TREND
CUTE TO BOOT
FROM WESTERN-INSPIRED TO OVER-THE-KNEE SILHOUETTES , FASHIONISTAS ARE FALLING FOR ON-TREND FOOTWEAR .
BY ASHLEY PROBST
For a versatile look that can translate between work and play , the BARCELONA BOOT is made with black herringbone fabric and accented with a studded sole for a splash of personality , $ 160 , at Charleston Shoe Co . ( 949-503-0500 ; charlestonshoeco . com )
B
oots are a fall fashion staple and this season is filled with structured , flatline silhouettes with a bit of a vintage feel .
“ What I ’ ve been seeing on the runways are very much platforms with a ’ 90s twist ,” says Lacy Nicole , a Newport Beachbased creative director and stylist , who points to Valentino and Versace as the trendsetters for this look .
“ I … love any platform boot ,” Nicole says . “ Versace is doing this in an ankle and an over-the-knee , depending on what type of silhouette you want for your body type .”
A couple other brands that Nicole deems noteworthy are Givenchy , for its signature shark lock ankle boot , as well as Balenciaga . She turns to the latter for more over-the-top looks like bants , a pant / boot fashion hybrid that ’ s been hyped by the likes of Kim Kardashian .
Another standout style is Western-inspired cowboy boots . And although they ’ re trending , Nicole believes these pieces will withstand the test of time .
“ A well-done … cowboy boot … [ is ] timeless , because they can be worn so many ways and they always come back in style ,” she says . “ … My mom has some Saint Laurent cowboy boots that are literally from the early ’ 80s and I could still rock them today , if she lets me .”
It certainly pays off to invest in quality pieces and take care of them properly so they last . “ Spray those suede boots down with water repellent [ and ] you can wear them every year ,” says Nicole , who ’ s had her own pair for about a decade .
Nicole says another wardrobe staple is an over-the-knee suede boot , such as those by Stuart Weitzman . She loves these pieces because of how effortlessly they can be styled . “ My favorite outfit is jeans with over-the-knee boots and just a simple white T-shirt ,” she says .
For those who like the combat boot look , she recommends pairing them with light wash , straight-leg Levi ’ s and a cute basic tee .
“ Also , we ’ re really lucky that we ’ re in California and it ’ s hot year-round , so [ you can wear ] any type of flowy dress … [ and ] throw on a high cowboy boot or a brown over-the-knee boot or even the Givenchy [ shark ] boot ,” Nicole says .
For a more elevated look , she suggests boots paired with black leather pants , a bodysuit and a sexy jacket , or black leather boots with a sequin dress . But no matter how you style your favorite fall footwear , there is one must-have element to top off any ensemble : confidence .
“ I think if you feel confident , you should rock whatever you feel best in ,” Nicole says .
COURTESY OF CHARLESTON SHOE CO .
28 NEWPORTBEACHMAGAZINE . COM