These Boots Are Made for Walkin'

When Nancy Sinatra became popular with her 1966 hit song, These Boots Are Made For Walkin', I wondered, who told her she could sing? Then it dawned on me. Her father, of course! Looking through the old blue eyes of love, no doubt. But, here’s something for which I give Nancy Sinatra all the credit in the world. She single-handedly made boots the fashion statement of the decade. It’s true.

When go-go boots hit the style scene, girls of all ages across the globe went wild for them, especially in London, New York and California. As a matter of fact, they even became prolific in my little college town of Winona, MN for heaven sakes. We all bought them and we all wore them every chance we got.

Who knew?

The extraordinary thing about the '60s boot fad was that it turned out to have tremendous staying power. So much so that as a result, boots are now considered classic. Today, they are everywhere and in everyone’s wardrobe.

And if you need a new pair of boots this season, your timing is perfect! There are flat-heel, mid-heel and high-heel boots; buckled, laced, zippered or slip-ons; knee high, ankle high and over the knee styles, and they come in every color imaginable. This is a time chock full of variety, fun and price points that are all over the map.

The of the moment boot is the over-the-knee style. I for one love this look because if you prefer to wear your skirts a bit longer, as in just below, at, or above the knee, this boot will nicely rest inside the contour of your skirt, thus giving you a slimmer, longer leg-line look. (I especially like the slimmer part.) This over-the-knee boot style also works well with leggings or skinny jeans, preventing the annoying and unattractive problem of your jeans bunching at the knee. And if your boots fit really well, they will stay put and feel comfortable.

Nice benefits all the way around, don’t you think?

That said, however, they may not be of the moment for very long.

Knee-high boots, on the other hand, are fashion-proof (the rim of the boot hits just below the knee). Always in style and always good-looking, they work well with everything, including trouser-style jeans and suit pants.

Ordinarily, I wear ankle-high boots with suits and trousers, but on bad winter days—and rumor has it that we should expect some of those here in the Midwest—I need water/snow-proof boots. My Aquatalia knee-high boots are simply fantastic. They are somewhat pricey compared with other popular brands, but let me just say they are worth every single penny. Both Nordstrom’s and Von Maur carry the Aquatalia brand and if you check online, I’m sure you will find that many other stores carry it as well.

They are actually designed and made in Italy, so they are beautifully flattering and extremely well constructed. They even have a waterproof suede boot style this year!

Got to love those Italians. Right, Ms. Sinatra?