Review: Blundstone Women's Heeled Chelsea Boots

 Hello! Nearly two years ago I reviewed a couple of styles of Blundstone boots and kept the Classic 550 Chelsea which I still love and wear. They're great boots - rugged and comfortable and very PNW.  I got them in the rustic finish which is extremely rustic. So, while they're great boots, they're also super casual and I wanted another pair that was a bit dressier but could still take miles of walking in wet weather. 

Blundstone has a women-specific style that really appealed - the #1671 Heeled Chelsea boot. It has the same Blundstone look with a bit of a heel, a more refined toe, and a higher shaft than my classic pair. 

Look at my cute little Blundstone family! I'm a dork. Anyway, here's what they look like on my feet: 

I ordered the heeled boots in two sizes because Blundstone sizing is weird - half sizes are wider but not longer. I wear a 6/9 in my Classic boots but different styles run differently, so I got these in a 5.5/8.5, and a 6/9. The half size felt great overall except that my big toes definitely were hitting the front of the boot and that's the kind of thing that's not a problem until you lose a toenail. Nope. I settled on the 6/9 which has a bit more length and room for thick socks. These are my new Ireland boots! Now I just need to break them in, though so far they feel quite comfortable and my other Blundstones didn't require much break-in time so fingers crossed. 

The heel is pretty low but still enough to give you a bit of lift and dress things up a little bit. They still definitely have that Blundstone look with the pull tabs and whatnot. Some reviewers complained that they struggled to get these on and off, but I haven't had issues. (The pull tabs help, but I also don't have high arches.) Outfit details:

I'm wearing my Varley Cleon pullover (reviewed here) from last year. It's sold out but they have a similar tunic-length version and I also love this one with the big zip collar. I love an athleisure pullover - looks like real clothes, feels like a sweatshirt. I'm also wearing a pair of Madewell Perfect Vintage jeans similar to this current pair. 

I'm still carrying my Minkoff quilted Love bag every day and I especially love it with a casual look (which is good, because that's generally how I do.) I will probably post some more Blundstone outfits as I feel like this pair could be cute with dresses, leggings, etc. More to come! 

Review: Women's Blundstone Chelsea Boots.

Can you handle one more pair of boots from me? I know, I know. I have a problem, but hear me out.  I decided to give Blunstones a try. I couldn't decide  between two styles (as I mentioned here)  so I ordered one of each to try - The Classic Chelsea boot and the Chelsea Dress boot, both in "rustic black" which is really more of a charcoal gray. They are pretty similar but the classic has a rounded toe, a shorter shaft and a more rugged heel:

 The dress boot has a chisel toe, a taller profile and a more defined heel:

And here they are side by side IRL, classic on the left, dress on the right:

The lighting is making the classic pair appear darker but in person they are identical. When I tried them on, the Classic were immediately the more comfortable pair but both fit well. I tried them on for my boyfriend who looked at me like I was trying to trick him. He was like, if you hadn't told me they were different styles I'd never have known. Hahaha. I mean, he's not wrong: 

This is the Classic pair. I love the shorter shaft (which makes them easier to wear with skinny jeans) and they were definitely the most "immediately comfortable out of the box" pair. I like that they're a little more rugged, as well. Here's what the toe looks like: 

And here is the Dress pair, which are a bit more streamlined out of the box but on my feet they somehow looked both long and chonky:

I am wearing a smaller size in this style (more on sizing below) but they're definitely longer overall and I wish the chisel toe was more defined. They just didn't seem that much different in style and the taller shaft made them awkward to style with cuffed skinny jeans. Even the leggings I'm wearing were tough - I had to tuck them which looks a little weird. Here's the toe:

Overall, I think they're both solid choices but for what I wanted, the Classic style definitely is the winner. The Dress is slightly more sleek but...not really that much. I went for the pair that felt the most comfortable and worked best with my style:

Sorry, I know this isn't actually a great picture but you get the idea. I'm wearing my Quince cashmere sweater and my Athleta moto tights (similar lined), as per usual. It's Monday, I'm boring, what can you do. 

A quick note on sizing: I got an 8.5 (AU 5.5) in the Classic not realizing that the half sizes are actually  wide widths, so an 8.5 is actually an 8W. They were too short so I reordered in a 9 and that fit perfectly. For the Dress, however, I ordered the 8.5 because they're a longer style and they also fit perfectly. Not confusing at all! Thankfully, Zappos is the best with returns and exchanges. 

WANTY: Grey Booties HALP.

You guys. It's like a switch got flipped and I CANNOT REST until I have grey/taupe booties in my life. It's still hot enough for sandals and I don't care. I'm ready for the change. I give in. Bring it on, autumn (but you can keep your pumpkin spice garbage and OMG with the cinnamon pinecones. No.)

ANYWAY, I've been back and forth on what I really want/need and have to admit that the booties currently 30% off at Madewell (bags too!) definitely tempted me. Particularly the Janice boot:

It's a nice one, right? And the Frankie Chelsea even though the heel is verging on too high for true all day comfort:

I threw it all at Marianne who very wisely suggested that grey booties would fill a bigger hole in my closet and she's right. I must focus. I've had my eye on this pair of Lucky Brand Bashina Perforated Booties:

Alas, I think they were part of the Nordstrom Anniversary sale and they're sold out in my size there and everywhere. No worries, there's also this pair, the Lucky Brand Basel, which I like quite a bit:

Hooray, they're available in my size! And they are a more "me" color and I could probably wear them with socks when it gets colder. (Can I? This perf thing is new to me.)  But, to further complicate things, I also found this pair by Sam Edelman:

This is the Petty boot in putty which is a perfect taupe-y neutral but there's also a darker slate colorway that I think would be more versatile for me with the black heel: 

I KNOW. I know. I don't know. Which one? Which color? They're all about the same price point. They're all real damn cute. Help me, please? 

Review: Loeffler Randall Marit Boots.

OKAY. So,  I got the deal of the century on a pair of Loeffler Randall Marit boots I've been stalking since last fall. Seriously, when on earth do $700 boots get marked way down in a size 8? Almost neverrrr. But thanks to a great Barney's sale I just went for it and hoped for the best. I don't normally do "final sale" deals but this was worth the risk and I was pretty confident I could sell them for that much if they didn't work out. They arrived:

They are super pretty. Now, my experience with Loeffler Randall boots is the Matilde. I have a pair I bought second hand that were of the Made in Italy stock. I'd read that since LR moved manufacturing to Brazil the quality had gone down. It's...kind of true? Don't get me wrong, these are beautiful, nicely made boots, but if I'd paid retail I might not be happy. The leather isn't as buttery as my Matildes and the color has slight differences. Total quality if this was a $300 pair but $700? For that kind of money you should get magical perfection.  I do love how chic and simple they are:

Minimal heels and no seam on the front! This is a really hard detail to find:

The seam is on the back where it belongs:

They do need some wear, though. This style of boot doesn't look right until it's got some slouch. Here's the full picture:

A little gape-y at the top but some wear/slouch should fix that a bit. I bought them in my usual size and they fit, though they are also a bit narrow in the foot (as are my Matildes) and stiff as hell. They are going to require breaking in, but hopefully not much. In the 15 minutes I wore them for this shoot they had already started to soften up a bit. I think with some breaking in these are going to be great boots and more than worth the price I paid. 

This style has been discontinued by there are still a bunch on Amazon at varying prices and Barneys Warehouse still has them in black, though not with the extra % off right now. (Keep your eyes peeled - they'll definitely be discounted again.) If these aren't your jam but you really want cognac boots this fall, definitely check out the Frye Melissa Tab that's part of the Nordstrom sale! Those are freaking beautiful. The Frye Lindsay Plate boots on 6pm are also a pretty nice deal.

BUY THIS (So We Don't Have To): Frye Boots on Sale!

I regularly stalk 6pm.com for deals on Frye because they always have them. Often the sizing is limited and sometimes it'll be last year's stock or a weird color, but still, Frye. Boots. Under $200. (Of course they also have a bunch of cute Frye shoes too.)

Today only there's a 15% off code: 6PMEU1216201415114. Whee. And just in case that's not enough enabling, here's what I found just for you under $200!

The Dorado are just a beautiful classic Frye boot. I don't see how you can go wrong here:

Frye Dorado Lug Riding

 This pair of Jackie boots is so cool - a manageable heel and interesting detail:

Frye Jackie Tall Riding

Oh! I am so tempted by these Jane boots. (Edited: Crap, they WERE under $150 but the price changed. Still a good deal with the code above.) I think they're beautiful and I love a pull-on style with no weird center seam:

Frye Jane Stitch

These are a cute short version of the Melissa back zip. Limited sizes, but awfully cute:

Frye Melissa Lug Back Zip Short 

 These look really wearable and they come in three colors:

Frye Reina Belt Bootie 

Here's a short motorcycle style boot with a bit more of a heel. Stompy and cool:

Frye Vera Short

Ugh, I love boots so much. Please take advantage of these deals so I don't have to.

Weekend Window Shopping: Frye on Sale!

Weekend Window Shopping: Frye on Sale.

So, it can’t just be me that trolls 6pm.com in search of Frye boots and shoes on sale, right? The prices range from reasonable to occasionally ridiculously low. 6pm is Zappos sale site, so while you won’t be able to use eBates (and coupon codes are rare) they do offer free shipping on ever order.

(When I do my roundup I try not to include items that only have a couple of sizes left, but if you’re a size 5.5, 10 or 11 OMG please buy these.)


Here’s what I like:

Basically a great tall boot in a beautiful color.

Frye Martina Engineer

The skull detail is subtle but badass.

Frye Heath Skull Outside Zip

These are so f'ing cool.

Frye Bella Belt Bootie

Great for those with calf-fit issues.

Frye Melissa Gore Zip

A classic! I have and love these.

Frye Veronica Slouch

A solid, non-trendy heel you can wear for years.

Frye Carson Pump

I've been tempted by these for way too long.

Frye Regina Pump

This flat is $30 in this color!!

Frye Regina Ballet 

Marianne: Two Out of Three Ain't Bad (+ Joes Jeans Review!)

Siiiigh.I really wanted these jeans to be the one. And they are so close! I bit the bullet and ordered these Joes Jeans "The Skinny" Stretch Jean in Aria and I was SURE they were perfect. Nice dark wash, the reviews said they were long and substantial, and a great price. But sadly they are not great on me. Don't get me wrong, they aren't bad, but they are very tight, yet manage to scoot down my butt, plus the rise is a touch low in the back (I cannot STAND worrying about this). 

They are comfortable, when I'm not hitching them up, but I don't think they are entirely flattering on me either (they...do not look good from the back). I tried them on for this picture but I am 99% sure I'm sending them back. Whomp whomp.

In happier news, I bought this Pim + Larkin sweater when Piperlime was having that major sale, mostly to try and console myself because I'm never going to get the dream version of it. But hey! It's super cozy and warm and I have worn it for three days in a row. It's very thick but manages to not be totally unflattering (I hope). It's long sold out, but this one looks kind of similar (and this Pim + Larkin sweater is cute too).

Lastly, BOOOOOOOOTS. I've been coveting Adrien's Loeffler Randall Matilde boots, and since I wear my cognac Frye Melissa Button Boots ALL the time, I've been wanting another dressier pair of flat cognac boots. I got these on eBay for a song (seriously, don't be afraid to offer half of the asking price, sometimes it works!), and I adore them. The color is perfect and the wedge offers just enough of a heel. True love. (These are half off if you are quick! But I recommend a reputable eBay seller as well.)

So that's two wins and one loss on the shopping front these days. Not so bad.

Marianne: Back In Black

This outfit felt like phoning it in, I mean come on. Black dress, black bag, black booties. Even my necklace is colorless (it's vintage but this crystal necklace is a close dupe). But you know what? I can't remember the last time I got so many compliments.

Seriously, I was called glamorous, fabulous, and my favorite: "six-feet-tall and bulletproof". What was it? The dress is great (I wasn't kidding when I said I bought it in every color), but I didn't think it was particularly attention-getting. It's not like I was wearing this (or oh my god, THIS!).

MAYBE it was my awesome new booties? Yes, I took the plunge and bought the Dolce Vita Hartley Booties (I think I got the last pair in black, but these are close and on sale), and I love them. They were a polarizing purchase (one of my friends who will remain nameless called them "western" and "Ke$ha rejects" and we are no longer speaking), but in person they are fantastic.

They really do make me feel six-feet-tall and bulletproof, which I think should be a requirement of all shoe purchases going forward, don't you?

Marianne: Bootie Weather

Fine, it's fall. Fine! I don't like the cold but I will try to maintain a positive attitude! One positive: dresses with sleeves. I bought this old Tucker for Target dress for cheap on eBay and I love it (this collaboration was a million years ago, but you can spring for a real Tucker dress or pick up this less expensive, but similar dress). Another button-down, nursing friendly dress that's flattering to boot. I need to fill my closet with them.

And now, the other perk to this season: new boots! I found these Coclico booties (sadly unavailable, but these Coclico lace-ups are similar) on eBay over the summer and fell inexplicably in love. I thought they would be flattering, the color was great, and I love the wedge. And I was right, they are awesome and I'll probably wear them until you're sick of seeing them. Coclico is pricey (hence my eBay purchase), but these Dolce Vita Booties are under $80 and pretty dang similar, don't you think? And huh, these are even cheaper than that. Booties for everyone!

Enjoy my sock lines! I have to wear socks because it's cold in the mornings now. UGH.

So yeah, fall! Yay! Ugh. I do at least really like this outfit. I guess that's something.

Marianne: It's New Boots Day!

**psssst! Some great stuff is up in the shop. Anthro, Tibi, DVF and more!***

By now you're used to Adrien and I obsessing over boots. These latest object of our affection? Rag & Bones Newbury Bootie. UGH. Y'all, those are some seriously pretty boots. They are also seriously five hundred dollars. No. Just...no. So, I set out to find a reasonable facsimile, and instead, I found a straight up knockoff.

The Vince Camuto Hadley is as close to the Newbury Bootie as anything I've seen. Same pebbled leather, cuffed top, and even the same half seam across the toe. 

My only complaint is that after reading reviews, and trying on a different style of Vince Camuto boots, I went up a half size to a size 8. I think I probably could have stuck with my usual size 7.5, but it doesn't bother me enough to pay to exchange them. Plus it gives me the option of thick socks come winter.

I just looove the back zipper. 

So there you go, my review of the Vince Camuto Hadley Boots, a near-perfect knockoff of the Rag & Bone Newbury Booties. What do you think?

dress: Old Navy Feather-Print Chiffon Dress (another really cute feather print dress)

bag: Su-Shi Old Skool Mini in Honey Brown (in black or red here)

boots: Vince Camuto Hadley (also comes in a great caramel color)

tights: Spanx Reversible