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Who has bought some new BOOTS?


miltboot

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I have been looking for the perfect pair of boots for quite some time, and I still haven't found them. However, as winter is rapidly approaching, I didn't let that stop me. I wound up buying not one, but two pairs of boots on eBay. Both of them are going to work out in their own way.

The first pair pictured are Aldo. I don't know the model, but they are taller and way thinner than what I was expecting. The heel is a full 5 inches, and it is literally the size of a pencil. I do not yet know what they are like comfort-wise, because I didn't get 2 city blocks in them before I realized something was terribly wrong. The left heel was broken, and I didn't notice it until I lengthened my stride outside. My cobbler fixed them for $6.36, tax included. I shall report further once this rain stops.

The other pair I got while the first pair was at the cobbler. It's probably just in my nature to be impulsive about things like this, but I got to thinking that while the first pair was pretty cool, these little ankle boots looked a whole lot more practical. They are Guess brand (again, I have no idea what model), have a 4 1/2 inch heel, and are a dream to walk in. In fact, they felt so nice that I broke my rule about rigorously testing a new pair of shoes before I'll wear them in public. With these, I jumped in the car and went right to the grocery store to pick up a few things. Later, I went on a walk around the neighborhood. These booties are going to work out just fine. However, I did dick up one of the heels right away, stepping in a crack. I'm not really used to stilettos and being careful of things like that.

Nice catch Miro, those look so good, lucky you!

Since I discovered them on style.com, I had been hunting for Belstaff's Halewood boots (see here) since July this year. As I need them in size 41 (US 11), I pre-ordered them in the only Belstaff boutique in Germany (they only have one store in this country), and was reassured that "they will arrive in September in your size". September came... and they did not arrive. "Just wait, they will arrive in a few weeks, early October".

Meanwhile, I had visited the London Belstaff store during a business trip, but even they didn't have the boots in stock yet. I waited till October 10th, and then called the boutique in Munich again. "We are very sorry, but our store assistant might have been mistaken. We won't get this model into our store. Not at all!"

 

I was mad - months of waiting for some assitant screwing up. Now I started my global search. Saks in New York had them online till size 40. I chatted with someone from saks online - "yes, the store in New York lists them in size 41 - 1 pair". I called the store, but there was no pair in size 41. Only 40. I researched a few other online stores, but the largest size I could find was 40.

 

When I was in London, I had seen the ankle-boot version with a different kind of leather, but the same style - available on the Belstaff website in my size. So I ordered these instead, basically as a "second best" option, that I nonetheless do like very much. This weekend, I have worn them for the first time when I was doing grocery shopping. Although the are really high, the platform keeps the height to a still comfortable level.

 

Here's the pic from the online store:

belstaff_00_zps1be956ff.jpg

And here are a couple of pics I just shot:

belstaff_01_zps53e33dad.jpg

 

belstaff_02_zps7d9a32a7.jpg

belstaff_03_zps09370893.jpg

That was the first pair I bought in the last two weeks. The second one is by Marc Jacobs. Not sure whether it fits the "boots" section, although it is being sold as a "platform pump bootie".

While on the trip in London, I also visited the "Marc by Marc Jacobs" store and found a pair of ankle boots that I liked. Again, not available in my size.

After my trip, I started searching online stores for that pair (which I also found, plain black leather), but I also discovered the pump booties that even the store in London didn't have (patent & plain black leather combi). I was torn: Should I go for the regular boot or for the pump?

As I already own some boots with a chunky heel / sole from Jeffrey Campbell, I went for the pumps. I am not sure about the patent leather (it draws very much attention to your feet), but then again, I like them because they look different. So I decided to keep them.

Online store pic:

marc_jacobs_00_zpsce683e7d.jpg

 

My pics:

marc_jacobs_01_zps9e1665ff.jpg

 

marc_jacobs_03_zps333a975c.jpg

 

marc_jacobs_02_zps585569c1.jpg

 

Hey Freestyle75, wow those boots are fabulous, i really like them.

The shoes are cool too, but I am less inspired by them. Good for you being persisteant and finding them !

Once again, luck must be with me as I found a like new pair of Cleopatra......Brooke over the knee boots in a sz 11 at a local Goodwill thrift store in like new condition.......I knew that these were not cheap when new and I researched them after returning home........found them on-line at a low of $93 and a high of $130 plus shipping......they fit very well,and are very stable,not wobbly along with being easy to walk in........I got an incredible deal on them......attached is an online pic of them as it  is a lot of trouble right now to take a pic of my actual boots and post it........my boots are in excellent shape with very little signs of wear.......these will be keepers!!!!    Comments are welcome.attachicon.gifCleopatra-Brooke-Black-Women-Over-The-Knee-Boots-7-5.jpg Click on the pic to see a larger pic of the boots.

Those are really good too, god you guys are finding some boots!

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Nice catch Miro, those look so good, lucky you!

Hey Freestyle75, wow those boots are fabulous, i really like them.

The shoes are cool too, but I am less inspired by them. Good for you being persisteant and finding them !

Those are really good too, god you guys are finding some boots!

 

With respect, you really didn't need to reproduce the whole of the original posts - including several large pictures - in order to comment.   That must be the ethereal equivalent of destroying another rain forest!

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It really seems like a shame to not show off those gorgeous boots. I fully understand the difference an extra half inch of heel can make but with a lot of practice your ankle may tolerate the angle. Give it some time, then give the folks in the grocery something to notice :penitent: .

TBG

I think there may be hope. I took another walk in the boots a couple days ago at 4:30 in the morning (so that I could get some practice in relative privacy), and I made it 1.3 miles without too much achiness. I noticed, however, that I was slightly slouching as I walked, and had to consciously make myself stand up straight several times. I suppose this is because I am at the limit of what I can do, steepness-wise. I think I will stick to wearing them semi-privately until I work my way up to 2 miles without looking like a clumsy idiot. But I feel much better about my purchase than I did before.
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My latest pair, just received it this week:

 

moncler_boots_zps9334b36d.jpg

 

In fact, these are just the completion of a full outfit. I saw an ad for a shiny puffer coat, went to the store, didn't like it, searched online and went for the original in a shorter jacket version. While looking for a nice winter skirt, I saw the skirt in the exact same design and thought that this might make a cool outfit. After I got the skirt, I thought that there might also be boots out there... and I found them in a boutique in London. All items are from Moncler.

 

Here's all together (front and back):

 

moncler_outfit_zps040e55f4.jpg

 

It's the first time I am awaiting the cold weather... it's still too warm to wear this stuff :cheeky:


There is my new boots, size 42 in black, I'm still waiting for then. Just ordered 2 days ago. Can wait !!!  :happy:

 

http://www.dresswe.com/item/10987251.html

 

I like the look, but not the material of the boots. Due to a chemical accident near where I lived a year ago, I learned how PU is produced. One of the precursors to PU are isocyanates. The Bhopal disaster with 3,800 people dead was caused by methyl isocyanate, a precursor also used in the PU production.

Truth is, leather also doesn't come without hazards (especially if you are buying cheaper shoe brands - but even Michael Kors and Marc by Marc Jacobs is nowadays produced in China), but personally I wouldn't buy shoes made of PU.

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...  Due to a chemical accident near where I lived a year ago, I learned how PU is produced. One of the precursors to PU are isocyanates. The Bhopal disaster with 3,800 people dead was caused by methyl isocyanate, a precursor also used in the PU production.

Truth is, leather also doesn't come without hazards (especially if you are buying cheaper shoe brands - but even Michael Kors and Marc by Marc Jacobs is nowadays produced in China), but personally I wouldn't buy shoes made of PU.

 

You write as though you would not buy PU footwear (or presumably other items) as a matter of principle, i.e. because you do not think that PU should be manufactured - is that your view?   If so, fair enough - but you will be in a tiny minority.   However, if your objection is because you believe that wearing PU footwear is hazardous to the wearer, I suggest you are strongly over-reacting.   The chemical compounds used in PU manufacture are indeed dangerous (primarily in terms of toxicity to humans) during the storage and manufacturing stages but the residual hazard in the finished article is minute - you don't need a gasmask to enter a shoe shop! 

 

There was a major UK pollution problem in the 1980s caused by chemicals used in leather-tanning leaching into a watercourse, but the financial effects of the damage were arguably more of a problem than the environmental ones in the medium term.

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@all: sorry for the small excursion into chemistry.

 

@Puffer: The answer is both. True, after PU has been manufactured, the residual hazard in the PU itself is minimal. Problem here is the DMF (dimethyl formamide). In order to produce PU leather, the PU is normally put onto a base layer that can be of textile origin. As PU as such is delivered as a granulate material, it first has to be dissolved in order to coat the base layer by dipping it into the PU immersion bath multiple times. Unfortunately, the solvent used for this process often is DMF, which is toxic. Although the DMF should be washed out during production, PU gloves that showed a high level of DMF have been found (see here). It really depends how ultra-cheap boots are produced - the longer they are washed during production, the less likely DMF will be found as a residue -- but that will cost more (time = money). As they say, your miles may vary. I agree though that leather also comes with hazards, e.g. Chrome VI.

 

Avoiding PU (in order not to further boost production) in everyday life is impossible, but when I do know that a product is made of PU and there are alternatives, I try to choose the alternative. The company that had an accident is situated in a very small town, in sighting distance of my former apartment. Nowadays it wouldn't get a production allowance in a residential area, but it has been in that town since the early 60s, so they had a permit. After trying to clean a toluylendiisocyanate tank with water, the substance inside started to boil, which led to gas leaking out. Several people were injured. The tank became so hot that the fire departments of all local towns nearby installed pipes from the local river (see pic) to the factory building (pic, pic) where the tank was located to cool it down. Parts of the town were evacuated in case the tank would blow up (I stayed at my parents in safe distance). I never thought that foamed seats (for cars) were so risky to produce. That's also why I want to avoid supporting further production of PU, especially from countries where security standards are even lower than in European countries, meaning that more people get hurt.

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My latest pair, just received it this week:

 

moncler_boots_zps9334b36d.jpg

 

 

 

Very cool. I've not been able to try any Moncler boots, but would love to. Down gear is another hobby of mine ;)

(formerly known as "JimC")

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Leathers are also treated with chromium during some tanning processes. Yes, even here in the US. You really can't get away from harmful elements and compounds no matter how hard you may try.

Shafted, the boots that is! View my gallery here http://www.hhplace.o...afteds-gallery/ or view my heeling thread here http://www.hhplace.org/topic/3850-new-pair-of-boots-starts-me-serious-street-heeling/ - Pm me if you want fashion advice or just need someone to talk to.

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@all: sorry for the small excursion into chemistry.

 

@Puffer: The answer is both. ...

 

No apology needed - and thanks for the interesting (if somewhat worrying) info on gloves.   I do use them, but not too often!

 

At the risk of going off subject, a couple of true UK situations illustrating that ignorance is folly:   

 

1.   A scrap dealer clearing out an abandoned factory found a battered and corroded drum containing something.   It was clearly useless to him so he threw it into the nearby canal.   The drum contained metallic sodium ...!

 

2.   A small business specialising in the external cleaning of buildings got a new contract for a large glass-clad office block.   It used a solution of hydrofluoric acid ...!

 

In the words of the old chemist's adage:  'He who acetates is lost.'   Mind how you go.

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In fact, these are just the completion of a full outfit. I saw an ad for a shiny puffer coat, went to the store, didn't like it, searched online and went for the original in a shorter jacket version. While looking for a nice winter skirt, I saw the skirt in the exact same design and thought that this might make a cool outfit. After I got the skirt, I thought that there might also be boots out there... and I found them in a boutique in London. All items are from Moncler.

 

That's a fun winter outfit. Personally I prefer the contrast of textures with the skirt on the left. Presumably you'll be wearing some patterened tights to complete the outfit. I'm sure you'll turn a few heads but in a nice way, it's a really well put together look.

If you like it, wear it.

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Although I personally prefer leather, it's true that polyurethane and other faux leather materials have opened up an enormous amount of footwear choices to vegans who disdain wearing animal products. Nobody gets upset at all the little "fauxes" that have been killed for their hides! :bawling:

 

Sorry.

 

Steve

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  • 2 weeks later...

I recently wandered into a Fluevog store afound these great booties. Nice 4"- heel with patterned rubber sole on them that prevents slipping, they are made from nice leather which forms pretty quickly to the foot. They come black and grey (i got grey ones), plus as with many of Fluevogs, they have relative which is a laced shoe style which also looked good. Another nice for everyday wear.

 

post-2360-0-10692400-1415335865_thumb.pn

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Absolutely love all of them.  The tall ones are particularly striking and look great.  I hope you get a lot of 'out and about' wear from them, especially the tall ones.

I dream of a world where chickens can cross roads without having their motives questioned.

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I'm pleased to announce that I've ordered a new pair of Boots. It's the Kurt Geiger Carvela - Shake and they look amazing. I hope to get them on my feet next monday.

 

post-19552-0-25625900-1415905397_thumb.j

 

Another pair I recently got on my feet, and still have right now, is also made by Kurt Geiger Carvela but these are called Smirk. Probably named after the look on your face when you see them. They look a bit weird at first but I really love them. And you wouldn't say by just looking at them, but they are by far the most comfortable boots I've ever owned. I really don't want to take them off at the end of the day, and I can't wait to put them on as soon as I get the chance.

 

post-19552-0-96176400-1415905840_thumb.j

Check my site: www.incredibleheels.com

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Absolutely love all of them.  The tall ones are particularly striking and look great.  I hope you get a lot of 'out and about' wear from them, especially the tall ones.

Thx  Thighbootguy for you opinion..

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Recently we bought almost the same boots for my better half and for me. I bought her Steve Madden Highting

 

ST311M001-Q11@12.jpg

 

Later on I bought  myself almost identical boots from Urbanog. Of course, the Maddens are better made and they look nicer. However, I didn't want to spend $300 so I had to choose the cheaper option for myself. I don't regret it because we are both satisfied about the products. We both confirm that these shoes are easy to walk.

I hope that later today we will make some pictures together so I'm pretty sure you will eventually see 2 pairs compared together;)

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A couple of weeks ago I had a birthday coupon for 25% off at Payless and I saw a pair of heeled knee boots in black that I liked, their "Mara" boots, so I ordered a pair. They arrived promptly and I put them on, and wore them around the house for a while to be sure I wanted to keep them. I did and wrote a positive review:

 

http://www.payless.com/womens-mara-block-heel-tall-boot/75395.html?dwvar_75395_color=black#q=mara&start=1

 

Since that review will no longer exist when the style is discontinued, here is what I said:

 

 

Outstanding value!

November 22, 2014
Pros: fashionable, comfortable, snug fit, warm, secure rubber soles, great arch support, calf fits great
Cons: only one color
I've had these boots for a couple of weeks now and they're getting nicely broken in. At first I had the sense that they may be a bit short for a size 12, and that the toe height was slightly too low (I have a hammertoe on my second toe on my left foot, so I wear a bandage). But after having worn them for a while, they fit okay and I'm very happy with them. The heel is 4 inches on my pair, which is about at my limit of comfort and being able to walk gracefully and confidently. I own and love Payless's "Marcie" boots in brown from last season and they are very similar with 4 inch heels also. The Mara boots are even better! They fit perfectly in the calf. The circumference is just right, with room to tuck jeans in if the snow is deep. There is ample padding under the ball of the foot, too, and the rubber soles make for good traction on floors and sidewalks; I feel quite secure walking in them. And talk about warm! They are almost too hot to wear indoors! Today I was making several trips bringing some boxes up from the basement. When I was done, my feet were warm as toast! I'm sure these boots are going to be my favorite boots this winter when the temperature is cold. I love them and would recommend them to anybody who wants a fashion boot that's well made and fits snugly with nylon hosiery. Thanks, Payless, for making these great boots in larger sizes for us fashion forward guys!
 
And of course that was exactly how I wrote it, no editing. They've never edited any of my reviews.
 
Below is a pic of the boots. Oh, I forgot to mention...of course, right after I bought them for 25% off, they lowered the price by 25% for everyone. Ah, well...
 
Steve
 
 

post-4071-0-00388100-1416947775_thumb.jp

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Thighbootguy: yea, yea, yea. As I was paying for them I thought I should have gotten pics in the store. I will correct that at the next shop I hit north of West Palm Beach on my way to Cape Canaveral.

Sales girl remembered me ^.^

Tried on another pair but they were a bit glossy. Didn't have the red pumps I wanted in my size. Oh well.

post-289-0-34045000-1416949001_thumb.jpg

post-289-0-90785800-1416951311_thumb.jpg

post-289-0-65513900-1416951397_thumb.jpg

(formerly known as "JimC")

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Thighbootguy: yea, yea, yea. As I was paying for them I thought I should have gotten pics in the store. I will correct that at the next shop I hit north of West Palm Beach on my way to Cape Canaveral.

Sales girl remembered me ^.^

Tried on another pair but they were a bit glossy. Didn't have the red pumps I wanted in my size. Oh well.

 

In a better light... WOW those are really nice!

I dream of a world where chickens can cross roads without having their motives questioned.

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In a better light... WOW those are really nice!

 

I have to agree, and it's also great that you're making a positive impression with the sales staff Rockpup.

 

A couple of weeks ago I had a birthday coupon for 25% off at Payless and I saw a pair of heeled knee boots in black that I liked, their "Mara" boots....

 

Very smart, elegant and stylish Steve. I hope they won't always be hiding under bootcut jeans !

If you like it, wear it.

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I just bought a beautiful over the knee pair called odyssey by Steve madden. They fit so well round the ankle and look fantastic. Even with a heel over two inches they are so easy to walk in. I paired them up with some over the knee socks. I would recommend these to any man looking for a great pair of Otkb to wear under jeans. No one notices

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