No "Mom Jeans" Here

Still on vacay in Cow Town, Colorado.  This place is located about three hours south of Denver, and an hour south of Pueblo.  What is Pueblo, you ask?  It is the closest town with more than two stop lights.  It's much bigger than Cow Town, yet still not really a city.  It has a movie theater, a mall, and several chain restaurants such as Chili's or Black Eyed Pea.  In high school, Pueblo was the closest semblance of civilization.  On the weekends, everyone would make the hour-long drive and would be there roaming the mall.

Yesterday, I went on a Pueblo excursion with my mom. We had a nice lunch, then hit up the usual spots.  The mall has a bland variety of typical midwest chain stores (The Buckle?  What is this, 2001?), so I was glad for the TJ Maxx across the way.  I found the perfect cheesy, disposable heels to wear to Vegas next weekend:
 

 
The best part of the trip was picking out some rad outfits for my mom.  My mom is a career woman, so she doesn't have a lot of time to reserve for fashion.  This one was my fave:

[Top- Ralph Lauren.  Pants- Dillard's.  Shoes- Nine West.]

This is one of the few classic button ups I picked out, paired with the pop of color in these coral pants.  I thought the snake print in the shoes was a sassy touch, as the gingham pattern in the top is not too busy.  I also liked the taper and the length of the pants.

Espadrilles- First Edition of Fashion Mess or Fashion Yes?

Espadrilles.  I have seen them often, every summer, since about 2005.  Every summer, I have resisted the urge to buy them.  I think they look like they belong on a frumpy soccer mom from the Midwest who is wearing them with a Michael Kors bag and flared jeans. 

Why won’t they just go away?  They were built to be a fly-by-night trend:  the weird raffia wedge, the impractical straps.  I’ll never understand why this shoe has lingered for so long.  However…. I do see them every so often and think they look cute on the person wearing them.  What do you think?

[I think they look cute here, but only because they are tempered with the fact that Annalynne McCord is wearing them (someone who is so gorg that a burlap sack would look great on her).  And also her pants are half-covering them.  If a shoe needs all that to look good, then I say they are bad news!]

Boots, Boots, Boots, Part II

One of my BFFs, Danette, has asked me to scout a pair of perfect riding boots for her.  She gave me a general color/budget/shape guideline; which I will address separately.
Riding boots are classic footwear staples.  Although to achieve staple status, over-the-knee styles, the "scrunch" look, excessive buckles/zippers/weird details, and flimsy materials must be avoided.

[This actually knocks out all 4.  Over-the-knee, especially combined with a heel, is more "Pretty Woman" than Park Avenue.  The scrunch and the extraneous buckles are simply terrible.  And if the material looks shiny, flimsy, and cheap just from a picture, imagine how it would be in person.]

1.) Color-Taupe.  This neutral grayish hue is a great substitute for black.  Unfortunately, the Taupe riding boot is a rarity this season; for the fashion gods have given the trump card to Cognac and Black for the time being.

[Joan & David, $200 on Piperlime.com.  The material is beautiful, the toe is tapered for a more feminine look, and the buckle detail is perfect.]

2.)  Budget.  Come on gal, by now you should know that I can't follow a budget to save my life!  Material should be a prime factor with most clothing and footwear items, and this is especially true when it comes to boots.  Riding boots should be comprised of "hard" leather, which can be either real or faux.  Cheaper materials tend to have an unnatural sheen (unless it's supposed to be patent leather, which will be tackled in a later post), stretch easily, and fray easily.  High quality leather can be kept for years, and maintains its quality over time.

[Vince Camuto, $209 at Nordstrom.  The toe is not as femininely tailored, but they are similar to the Tory Burch "Selma" model- except the logo buckle is not as imposing, and there is no weird lining at the opening.   This is the "hard" leather material I am talking about.]

3.)  Shape- Tapered toe.  The riding boot can have a more rounded toe, which is appropriate for an edgier look.  The tapered toe is more sleek and timeless:

[Marciano, on sale for $230.  Similar to the Vince Camuto, but with a more tapered toe.]