I saw that they were featuring boots. The street style feature reinforces why I love NYC fashion so much. The distinct style and and fresh layered look that is seemingly effortlessly.

Below there are a select designer boots. Most of the population finds such styles to be out of their price range. However there is an alternative! You can find quality boots for the fraction of the price of Chanel or Fendi. Solution, pop into a vintage clothing store. For those of you who are wary about buying vintage, especially shoes, take a chance. I have had reservations in the past about buying vintage, but with a little practice and know how you can become quite adept. Who knows, you may even find a diamond in the rough. There are a few suggestions you should consider before making your purchase.

-Pay attention to details. Make sure the shoe is well made. Look at the instep, stitching, heel and sole.

-Look at the designer. Vintage allows you to buy designer brands at a fraction of the price. Yes designer duds tend to be extremely expensive, but the price tag is also relative to the quality of the product. Vintage allows you to get quality at a fraction of the price.

-Do not forget that about your shoe maker. Make sure you find one whom you trust and who charges reasonably. A good shoe maker can bring vintage shoes back to life.

-Look at the material. You shouldn't be buying pleather vintage shoes. Look for quality materials such as good leather or snake skin. Look for rich fabrics and unusual styles. The great thing about vintage is that it is virtually impossible to pass someone on the street wearing your same shoes, that will most likely happen if you buy your shoes at say Nine West.

-Always always clean your shoes after purchase. A little polish and shoe cleaner will go a long way.

-Since we saw snow early this year, do not forget to get your shoes treated for the weather. The last thing you want is to ruin a pair of pumps because of snow and salt.


Designer Styles



From left to right : Fendi, Chanel, Manolo Blahnik


Vintage Styles



Bargain Styles

Zara Boots



Image Credit : elle.com

1 comment:

Virginia Janet said...

Excellent post.!! I love vintage style and have a pair of vintage boots.