Published: Sep 28th, 2009
Category: Shopping

Searching for the perfect pair of brown boots

COMMENTS: 531532 Comments2009-09-28+11%3A00%3A54FB+%40+FabulouslyBroke.com

I’m really not that picky.

I just know what I want and at what price I am willing to pay.

Criteria for a simple pair of dark brown knee-high boots

Knee-High
Rounded Toe
Cannot be slouchy at the ankle
..or too tight at the calf
Dark Rich Brown
100% Leather but not Suede — it’s a b*tch to maintain & keep clean
Nothing Shiny
No lace-ups
Rubber heel (plastic sounds and looks cheap)
Flat or Low Heel (under 1″) — I should be able to short sprint in them
Comfortable
Full zipper — no pull-up boots, they stretch out
No weird prints, ruffles, belts, cowboy buckles or fringes
No fur or faux fur styles
Around $200 because they’re boots and good boots cost money

Is that really too much to ask?!

Apparently.

Links to Canadian Online Stores I’ve tried:

So far I found ONE option at Zappos Canada that I am not in love with, but don’t hate.

And they’re sold out of my size. Of course.

Kenneth Cole Reaction - $114.76 USD - Naturally they are also sold out in my size, and i am not keen on the look of it, but they do look comfy.

But I really loathe buying shoes without trying them on first.

Especially when they’re trying to charge me $10 for shipping.

It’s like sunk money.

They just don’t fit everyone, and I am picky about it fitting correctly, where some may not really care for the sake of fashion.

I also found a doable pair at Ecco Canada but it’s $75 more than I wanted to pay and a half zip.

Ecco Shoes Hoffman - $275 - The Cognac colour is kind of nice.

And I found another pair at Ecco as well:

Ecco Shoes - Hobart - $275 - But I don't hate the buckle!

Ecco Shoes - Hobart - $275 - And I don't hate the buckle!

Hmm. Maybe I should revisit the budget I have for these boots.

Maybe $300 is the real price for what I’m looking for.

I don’t want a cheap looking pair, and it has to be soft, high quality leather that is made well with a good zipper and with a rounded toe that isn’t squared off and stumpy.

$300 it is then!

As for the truly perfect pairs of boots, I found a couple of great options on Zappos USA.

This is kind of the style I’m kind of looking for but they don’t have it in their Canadian stores.

Bandolino Renoir - $109.73 - If only they had them in Canada.

Pour La Victoire Malorie - $404 -- *cries at the tag*. It also doesn't have a full zipper.

And the Holy Grail of all Brown Boots if you don’t look at the price tag:

Or these ones are perfect, also not available in Canada, with the zipper at the back.

But not for that price.

Delman Aden - $479 -- OUCH!!! But they are perfect.

Makes a girl wish she had a personal shopper and stylist like Rachel Zoe to pull an entire, cute wardrobe for you, along with boots and shoes for your everyday life that cost $200 or less.

I feel like the toothless, boot-less Canadian over here, drooling at the breadth of choices available in the States.

I mean, seriously?!?

Kappa Boots - $148 - These were part of my Canadian choices

Kappa Boots - $148 - I mean it. These were part of my sad Canadian choices. I have a feeling all the shoes that don't find homes in the States make their way up here.

Coming up tomorrow: I bit the bullet.

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531532 Responses2009-09-28+11%3A00%3A54FB+%40+FabulouslyBroke.com to “Searching for the perfect pair of brown boots”

That Kind of Girl
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 9:25 AM:

Although your list of criteria is fairly long, dude, it’s entirely reasonable: over half of your rules for boots are basically stipulating that they must be high-quality and not totally bizarro Lady Gaga-style tacky. That is not too much to ask!

I’m distressed on your behalf to hear how slim the boot pickings are in the Great White North. It seems almost worth it to take a jaunt across the border or arrange a shipping intermediary to take advantage of better selection in the US!
That Kind of Girl´s last blog ..The Kind of Girl Who … speeds down the open road with the wind whipping at her hair (An NTKOG That Wasn’t)
Ginger
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 10:03 AM:

I agree. Boots up here suck. You’d think that being a colder country we’d have a better selection.

I’ve been dying to get a pair of boots to fit my extra-wide calves and it’s nearly impossible. The only option is at this one store waaaayyy out in Hamilton, and even then they’d be $300 boots. So I guess I’m not getting any this year

Anyway, what I really wanted to say was to check out Rockport. It’s better if you can go into a concept store as it’s run by the company. There’s one at the Eaton Centre and I noticed they had nice boots. They’re guaranteed to be comfy and less-embellished. Maybe they’ll have some nice brown ones for you!
Ginger´s last blog ..Living the Blogging High Life
neo's number
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 10:05 AM:

This was similar to my list and I found what I was looking for at Aldo

Do you have Camper stores in Canada? They are a Spanish brand and their boots are amazing!

I don’t think that your price point is too low, but going higher will give you more options, plus you are looking for a classic item that you will hopefully be able to wear for at least 5 seasons or longer if you can find a good cobbler for repairs.
Worth
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 10:10 AM:

ack! How did you not do a look-see at FRYE?!?!?!

Can’t wait to see what you got!

XOXO
Worth´s last blog ..Tequila and Limes
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 10:39 AM:

@Worth I don’t have Frye here…
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 10:40 AM:

@neo’s number: That’s exactly what I thought — but we don’t have Camper stores here. I wish we did!

I think $200 was reasonable, but $300 seems to be the right price point for a pair of boots I will keep as long as possible.
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 10:40 AM:

@Ginger: There’s a store online that Allie from Wardrobe Oxygen uses that caters to extra wide calves!
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 10:42 AM:

@TKOG I wish I could jaunt across to the States easily.. like Krystal
S.
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 11:36 AM:

Maybe try endless.com? Or Amazon.com?
Worth
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 11:43 AM:

No Frye on Zappos through Canada? Weird…
SP
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 11:55 AM:

I just got some (almost new) shoes re-heeled because the plastic sole WAS cheap and not put on right. It was $15. So that is perhaps one criteria you could fix (but if it meets the rest, you’d think they’d put in a rubber sole too….)

Good luck in your boot hunt!
The Asian Pear
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 11:59 AM:

funny. The last boot reminded me of something in an action-adventure show. Or even sci-fi or something Kevin Sorbo would wear in Hercules. O_O;;

your list is long… but it’s not over the top. it sounds like you just want a regular flat heeled brown boot. I didn’t realize it was that hard…
The Asian Pear´s last blog ..Facts About Me… In Graphs!
Meg
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 12:08 PM:

When you find them, tweet me. Looking for the same exact thing (except for the shipping to Canada part). Size 8.5 or 9 probably.

Unfortunately, my black high heel boots don’t fit around my calves anymore since I’ve been exercising. They weren’t very comfy anyhow, but they looked soooo sexy. And my comfy brown suede boots are not only a pain to take care of, they’re too loose in the calf so I have to wear leg warmers with them. I should Goodwill them both, but I haven’t the heart yet till I find something new.
Rachelle
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 12:16 PM:

Hey, a good pair of shoes are just expensive. So a pair of boots even more so. If you don’t want your feet to hurt, you want the boots to last a while AND you want to look as fabulous as your name suggests, I say up the budget!
Rachelle´s last blog ..Random Sunday Afternoon Splurge
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 1:02 PM:

@Meg There are some great options online at Zappo for the States… Canada is just way harder
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 1:03 PM:

@SP That’s a good point. I can always just fix the sole with a rubber sole instead.
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 1:04 PM:

@Asian Pear: I think it’s even harder if people try and get boots for wide calves.
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 1:04 PM:

@S. I live in Canada. Neither ship to me.. Zappos Canada is the closest I’ve got!
Meg
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 1:14 PM:

I looked on U.S. Zappos but maybe I missed them because nothing I saw really did it for me
Foxie
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 2:39 PM:

I love my Blowfish ZigZag boots, but they aren’t leather and they’re pull ons…. But I’m so in love with them! <3 So cute over skinny jeans, to the point where I bought the perfect pair of jeans (Only $50, not so bad) to wear just with them, and love having dresses that go with them as well. Probably wear them so freaking much because they're flat… I can actually DRIVE in them!! (I have a pair of the Ugg Felicity boots that I adore, but the wedge makes driving impossible for me, so I only wear them sometimes when my hubby's driving.) The price I paid for them was even better for me, just $100!

Only sad thing is they're too hot for summer. But since it's fall now, I'm taking them out every chance I get.
Foxie´s last blog ..Tire Pressure, It’s Important…
Michelle
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 4:33 PM:

Not sure if they ship to Canada, but I’d def check out J.Crew. Also, the criteria you outline sounds an awful like equestrian boots. Try looking at a tack shop or other horseman’s apparel store. A lot of riding boots have a full zipper (usually in the back).
kim
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 6:32 PM:

@Worth:

exactly what I came in to say.
Frye boots are my dream footwear.
Shari
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 9:05 PM:

I just purchased a pair of winter boots tonight online from Sears. I was flipping through the October issue of LouLou. You may find something that you like.
Shari´s last blog ..Three Rules For Buying A Handbag
Lawgirl
on Sep 28th, 2009
@ 9:23 PM:

What about Amazon? They have some great clothes/shoes on there.

Ecco is a great brand!!
Lawgirl´s last blog ..No “Paranormal Activity” Review for now…
pauline
on Sep 29th, 2009
@ 5:35 AM:

funny post, I have been doing research for exactly the same kind of boots! And I found the Ecco Hobart to be just what I need! I went to the shop a few weeks ago, they also have them with 3 buckles, and they are nice too. I am just like you, hesitating with the price… But I thought they are worth it as Ecco is good quality and very comfy, so I’m going to buy them soon! I am in the UK and they are £125, that is CAD$215, want me to ship over a pair ?
steph
on Sep 29th, 2009
@ 8:02 AM:

@FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com:

Actually there are quite a few boutiques in Montreal that carry frye. They’re mostly in le plateau and au vieux port.
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com
on Sep 30th, 2009
@ 8:49 AM:

@Steph: REALLY? Shoot. I should have dropped by there then. It’s horribly hard to find out what stores sell what, where…

But I love my boots, however I may need to make a special trip there to buy er.. look at.. comparable pairs
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com
on Sep 30th, 2009
@ 8:50 AM:

@Pauline Wish!! It’s okay, I already paid the price

@Everyone: I think knee high brown boots are really the it item for most women this fall. I feel pretty good about paying that price for them, as I LOVE THEM (almost slept with them last night)
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com
on Sep 30th, 2009
@ 8:51 AM:

@Michelle They DO ship to Canada.. but I am the type of girl that needs to try on boots before buying them, no matter how expensive!
Chrys
on Jan 4th, 2010
@ 12:37 AM:

This may be super late, but if you're still looking!

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3061552?origin=shoppi...
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com
on Jan 4th, 2010
@ 10:20 AM:

Thanks Chrys!

I ended up buying the Ecco Hobart boots WHICH I LOVE! But maybe some other current & future readers might be still looking.
Interview: Giving up shopping for a whole year. Could you do it? « Fabulously Broke in the City
on Jan 18th, 2010
@ 5:02 AM:

[...] I had an annual Brown Boot Hunt too, until I found my Ecco Hobart's — See post [...]

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