Why Boots Slouch At The Ankle

It's natural for boots to gather a bit at the ankle (if they didn't, then it might feel like you are wearing ice skates!), but in general, they should not slouch.  Too much bunching is caused by one or more of these three factors.

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1.)  To understand why a boot is slouching, we first have to look at the fit around the foot.  Yes, the foot!  Surprisingly, this is usually the cause of boot slouching.

When the part between the ball of the foot and heel is fitted (fits snugly around the middle of the foot), this tends to give more structure to the rest of the boot.  

What to Know:  Be picky when it comes to the fit of the boot on your foot.  It should feel like your foot is being hugged -- not squeezed or tight, but there shouldn't be much wiggle room around the center of your foot.

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2.)  If knee-high boots aren't tight enough around the calf, then yes, the boots might slouch. 

As with any fashion item, please remember that you have to fit the largest part of your body first.  For some, this might be the bust line, shoulders, hips or yes, calves.  Once we fit the largest part, we can then make adjustments or alterations. 

What to Know:  Make sure knee-high boots fit snugly around your calf.  If you need extended calf sizes, check out DUO (now Ted & Muffy), which sells boots by calf width. 

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3.)  Another reason why boots tend to slouch is the height of the heel. 

Once the foot is elevated, the boot shaft should stand a bit straighter as well.  This is not a guarantee, but this can help boots from bunching too much.

What to Know:  The higher the heel, the less slouching. 
 

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Lastly, be sure to take care of your boots.  I sell an amazing leather cleaner on my site that works wonders for conditioning leather boots, handbags, jackets, skirts or even yes, your car seats! 

I would also recommend using shoe trees or cut some foam pool noodles to stick inside your boots when you're not wearing them (you can re-use a water bottle for shorter boots).  If boots are left to flop over for a long period of time, a crease can form in the fabric and that's never a good look. :)

Do you wear a lot of boots?  What other fit issues happen when shopping for shoes?  I'd love to hear how I can help! 

3 Things Ruining Your Fall Style (And What to Do Instead)

When it comes to fashion, fall is where it's at.  Textures, layers, coats, tights, scarves... there are so many glorious possibilities, but a few items can make you look dated.  Now is a good time to get rid of them and upgrade your style!

Argyle
In a man's wardrobe, a little argyle is nice, but for women, it looks dated.  Can you name a chic woman who wears argyle?  No?  Me neither. 

If you like preppy or classic styles (as argyle suggests), then I would recommend a camel skirt (every woman can wear this color on the bottom half of the body) with a black top, cardigan, blazer, fitted turtleneck or sweater.  Camel and black are like peanut butter and chocolate - they always look good together!

Pleather/Cheap Boots
We've heard it before, but nothing says more about your sense of style than your shoes.  They set the tone of an outfit and speak volumes about your eye for quality and style.  Therefore, you don't want to be wearing anything that cheapens your look! 

Pleather boots very rarely last more than one season and very quickly, they can start to show their wear and tear. 

For example, in this picture, we can see the ends of the buckle flaps sticking out - on both sides of her legs!  We don't want loose threads on garments, buttons hanging off, or buckles sticking out.  This does not a chic woman make. 

Unfortunately, a cobbler can't do anything with this since he's working with synthetic materials.  Leather boots are a little bit more of an investment, but they are easier to maintain, last longer, and are a great basic to have.  If you take care of them (polish, resole), you will have them for many years (and outfits!) to come!

Quality shoes should be made with leather on the out and inside of the shoes (allows your feet to breath and stretch) and can be polished to last several seasons.  Leather soles are also ideal, but rubber is good too. 

Plaid
While this pattern doesn't look dated, there are very few plaids that look nice.  To put it bluntly, most plaid skirts, coats, handbags and scarves look kind of cheap. 

Patterns are great in the fall and add depth and visual interest to your wardrobe, but steer clear of plaid.  Many times it's too wide of a pattern and reminds me of the brown and pink plaid we saw a lot of in the '90s.  Herringbone, chevron, diamonds, dots and leopard print are all a yes and look a bit more modern than plaid.  

There are so many options out there, I know you won't be limited for choices.  What's your favorite thing to wear in the fall? 

If you want more style tips, check out my free monthly newsletter.  In this issue I talked a bit more about a camel skirt - how to wear it and what to look for with length.  Enjoy!