The Women's OluKai Kaona II Boot

OluKai Kaona II Boot - The Good And The Bad

The OluKai Kaona II Boot was a point of nostalgia for me because the material and design reminded me of the shoes my grandfather used to tromp around in. He was a farmer, and for the 25 years I got to be around him, he was always in a rendition of those old boots. I think he probably took the essence of those shoes with him to Heaven, just so he could kick a few hay bales when the chickens laid eggs in places he couldn't find. These memories were my reasons for buying these boots; however, with all good things come the bad.

What are the pros and cons of the OluKai Kaona II Boot?

The OluKai Kaona II Boot has a simple design, but it's not at all fashionable. I don't know of any style-conscious woman who would wear these if she weren't being paid to do so. Thankfully, I'm not that woman, and I wear them on a regular basis because they remind me of how and where I grew up. Made with a combination of oiled leather and supple suede, each boot has a zippered left side for adjustable snugness, while the curved upper portion hugs your ankles to provide optimum support. These are a dream for someone who isn't used to the stature boost of high heels, but doesn't want to run around all summer in flip-flops.

Since inheriting my family's small farming land, I've found the rubberized tread does especially well for trudging through the muck after a hard rain. Mud is quick to become immobile week-long sludge around here; the kind someone could get stuck in if they have on the wrong pair of shoes. The OluKai Kaona II Boot allows me to stay atop the outdoor mess; plus, they're easily cleaned and comfortable.

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Video - the women's Kaona II boot from OluKai:

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For more info on the Kaona II and some other similar styles, visit:

http://boots-boots-and-booties.com/olukai-kaona-ii-boot/

The Women's OluKai Kaila Boot

OluKai Kaila Boot - Not Storytime Material

I'm what you'd call a quirky librarian. The type of woman who really gets into the acting and voicing involved in amazing story-telling -- the kind that can really keep a person's rapt attention until the tale's end. It's for this reason that I often dress up for my "theme weeks," and footwear plays a huge part in that -- especially when all of my library kids are scrutinizing my attire while listening to the story. The OluKai Kaila Boot seemed like the perfect fit for my 2 week stint on stories about the great outdoors, with tales like Daniel Boone and Johnny Appleseed. I was excited about donning a new outfit, including new boots for the kids to "Oooh" and "Ahhh" over.

What happened?

These weren't inexpensive; at $250, they were the most extravagant pair of boots that I had ever acquired, but I marked them off as a must-have for authenticity's sake. When I saw the advertisement, I was under the impression that the OluKai Kaila Boot was constructed out of leather, which was my mistake. I didn't realize they were assembled with an allover suede; a fabric that is prone to retaining stains -- which isn't a very good attribute around excited little children. As you can imagine, I had an apple juice stain on the right boot within 3 days. Again, my fault for not realizing these were made entirely from suede, while the leather bits were on the interior.

However, the OluKai Kaila Boot was also clunky and didn't fit true to size. I'm a narrow size 9, but these boots felt like 11s! I just knew I was going to lose my job for accidentally treading on a kid's fingers. I couldn't get involved with my story-telling while wearing these shoes because I was too paranoid, afraid of what could happen. I opted to bring back a pair of boots I had worn before to finish out the "Great Outdoors" theme weeks. These boots are best left to the fashion models who get paid to be clunky for a living.

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Video - the women's Kaila boot from OluKai:

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For more info on the Kaila and some other styles to compare, visit:

http://boots-boots-and-booties.com/olukai-kaila-boot/

The Women's KORS Michael Kors Wayland Boot

KORS Michael Kors Wayland Boot - Authentic... Since When?

The KORS Michael Kors Wayland Boot is one of the new releases for the summer of 2012 -- something I'm usually overly excited about. However, there are some disappointments every year, and these boots would fall into that category for this new season's line.

Unfortunately, the advertisement deems them "western" or "authentic," but as a history buff AND a fashion addict, I see no authenticity between these boots and the way footwear was designed in times of saloons and noon showdowns. It'd be like comparing a goldfish to a shark -- or Ghandi to Hitler; all things that just aren't proper or correct. If they wanted to really make an impression, they would have sold these shoes with an accurate tagline -- making consumers believe that these were genuine, directly inspired from the Old West.

What does the KORS Michael Kors Wayland Boot look like?

Wrapped in leather, these boots are constructed with a pre-dust sheen for a well-worn appearance; a detail that is suppossed to make it appear as if a cowgirl has wandered in from the blowing sand storms and tumbleweeds of the western world. Instead, they just look dirty and in desperate need of a good scrubbing. The stacked heel is a wedge of rubberized hard-wood that ascends to 3 inches in additional stature; another detail that is amiss from the reality of the Old West, as cowboy boots rarely went past the 2 inch mark. The dusty terrain was too rough for heels if you were a true gunslinger. 3 inches and up on footwear was designated for the 'ladies of the night' who made their trade indoors all day.

Overall, the KORS Michael Kors Wayland Boot was a fail. I felt like this company didn't try hard enough to be unique this year. While I still have hope for the brand, I expect these boots will be regifted to someone less knowledgeable about the wild west, and more concerned with how the boots look with their outfit.

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Video - the women's Wayland boot from KORS Michael Kors:

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For more info on the women's Wayland and some other comparable styles, visit:

http://boots-boots-and-booties.com/kors-michael-kors-wayland-boot/

The Women's Vera Wang Natasha Boot

Vera Wang Natasha Boot - At Least They Tried

The Vera Wang Natasha Boot is a try for elegance in a butch style... and a fail. Unfortunately, Vera Wang didn't get the memo that edgy doesn't mean clunky, and glamorous isn't the equivalent of a few strands of faulty metallic beads. It's all about the confidence a woman exudes when strutting in striking footwear; a confidence that a woman has to feel from her toes up. These boots do not evoke those emotions, nor do they do much for a woman's well-chosen outfit.

What's wrong with the Vera Wang Natasha Boot?

These boots were constructed from premium leather and strings of metallic faux jewels for appealing accentuation; both qualities that had the potential to turn a boot from bad to awesome. However, the exterior of each boot is polished to an almost plastic sheen, making the footwear appear fake and ridiculously shiny. Ascending to mid-calf height, these boots represent the feminine biker; the woman who takes charge with flowers wrapped in whips and chains -- which is a combination traditionally smiled upon in movies, but it doesn't work too well in reality.

The interior of each boot is cushioned and padded -- a far cry from the dismal and uncomfortable appearance of the exterior. Even with less than appealing footwear, women who opt for these boots can at least rest assured that their feet will be comfortable. Although, this seems to be the boot's only redeeming quality.

The Vera Wang Natasha Boot is priced at a steep $398; a cost most sensible women will refuse to pay for boots as ill thought-out as these. Albeit, if you're the type to splurge or collect odd footwear, the Vera Wang Natasha Boot would be an ideal choice. After years of putting good fashion on the seasonal line, Vera Wang has finally fallen to the masses with boots that don't meet the grade A quality of the 2012 hopefuls.

Photo Credit:  Nordstrom.com

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Video - the women's Natasha boot from Vera Wang:

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For more info on the Natasha and some other comparable styles, visit:

http://boots-boots-and-booties.com/vera-wang-natasha-boot/

The Women's Lucky Brand Tablita Boot

Lucky Brand Tablita Boot - Tradition Wins!

As someone who appreciates the authenticity of a comfortable pair of modern cowboy boots, I found the Lucky Brand Tablita Boot to be the beginning of a traditional win. I predict these boots will be the must-have pair for every fashionably fabulous woman within a 500 mile radius of wherever there's a great sale. That might be pushing it a little far, but this footwear has been designed to evoke surprise and awe; an action that each boot succeeds in, as no woman would have expected a pair of pricy designer duds to be this hardcore.

What's so great about the Lucky Brand Tablita Boot?

The Lucky Brand Tablita Boot begins with an allover suede for the upper shaft down to the rubberized leather sole. Considered a bootie for it's ankle length, these boots represent vintage appeal coupled with all the comforts of modern footwear -- such as pillow-top interior lining and supple western stitching. A side zipper provides easy on and off, while a 2.25 inches boost in stature allows women to feel more confident. Available in a soft black hue, these boots are also equipped with supportive padding for narrow arches and wider heels. It's footwear that leaves no woman disappointed!

Taking roots in new-age rock and roll with a touch of classic independence, the Lucky Brand Tablita Boot is a link between the designs of the Old West and the sensibility of the trending world. Authentic and beautiful in every way, there's no reason these boots wouldn't be an integral part in every woman's closet space. Also, at just $109 per pair, this footwear is exponentially cheaper than other designer brands of 2012; however, the manufacturers didn't skip on quality to make up for the inexpensive price. Instead, women will find these boots to be long-lasting and versatile, matching their outfits perfectly.
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Video - the women's Tablita boot from Lucky:

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For more info on the Tablita and some other comparable styles, visit:

http://boots-boots-and-booties.com/lucky-brand-tablita-boot/

The Women's Frye Jane Chunky Boot

Frye Jane Chunky Boot - Almost Ideal

Reviews aren't meant to be always negative, or always positive -- they can encompass the many shades of gray in-between. With that said, some of the best customer testimonials are those that list the pros and cons of a product. For example, the following reviews for the Frye Jane Chunky Boot are informative and honest -- revealing the overall personality of the customer in correlation with the must-have 'need' they felt to buy this footwear.

"The Frye Jane Chunky Boot is constructed from high-quality leather and it shows in every aspect. These boots are extravagant and a new brand of western exotic. My first impression of this footwear was that the whole design was unconventional. There's a rise of leather shaft on the upper of each shoe; however, it's stitched in a way that evokes the illusion of having high-rise socks on, or having a bit of boot to roll down to create another look. While the boot's shaft doesn't roll down or foldover like the initial impression would have you believe, the extra material does keep calves warm and moisture-free. This is a surprisingly huge plus when you consider what matter of rain or sweat-inducing weather there is in the midst of a Florida summer."

"The pros of the Frye Jane Chunky Boot definitely outweighed the cons, as I was enraptured with the comfort of the interior after being strangely put-off from the appearance of the exterior. The insole is cushioned by a pillow-top fabric for a moisture-resistant, plush, walking-on-clouds feeling. Every step feels lithe and supportive, replacing the usual dismal and sore effects that my flip-flops have on my feet. I usually have a love/hate relationship with boots because of my narrow arches -- I'll love them, while they'll hate my feet. This is a pair of feminine and edgy shoes that proves to me there are awesome manufacturers and designers out there; those who take a woman's comfort into consideration."

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Video - the women's Jane Chunky boot from Frye:

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For more info on this boot and others with styles similar to the Jane Chunky, visit:

http://boots-boots-and-booties.com/frye-jane-chunky-boot/

The Women's UGG Fabrice Boot

UGG Fabrice Boot - The Archetypal Principal

When I saw the UGG Fabrice Boot, I was instantly reminded of the ruthless and cold-hearted head-mistress in Reform School Girls; a classic B-film with a seductive, but unusually wicked tale. I was surprised UGG would have made a pair of shoes that would be considered so raw, edgy, and dominating; however, those are the synonyms I bought them for. I've always been interested in the women who say their day jobs are something mundane, but their evenings are spent being a dominatrix or working from a place of pure power.

What does the UGG Fabrice Boot look like?

Using a combination of premium leather and soft suede, the UGG Fabrice Boot has a lace-up front, complete with a side zipper for optimum snug-fit. From there, a rubberized heel and outer sole provide excellent traction with a firm-grip tread; plus, the insole is lined with the usual UGG brand sheepskin; a fabric that wicks moisture away while keeping feet warm. The overall appearance of these boots will at first suggest a clunky feel; fortunately, they fit true to size with the rounded foot acting as an extra area of support for your toes.

While I've always been the shy type, these boots brought out something animalistic in my personality; I became more dominant, taking the lead in usually difficult decisions and displaying a ferocity in the bedroom that my boyfriend definitely took notice in. After 2 weeks of wear, the UGG Fabrice Boot became my second-skin (not literally!). The defining moment for me was when the guy I've dubbed the "Office Bully" came striding arrogantly into work one day -- cocky and hateful, as usual. These boots boosted my stature by 4 incredible inches, allowing me to tower over and intimidate him through confident posture. It was the most exhilerating moment in my otherwise bored and dull work day!


Photo credit:  UGGAustralia.com

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Video - the women's Fabrice boot from UGG Australia:

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For more info on the Fabrice and some other similar styles, visit:

http://boots-boots-and-booties.com/ugg-fabrice-boot/