Steve Madden gets the Boot(s)
Posted on 08.04.09 to $150 and under, Opinion by Lindsay
Over the last few months, summer has hit us (some with a little more force/vengence than others – sorry, Seattle!), and we’ve gotten to play around in our sandals, our espedrilles, and our flip flops. But alas, July is officially over, and that means it’s August, and that means next month is September and thusly, according to the fashion industry… It’s time to start buying shit stuff for fall.
While I, personally, think it’s just a touch premature to be buying parkas in August, that unfortunately doesn’t stop the retail industry from shoving out all their autumn merchendise onto the sales floor, both in person and online.
Thusly, Steve Madden has released their fall collection of deliciously on-trend boots and fall footwear. Handbags, too, but I’m so oversaturated with similar-looking handbags from mid-level designers, I could really not care less.
This also means that this week will be littered with shoe posts. Mostly because I’ll be travelling standby to Seattle on Thursday, and I might be stranded in O’Hare for 6-10 hours, and what makes someone feel better when they’re stranded at an airport? Shoes, y’all.
Anyway, Steve Madden’s fall line is *ahem* predictable, but the boots – oh, the boots. They are savory, and they are sweet… They are rough, and they are feminine. I love boots. So, in all their glory, here are my top picks from the Sneak Peek:
These are the Harthrob Boots in Black. While, on a typical day, my head would start sparking and spinning at the sight of SO MANY different trends, squished together in one mass of leather boot… These are okay with me. There’s a little cowboy feel, looking at the top of the shaft. There’s the randomly placed zipper slanting down the side, that’s interesting. There’s the wooden heel (that *gasp* actually looks like wood in its natural state), and the double-d-ring strap across the front. It SOUNDS like an awful lot going on… But it’s not that bad, is it? It all seems to be just well-spaced enough to actually work. ($104.97 [were $149.95])
These bad boys are the Tarot Boots in Cognac and they are the best Steve Madden has to offer at this point. I have an issue with almond-toed, knee-high boots (particularly in suede, I know it’s weird) because they look old, they look aged, and not in a cool, vintage way. I love a round-toe boot. Especially exceptionally tall, round-toe boots – they go with everything. They can be equestrian, they can be western, they can be city, they can be subdued… The versatility is virtually endless. ($174.97 [were $249.95])
And that concludes my review of Steve Madden’s fall line. Why only two? Because the rest of the boots seriously look the same, and I don’t say that lightly. They’ve apparently manufactured 8 pairs of boots with one one or two minor differences from one another, with the exception of the two I featured.
I was shocked at the profuse lack of over-the-knee boots, considering they are pretty much the most “in demand” footwear for fall/winter. The Tarot boots look pretty tall, but they certainly don’t qualify for over-the-knee. It appears that Steve Madden took their inspiration from the mid-eighties (who doesn’t, at this point?) and western boots. Both good, solid options as far as projected sales go – but no real innovation, no real risk.
Needless to say, I’m disappointed with Steve Madden… Their pumps are cute, as are many of their “booties”, but there are additional questionable items such as the Qualiti – a wedge with some kind of… “design” on the upper. Perhaps a rising sun? Paper maché? – and these green leather Decck shoes just don’t really belong anywhere. Ever.
Post Tags: boots, fall, fashion, footwear, shoes, steve madden
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Comments ( 4 )
Shelley added these pithy words on
Aug 04 09 at
9:47 am
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Miss Elle, you are so right. Just because the economy sucks, must also our choices in fall fashion?
Sal added these pithy words on
Aug 04 09 at
10:10 am
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Uh oh, a little repetitive this season, are they? Gotta love the Harthrobs, though. Gorgeous little beasties!
.-= Sal´s last blog ..This week I love … =-.
fashion court blog added these pithy words on
Aug 10 09 at
12:28 pm
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i kind of love boots.
okay, i really effin love boots. haha ;p
i think i actually want to buy a pair of cowboy boots for the fall. i bought them last when i was a freshman in hs. i’m not sure how well it would go over, but yeah :p nordstrom seems to have a nice variety of boots this season though!
thomas added these pithy words on
Nov 08 09 at
6:46 am
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i think i know what i’m getting my wife for christmas now. She is such big boot lover. Especially since the weather gets pretty cold down here around this time
.-= thomas´s last blog ..Harley Davidson Unisex Little Kid Big Kid Boot =-.
