Cowboy boots help!

[mimififi]

Howdy y'all,

My husband has purchased me, his beloved, a pair of cowboy boots from the states where he recently went on business! (He assures me he has no alterior motive and they are for wearing like regular shoes and not part of some 'thing' he may have!!!!!LOL)

They are just great, and look fab, but the prob is, I haven't the faintest idea what to wear with them. I mostly wear jeans and long skirts, but am drawing a blank for tops to wear with this. Any help on how to wear cowboy boots without looking like I'm in fancy dress would be greatly appreciated! I'm assuming anything checked is out!

P.S I live in the UK, and haven't the faintest clue as to the current trends/fashions etc, so you will have to give it me in plain English, Partner.

[GraceAnais]

cowboy boots look great with a denim skirt, with or without tights. i'd stay away from the checked shirt look(not a great look). they look particuarly good with a denim skirt and kaftan top, which balances the look out. also it is fine to wear them with jeans, especially boot leg ones (that's the ones with the slightly flared bottom, as opposed to drainpipes, which are skinny at the bottom) search 'sienna miller' on google images and there will be a whole host of pictures illustrating how to look good in cowboy boots!! hope this helps

[littlemissx]

or even under jeans look good, if you are tiny (i'm nott so cant do this) but they look good with narrow jeans tucked in them

[mimififi]

Cheers, ladies, thanks for that. I shall experiment I think. Littlemissx, sadly I'm not tiny either, I'm 5' 7'' (tho only a size 8-10 which kinda makes it worse!). I have tried that look, but I have an inside leg of 34''and I look a little like Olive oil! hahaha! I have got some bootcut jeans, so I'll try that!

is it ok to wear it with a shirt that is fitted, button up? as long as it's not check? or, should I shy away from buttons and cowboy boots??? what do you think?

Grace: I have a kaftan top, so I'll try that too! Cheers.

[littlemissx]

shirts are good and some people are lucky enough to be able to carry off teh check shirt (although again not me) just try a few different things and see what you feel comfortable with x

[Clanad]

If you tuck any slacks/jeans into the tops of them, it's best you don't come to the western U.S.! We all wear cowboy boots and in most cases wear (ladies and gents alike) only Levi or Wrangler boot cut jeans. You never, never, never tuck anything into the tops, unless it's a snoose can or fence mending tool.

We've actually witnessed tourists dressed in shorts, Hawaiian shirts, over the calf black socks and... yes... newly purchased cowboy boots. So, just be forewarned...

[GraceAnais]

personally i'd stay well away from any shirt with cowboy boots (unless your under 20, which from your married status, i'd guess not) the idea is that they cowboys boots have to be toned down with something as to not make them look fancy dress (you don't wanna look like daisy from the dukes of hazzard, at least i hope not...!) That is why a kaftan works wonders. also a skirt with a jumper and a funky belt the same colour as the cowboy boots looks great. i'd recommend a black jumper and skirt, with a belt that matches the boots!!!

[rampart]

A respected western wear store in the States is Sheplers. Google them and look at some of the photos in their site for some ideas.

[mimififi]

Wowza! I had no idea that cowboy boots were so complicated: I'm glad I decided to Post!!!

Clanad: rest assured, I shall most definately not be tucking anything into the tops of my boots be it clothing or fence making equipment, that one sounds like a serious accident waiting to happen. I will steer clear of shirts with buttons and any kind of neckerchief. I don't own Hawaiian shirts and certainly won't be wearing shorts in this Enlgish winter, so I'm hoping I have all bases covered. (P.S I thought you didn't answer advice type questions, cheeky monkey, hehehehe, just pulling your leg!)

Rampart: I shall google for Sheplers and peruse their catalogue. Sounds like good advice.

Hubby home on Friday, so I guess Im in for a good weekend, maybe I'll have trinny and Suzanne over, see what they have to say. I also promise to stay well clear of any shoe lace type neck ties and full length chaps.

I guess it is a very big thank y'all, and a hearty Year H'ah! I'm off to catch me some kids to bath.....Howdy partners.

[mimififi]

P.S Jeans are from the GAP store: Boot cut straight. US is only place on earth I can get jeans long enough so Hub always purchases them when he is over. IS this ok, or is the GAP store a no-no? I just don't know, I'm so fashionally challenged. I think I need to go back to University!!!!!

[GraceAnais]

i'm a Vogue subscriber and therefore feel i have the credentials to answer your Gap question. Gap is fine- very trendy in fact what with Sarah Jessica Parker endorsing them. and remember half the thing with any fashion is the way you wear it, rather than what with! hold your head high and get those boots walking!!!

[mimififi]

GraceA, you are soooo cool. i shall certainly do so! And if anyone asks, I'll say "My friend, who is a Vogue subscriber, said the look is very sarah-jessica parker.....ummmm....fram actual New York you know; I just don't think the London branch has the same range, don't you...." and leave it at that.....

Hehehehehehehehe, I shall experiment on the week end. Haven't done anything like this for ages. I have a very 'comfort' wardrobe after 10 years of maternity/breastfeeding clothes, roll on the new me and the make over. Thanks everyone, I'm really excited now.

Maybe I'll go for scooping neck lines and strapless underwear next...who knows. Heck, hairdresser is coming tomorrow too...maybe I'll go for a re-style.....What confidence you have given me. thank you thank you thank you....!

[GraceAnais]

so glad to have been of help. people write fashion off as being superficial but it really does affect the way you feel about yourself. if you look good you generally feel good inside, and that confidents radiates. Good luck to you and your boots, and make sure you let us know bout the new, improved you!!!

[mimififi]

I sure will.....if it doesn't work out, I'll sell them on Ebay. If things don't work out with my hubby, I'll just explain that one of these days these boots might walk all over him........

hehehehehe!

[mimififi]

Grace, I kinda signed off, but after a quick chatette with Mr mimi, I have another fashion crisis: So, if you are still reading this thread, please respond or I shall have to post again.....

Jeans. The ones he has bought me (US size 4 which is equivalent UK size 8, that's fine, I get that!) but they have just changed all their cuts. He has got me boot cut, but straight fit; striaght fit, instead of classic fit. He said he didn't think curvy fit would fit (cheeky blighter!). Anyway, the thing that is confusing me is that they are also 'low rise'. SO to recap: gap jeans: boot cut, straight fit, low rise.

Now, Gracie dear: qu'est-ce que c'est le 'low rise'?????? no idea there and Gap.com is zero help also. Any suggestions?

[GraceAnais]

don't worry i'm still here (i'm a teacher so i've been here all night bloody lesson planning...you're fashion problems are keeping me sane!!!)

low rise means that they will sit on your hips, rather than up near your belly button!! this is ok, as long as you don't have a chubby tummy, which from your size i'm guessing not!! the only problem can be knickers showing over the top, so invest in some low rise knickers (available from M&S/la senza/debenhams- they will generally advertise themselves to be low-rise)

as for straight cut, that means that they will fit tighter to the leg than classic cut, which tends to be slightly looser! basically what he has bought you are far trendier!! The straight leg will look much sexier, as it will be closer to your leg. also low rise jeans are sexier as they generally make your bum look perter...the only issue can be that some women hate to wear jeans on their hips as they find it uncomfortable.

hope this helps..let me know if you need anymore advise!!!

[mimififi]

hey, you're a teacher....I used to be a teacher pre-motherhood, and used to wear very trendy suits ( was a secondary teacher, which I'm guessing you are as you are lesson planning midweek!)

Cool, I like wearing things on my hips as I have a very high waist and normally end up wearing stuff on my hips even when it's not meant to . I make lots of my clothes because i find it impossible to find anything that fits as it should.

I shall check out the knickers you mention: i can't stand that thing when you see knicker tops above the edge of trousers: Yuck a doodle do.

What do you teach and where? I gave up teaching when I was pregnant with my 3rd, I had too many knives in my drawer confiscated and had been assaulted too many times. I still love it though and home ed my kids.

[mimififi]

sorry that was written badly: I meant to say, "Ihad too many knive in my drawer, that I had confiscated from students..." not make it sound like I had my own knives confiscated. I wasn't that kind a teacher LOL

[GraceAnais]

glad to hear you'll be happy with your new jeans!! def check out the knickers though, couldn't agree more about unslighly pants!!

Teach English, at secondary as you guessed. 1st day back after half term 2moro, and rather than spend mine planning, i swanned off for lunches out, etc!! hence the last minute rush!!!

Kids at my school aren't too bad, the problem is probably more the staff (who act like big kids most of the time)

No place for a Vogue subscriber though; teachers are not meant to have any interest in something as superficial as fashion!!! the amount of people that have said, 'you don't look like a teacher..' someone please tell me what a teacher is suppose to look like?!!

so what did you teach? how old are your children, do you home school them all?

[mimififi]

I taught English too, English and Drama. Fab subject. People used to say the same to me. I always wore a suit to work. i thought how can I expect the kids to take their uniform seriously if their teachers come in looking like last weeks laundry? Also, am quite partial to a suit!

I have 5 kids now. 11,7,4,2 and a baby. I teach the older ones obviously, not the babies though. I have just moved to a curriculum that I bought which supports the ICCE which is like a home version of the International Baccalaureat. It is also recog'd by loads of universities here so it's quite cool. It also means less planning and writing for me. they do their basic stuff and I just write and plan cool projects to do. it's fab. I love it.

I know what you mean about other teachers. In my last school we had loads of teachers who were only out for personal survival and used to slag other teachers off to the kids as they thought it would somehow make the kids like them and they would have an easier time? Doesn't work like that though does it.

What are you teaching at the moment? Anything interesting for the winter 1/2 term?

[GraceAnais]

teach english and media studies. teaching creative writing, poetry and short stories this half term. with a bit of media chucked it.

it's tough going though, loadsa work and loads of politics. but it always has its good moments!!! had a crap day today and then in my last lesson i spent ages sorting out this group, at the end i asked if it had helped and they were really appreciative and really excited bout the work they were gonna do; which ultimately turned a crap day into a great one!!

completely agree with what you say bout teachers slagging each other off to the kids. personally i think its so unprofessional. and to be honest a large amount of the kids find it tiring; as they would actually rather be getting on with work!!! i've seen this done particuarly with sixth formers or 'the cool crowd'. i think that these teachers were obvioulsy nerds at school and see this as their chance to be part of the cool crowd (kinda sad when your 40plus!!!)

I'm intrigued by the idea of home schooling. So do you teach them every subject then? and how do you manage it with five kids? you sound like super woman!! where are you living; out in the country? i'm just intrigued as to why you chose to home educate? it must be so much work.