SIOUX CITY | Did you know the average woman wears about 18 to 25 percent of her shoes?
This fall, shop your closet by updating old shoes with some new shine.
Lisa Brazzell, owner of Head Over Heels, is excited to offer boot bracelets – jewelry for your shoes. The glittering chains provide a budget-friendly fix for a drab fall wardrobe.
“It’s fun to see women who don’t normally do a lot of bling, see it and try it on,” Brazzell said. “They love it.”
She has been stocking fall favorites for the past four years and listening to what women want. You won’t find any 4-inch heels at her boutique.
“My biggest thing with doing this is to show people you can have comfortable shoes but fashionable as well,” she said.
Comfort, or lack thereof, is a big reason why shoes don’t get worn. Researchers found that British women own 20 pairs of shoes but only wear five of them and American women’s shoe-buying habits fared worse in a separate survey.
With that in mind, let’s look at this season’s most wearable trends.
First up, embellishments are big this year. Boot bracelets are just one way to get in on this trend.
Studs and rhinestones have been spotted on all kinds of boots from cowboy- to combat-style. When it comes to making a statement, it’s all in the details.
At the Buckle, store manager Niki Buss said, “You’re going to get grommet, shine, bling, metaling…any kind of detailing you can imagine.”
Other features include Atzec print and boots with a back zipper.
For the past few years, military-inspired fashion has been cropping up each fall with mass appeal to the 20-something crowd.
Go ahead, channel your inner Katniss with combat boots just in time for the Nov. 22 premiere of “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.” These comfy shoes can be found almost anywhere around town from Charlotte Russe to Target.
Brazzell had one pair of last year’s combat boots still in stock and on sale. They didn’t catch on with her customers, who tend to be 30-50 years old.
“Each year, I learn something new,” she said. “You really have to listen to your customers.”
Soon, she’ll be stocking Bare Traps by popular demand. The brand maintains a commitment to matching comfort with style, making a fabulous fit for Brazzell’s boutique.
“My boots are for daytime,” she said. “They can be casual, career-oriented or fun for going out.”
The low heel receives high praise among many Siouxland women.
This year’s resurgence of the riding boot was a welcome one. The knee-high style is sure to be a classic for years to come.
Keeping with the equestrian-chic shoe trends, Brazzell said she’ll always carry cowboy boots because there’s a need for them, especially when concerts featuring Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley and Hunter Hayes come to town.
“Whenever we get a country concert in Sioux City, I get a rush of people wanting cowboy boots,” Brazzell said.
The ones in fashion feature higher heels, bright colors and other embellishments.
At the Buckle, Buss said fringe is in, especially for western-style footwear.
The trend also played out on the runway with an ankle version of the boot.
Many of these trends look best with leggings, tights or skinny jeans, and some women are still wary of trying those styles. And while they might not be for everyone, Buss encourages customers to at least go in the dressing room and find out.
“A lot of people won’t wear a skinny jean,” she said. “That cuts down on how the boot looks too.”
Bootcut jeans that go over the shoe give a completely different look than tapered pants that show off your fancy footwear, she said.
Likewise, Brazzell said some women don’t know how to wear booties. That’s when she directs them to A La Mode, the clothing store across the hall, and has them put on the right pair of jeans to show them the complete outfit.
Ankle boots also pair well with over-the-knee socks that can be scrunched or stretched to the perfect height.
The Buckle’s customers have been clearing the racks when it comes to boot socks.
“You can take a plain outfit,” Buss said, “get a matching scarf and boot sock and make it fantastic.”
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