Upon returning from winter break (in sunny southern California, might I add), I was braced for cloudy skies, heaps of snow and chilling winds here in the 60637. What greeted me instead was unseasonably mild weather. While temperatures in the mid-40s hardly compare to the climate I left back home, they are definitely a reason for celebration, and what better way to celebrate than with extra-bold fashion choices? This week’s pictured Fashionista took a cue from the style native to the wild west and sported a pair of traditional cowboy boots.
She may not be racing across the desert on horseback or starring opposite John Wayne in a western film, but this Fashionista chose a pair of leather cowboy boots that are still perfect for a day of adventure in Hyde Park. The detailing on the shaft keeps their look particularly authentic. Gray jeans are a modern twist on traditional blue denim, a favorite of those who gallivanted across the old West. Adding a preppy air to the look is a striped top and neutral cardigan. Finally, she tops the outfit off with a delicate gold chain necklace, a long strand of pearls, and a chunky infinity scarf — not to mention a cup of coffee, the University of Chicago student’s go-to accessory.
No matter how you classify your personal style, cowboy boots put a free-spirited spin on any outfit, as this featured Fashionista fabulously demonstrates. Wear them with a blazer, black skinny jeans and minimalist gold jewelry for a city-meets-country look, or go the Taylor Swift route — albeit suited for winter — by sporting them with a knit sweater dress and leggings. If you want to shake things up in an even bigger way, go for western-style boots with studded accents or a chic pair in an unusual hue with a shorter shaft and small heel.
Metropolitan Chicago is not exactly a picture of the rough and tumble old west, but we all know that a college campus is nonetheless filled with the wild and unexpected. In a pair of genuine cowboy boots, you can fashionably face the day and be ready for whatever comes your way. And who knows? You just might find that rodeo star with whom you’ll ride off into the sunset.
