boot camp

On Saturday my friend Amy and I headed out to do a little shopping have lunch, a rare treat for me these busy days, midway through a full blown house remodel, mother to two busy children, plus a couple of freelance jobs means I am not as much of a shopper as I'd like to be.  It is January so I am perusing the online sales most evenings, trying to fill in the gaps with things that I know will have longevity, or a fun trend that I love and can translate into my spring wardrobe.  I could not give my money away that day, sadly--my Christmas gift card came home unspent. Why is it that when we have the money & time we don't ever find anything and when we are rushed or low on cash that perfect thing always appears? I know, such a problem, right? ;) Nevertheless, I did discover a few things, thanks to Kacy and a Saturday night at home.
Right now for me the footwear of choice is boots.  Over the knee, riding boots, and short boots, I love them all. It is a good time of year to buy them, because despite the wonky sizes available in some larger stores, you can great prices if you know where to look. Here are a few great websites that have lots of great choices to spruce up your closet. Even if you are edging out of boot season, there are great pairs out there that will be perfect for next fall.
Yoox.com.  Kacy told me about this website after I was debating over a pair of boots I had seen in NYC that I could not decide about (see above photo) and she searched by brand and discovered that at Yoox you can get two pair for less than the price of one. They have Costume National, Barbara Bui, Fendi, Mui Mui, Marni-- it is a shoe lovers paradise. Let me know how you do. You are welcome. :)
Shopbop is a favorite of mine and they have some cool kicks that I couldn't resist after seeing them on Belgian model Hanne Gaby Odiele after the Valentino show in Paris this past October. The Elizabeth and James Paul boot will rock with my skinny cropped denim or one of my maxi skirts this spring.  And they are on SALE!  Yay!  
A great site to check out as well is 6 PM, another Kacy discovery that has cozy favorites like UGG Australia, plus L.A.M.B., Frye and other department store brands. Want to price compare? You can go to Amazon and find many of the boots from the department stores there for less, I was surprised how often I discovered a coveted sweater or shoes for a better price.  And of course Zappos is the king of instant gratification so if you are in a hurry, its a good way to go.
Timing is everything and now is a great time to get some new kicks that won't do in your spring clothing budget. Make sure to check the return policy before you buy, it can vary.  Happy shopping.