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Wednesday, January 10, 2007

French Fashion: Flat Boots


Not your typical Francophone, but anyway

The minute I touched down in Paris I started to notice a trend. Everyone (every woman, that is, although some men were the exception) was wearing flat boots.

Now I know that in North America flat boots are supposed to be all the rage right now, at least according to the fashion mags. The only thing is I don't see much of it on the streets. Boots may be in, but in Vancouver women prefer to wear them with teetering (or high or chunky) heels.

But the boots I saw in France weren't just flat and pedestrian. They had a little something extra to make them stand out.

They either had corset laces running up the back, had folds of leather crisscrossing them, shiny buckles or were adjustable (meaning they could fold up over your knee, down below your knee or tucked inside your boot).

And because my feet were hurting like hell with my dumpy heeled boots, I decided my first purchase would be a pair of these comfortable boots that everyone was wearing. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone. The young girls were folding them down and pairing them with tucked in jeans, the middle-aged women were wearing them over the knee with skirts and tights and the elderly were pairing them with long skirts and coats.

When I came to Lyon, I noticed the phenomenon was bigger still. It sealed the deal when Ross's sister, a Scottish woman living in Lyon, had a killer pair of mid-calf black boots, complete with all the bells and whistles.

So the first oppurtunity I had, I snatched up a pair of brown boots for 40 Euros. These boots have the laces going up the back:


And also have the coveted above-the-knee action, which looked great left up, or folded down over jeans (the only time I'll indulge in the skinny jean look...just don't have the figure for it but the boots seem to balance me out).



I have to say these boots were the best investment I ever made. Not only did they make me feel like a sexy Pirate hooker, but they were so comfortable. And coming from me, that says a lot.

Which is why on our return to Paris, I had to snatch up another pair. This time I went for black and something with a more elegant, pointy toe. This didn't mean that they weren't versatile. These boots also went over your knee...



Folded down, pirate-style...



And tucked in to resemble a more elegant look.



Not to mention it also came with a warm, fuzzy lining, the crisscrossing leather straps and shiny buckles. The best part of it all? It took up zero weight and room in my backpack (very important) and cost all of 29 Euros.

It was more than worth it to bring a little bit of Euro fashion back to Canada with me.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am sure that they are fantastic but they look a bit like flat cowboy boots to me.
I can't find ANY boots that fit me because I have big calves. I HATE it!!!
I want a pair of cute boots too...
*SOB*

Anonymous said...

I have on flat boots as we speak. Knee high black suede. No bells and whistles. Just a nice whipstitch around the edges of the bottom.

Over the knee boots scare me. They make most people look short and stumpy.

Kass said...

I actually want some flat boots and those look ideal damnit! I miss the shopping in europe, everything is so fucken expensive here in Canada. Damn you Canada, damn you!

Anonymous said...

Hey Karina I love your boots! I have a pair of flat boots and they are so versatile and comfortable! I have been reading your blog and sounds like you guys had a great time in Europe! Best Wishes, Sarah

Wanderlusting said...

Rachel - the calves are really adjustable because of the corset up the back. And they are cooler than cowboy boots (although they might resemble cowboy pirate boots).

S* - See I'm already short and stumpy so the over the knee doesn't affect me much. Although my skirts rarely show any leg so you don't really get to see the whole stumpifying effect.

Kass - yeah it's cheap if you ignore the exchange rate...which is hard to do. I find the States to be cheaper than Canada, clotheswise. We should do a run to Bellingham!

Sarah thanks! It's tough to be back, even though falling asleep on my own pillow is a great feling. There's more to come...when I get around to it ;)

Kass said...

God, things are so much cheaper in the states. I think I must've moved to the wrong country lol. Lets do it!

almost famous kiwi said...

Dare I say it but the reason your not seeing any of these trends is because you're in the west and whilst I love Vancouver I found that it's fashion is a direct rip off of the states. But if you travel over to montreal you see these fashions everywhere. The Girls here take their trends directly from Europe and I always feel totally unstylish around them. Oh well, you can take the girl out of NZ but you can't take the NZ out of the girl.

Kass said...

Yes, if only there was a Glassons here..lol

Wanderlusting said...

shut up, I LOVE GLASSONS!

They had the best jeans...sigh

Kass said...

I wasn't being sarcastic..lol

I miss the glassons jeans too!! *cries* My final pair ripped last year and I had to throw them out, I haven't found a good pair of jeans since damnit!

Anonymous said...

ohhh i like them. i must admit i've been a little weary of flat boots - thinking they may make me look stumpy!!!
but if they are going to be big in europe i better get me a pair!!!
:-)

Indiana said...

I don't think the "pirate hooker" look will ever really go out of style. ~grin~

Anonymous said...

You are SO freakin hip!!! Welcome home. :-)

Wanderlusting said...

Kass - my favs ripped too. Then I got some great ones from Jay Jays and they also ripped. WHAAAA!

Karina - I found that the brown boots look great over the knee cuz it techincally ends at mid-knee, so you still got a bit of knee action going (and anti-stumpiness). So far I've only worn the black boots over the knee once. I prefer the other two styles. And yes, get yourself a pair!

I'm shortish (5'5") and I shied away from flat boots because I thought it wouldn't help my cause. But because these are SO high (up the leg) and sleek they manage to still make you look lean.

Indy - Yes, especially if it's a Dirty Pirate Hooker look (sigh, I love Anchorman).

Adjil - Aw, thanks :) But anyone can be hip if they rip off the French ;)

Anonymous said...

Some of them just remind me of cowboy boots, which I don't plan on succumbing to. But as long as they don't look like cowboys, I'm all for the no-heel.

Especially since I can't walk right now. Heh.

Eve said...

Those are cute! Everyone is wearing them in New York too. Everyone!

I'm not a big fan of the flat pointy toed boots though.

Methinks it's time to go look some up on laredoute.com or ebay.fr...

audrey said...

"Those are cute! Everyone is wearing them in New York too. Everyone!"

I can't even conceive of being able to say that sentence with any kind of practical experience. Sigh.

And I too would love a pair of flat boots, but as Adelaide is the arse end of the world when it comes to everything, it's unlikely that we'll get them anytime before the requisite three year fashion delay.

Anonymous said...

Canada, or Vancouver, definitley needs an H&M. Fashion on Vancouver Island is so limited, if you are wearing something new, people ask you which store you bought it in. Glad you are rocking the flat boots!
Stacey

Anonymous said...

I feel like I am on a chat room with all the discussion surrounding the "flat boot", but I am always up for discussion concerning fashion. I was a bit hestitant about flat as well thinking that they wouldn't make me look long and lean but as long as they have a pointy toe or come up high on the leg they look fab! And YES I agree the shopping here is the shits......lets all make a trip to the states.....hello H&M! By the way its Sarah......I have to log in as an annonymous blogger cause I can't remember my password!

Kass said...

I hadnt forgotten about jay jays, damnit!

Anonymous said...

LOVE the sexy pirate hooker boots! ;)

Anonymous said...

just stumbled on your blog and i love it!

i am in total boot envy right now. we have those in london too, but they are just way more expensive! :)

Unknown said...

I've been wearing flat boots like that since 2002 when I bought them in Switzerland. I love that style especially because it's practical for how much walking you do there. (Or at least I did there!)

Now bringing this back to Canada is just fine but I have one gripe! You won't find them there boots for that price here... EVER! I guess that's our excuse to go hunt for them, but my problem I have gigantor feet and have yet to see my size ever in france!

Anonymous said...

Style never changes, fads do. Classic style and comfort would be more visible in europe, I would think. In north america people are stuck in this eternal mission to be "in fashion". Sure season change, but style dosen't. Most fashion mags only follow the designers, and the designers follow their vision. Some have style and don't need to be told. Some follow the fads of season and waste money.

Parisbreakfasts said...

Can we send you back on a boot buying spree? I NEED boots just like that! ANd please name names. Where can you get anything for 29 Euros in Paris!!!
HELP I want them!