Women's Flat Boots vs High Heel Boots
Fall Fashion Trends 2009 - European Fashion and California Style
Nov 3, 2009
What's up with women's fashion boots for fall 2009? Well, the vote seems split. Women's flat boots are everywhere on chic European ladies, while high heel boots are a big California style.
Either way, it's so easy to be trendy. It’s all about the boots. It’s all about the legs. Oh no, some Boomer Chicks are going to freak and think that their legs are:
- Too Short
- Too Long
- Too Fat
- Too Skinny
Well, the right boots and the right tights or leggings will camouflage little “flaws” and zap almost all women’s fears about boots right out of existence.
Fashion Boots
What are the trendy fashion boots for fall 2009?
That depends on where a Boomer Chick lives. So, on the one hand there is the European / Italian flat boot trend; and on the other hand, there are the LA trends including:
- High Heel Boots
- Motorcycle Boots
European Fashion
In Europe, especially Italy, the flat boot rules. And, recently, the brown, beige, or nude colored boot was everywhere. For example, in San Marco Square (fall 2009), most wealthy, well-dressed Italian women, Italian shop girls, and French or Italian vacationers wore:
- Beige Flat Boots (see Gucci Janis Boot)
- Nude Flat Boots (see Loeffler Randall Perforated Boots at Neiman's)
- Brown Flat Boots (see Belle by Sigerson)
- Gray Boots (see Steve Madden Tyller Boot)
- Slouch Boots (see Burberry Flat Slouch Boot)
- Tall Boots (sometimes with western accents, see Apepazza Lodi Tall)
- Suede Boots (see Oscar de la Renta Flat Boot)
- Ankle Boots (Madison Harding Janis Bootie has the basic shape)
- Low Heel Boots (see Taryn Rose Ankle Bootie)
- Wedge Boots (see Loeffler Randall Mini-Wedge Boot or Chloe Tall Wedge Tie-Top)
- High Heel Pumps or High Heel Booties (often worn later in the day)
While tourists wore:
- Sneakers (lost Americans from cruise ships)
- Sandals (European holiday makers)
- Flat Mary Janes (usually on younger French, Italians, and Brits, and often worn with bright tights)
The best boot, which was seen on the most elegant Italian gals, was something like this Sergio Rossi boot. Some women wore this style in a darker color. Some wore a mid calf version. And, women looking for height wore a wedge boot, where the wedge was the same color as the shoe.
Short Women Boots
Short women and chubby women can wear flats and look chic. The exact look that’s best for each woman is dictated by her body type. So every gal must experiment. (Even tall beauties need to experiment to find their best looks!)
Online Shopping
Sometimes it’s best - less humiliating - to shop online; then a gal can try on a flat boot with every length dress or tunic in her closet. (Don’t forget the tights or leggings if bare legs seem strange.) It takes a bit of work, but looking hip, not old lady-like, is just a matter of trial and error.
Shorter and fatter gals need to go with a monotone (same tone) look from neck to toe. Here are some examples:
- Chocolate dress, chocolate tights, chocolate mid calf boots. It’s ok to have the skirt stop around the knee (sometimes above) or to wear a longer boho length skirt.
- Charcoal top (maybe with a jacket), black leggings or slim dark jeans, and either flat leather boots, flat suede booties, or flat mid calf boots in black.
Here are two common European looks for inspiration: Lindsay Lohan in leggings and Hilary Swank in tights, both wearing flat boots.
Leggings
With leggings or tight pants, all gals must wear a top that covers the crotch to avoid “camel toe”. Really, any good legging or slim-pant look needs a tunic or long shirt, even if it's just something long that's layered under a sweater. (Word on the street is: The best "legging" is MARC BY MARC JACOBS Stretch Knit Pants $228 - try Neiman's or Nordies - and remember that they run small.)
California Style
While European flat boots are working their way through Southern California, land where people wear Uggs in 90 degree weather, the California fall 2009 boot trend is a bit different.
Here, higher heels and motorcycle boots are en vogue. Of course, no one walks more than 100 yards in LA; while in European cities, people don’t use cars. So, it all makes sense.
High Heels
In the Beverly Hills environment, way too many women are out shopping, having a sprig of parsley for lunch, or picking up their children, while wearing a footwear style that can only be endearingly referred to as “hooker boots”. Any Boomer Chick with taste should kindly refrain from emulating this fad unless she needs sky-high thigh-high boots for her second job.
Actually, these over-sexed boots can be hot on the right gal, when she is on her second or third date, as long as the rest of her ensemble is very classic and reserved.
A better trend from LA is the black motorcycle boot, like the Chloe Tall Motorcycle Boot at neimanmarcus.com. A motorcycle boot is worn with leggings or leather pants. (Actually, the hooker boot is also worn with leggings or leather pants.) And, while this ensemble might be cute on the right (younger) woman, it probably won’t be in style next year. Though, in LA that might not matter, especially if Daddy is paying the Visa bill.
Smart cookies (Boomer Chicks) can adopt a less trendy California style boot that will fly in Kansas, as well as on both coasts, by looking for something like:
- Boot in a more classic style with a chunky motorcycle heel (or try Harley Davidson Darla Boots, which are much cheaper)
- Boot with slender-but-not-quite-stiletto heel
- Over the knee boot that is just barely over the knee
Flats or Heels?
Most of the California boot looks have heels, which are great for short women. Yet, shorter or chunkier gals, who crave the elegant European look, can also get height with wedge boots, mid heel boots, and high heel booties.
Read more articles about boots and other cool stuff
Any woman with taste (who’s not afraid to use creativity) can find inexpensive knockoffs of the European and Californian boot trends 2009.
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