trials and travails of boot shopping.

who knew it could take so long to find a pair of engineer boots? i've literally spent months scouring the internet and just returned from my trip to NY where i visited every good shoe spot i knew of, only to return empty handed.

(well not entirely, i did pick up these Maurie & Eve boots at Oak, a tougher version of an old Balenciaga boot)

i thought i had my heart set on a pair of Proenza Schouler motorcycle boots, but Barney's didn't have black in my size...at any of their stores that i contacted...and in the end i decided they weren't worth the money. they were honestly a bit girly, though i was into the shearling lining. i liked the look of Frye's boots, the engineers, not the harness boots, but they weren't tall enough. i wanted a boot that was at least 11" tall with a narrow circumference. after a lot of persistance and tenacious internet browsing i settled on a pair of classic men's Chippewa boots. almost 12" tall with a 13" circumference. perfect. it was a little bit of a challenge to locate a men's 5.5, but i did it. and all for less than 200 bones, including tax, shipping and the satisfaction that comes with purchasing a well-made American classic.

and because i'm just too tough to have only one pair of

tough boots, i selected a second pair, with the assistance of my personal shoe expert. another American classic. these are the original

10" Smoke Jumpers by White's Boots. they set the standard in the forest industry and have been imitated by virtually every boot manufacturer out there.

"White's Boot Company was founded in Virginia prior to the Civil War. Recognizing a need to provide loggers of the Northwest with hand stitched, high quality work boots, White's moved westward to St. Maries, Idaho in 1902 and then to Spokane, Washington in 1915."

this is my favorite part, so tough:

"In accordance with NFPA 1977-2005 Meets or exceeds requirements of NFPA 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting, 2005 Edition"

can't wait to put together some smash hits with these puppies and fight some serious forest fires...