Back in the day, I had a love/hate relationship with boot shopping.
“Love” because, hello, boots are fabulous!
“Hate” because I entirely loathed not being able to find ones I love.
I’m Jaleah, your Dressing Your Truth Type 1 Expert. Many years ago, Carol taught me to set an intention and ask myself, “What exactly am I looking for?” I recommend even writing it all down and putting it in a spot where you’ll see it often.
Recently, I wanted yummy chocolate brown boots, mid-rise, slight heel, with gold accents. I knew I would find them.
It had been a few weeks, but I wasn’t worried because I knew they were coming.
One day, I went shopping to purchase some boots for a work project. I got all 4 Types of boots. There weren’t any for Type 1 that I personally loved and wanted to buy for myself.
But when I came back to return the boots we didn’t use, my wishlist affirmation was right there, ready for me to snatch up and buy! YES!
The boots you want will find their way to you! Keep putting it out there!
Ready to go boot shopping? Here are 4 tips for finding your boots!
(And psst…all of these boots have shoppable links! Just click on each picture to be taken to the website. Easy peasy.)
1. Set your intention.
Now, I know there are a lot of options out there and this can make it feel like an overwhelming task.
Set your intention to find the perfect pair of boots. And then enjoy the confidence that you’ll find just what you’re looking for.
2. Follow the 5 elements for Type 1.
The 5 Elements are design line, texture, pattern, fabrication, and color. Stick to these guidelines for Type 1, and I know you’ll get the boots you will love to wear all season long. And maybe you’ll even long to wear them into the warmer months!
Design Line
Look for rounded toes, softened star points, and animated shapes and features in the boot design.
Texture
You can wear textured leather like chamois or “shammy” leather. Or go all the way to shiny patent leather. We aren’t too picky here. The variety works great for us!
Pattern
A patterned boot can be a really fun addition! I’ve seen a lot of patterns in rain boots. Plaids, florals, bows, sailboats, etc. Pattern can also be added by other elements. Look for laces, buttons, and buckles that add interest and randomness.
Fabrication
You’re going to want a boot that comes close to holding itself up, making it a more crisp fabrication. No slouchy boots here!
Color
Many boots come in Type 3 browns like camel, cognac, and rusty brown. So beware of choosing a brown that is too rich or dirty.
Also, a lot of boots are black or gray. Don’t worry! There are plenty of options in Type 1 colors.
Look for these names: chocolate, coffee, white, navy. (But remember, even these names could give you a non-Type 1 color, so use your Style Guide!)
You could also choose a neutral. Now, neutrals are difficult to distinguish, but if you just make sure there’s a bit of sunshine coming out of the color, you should be fine.
Use the skills you have learned in the course to choose your colors.
3. Consider the style of the boot
There are so many options to choose from! Booties, mid-boots, knee-high boots, and over-the-knee boots are all great options.
An over-the-knee boot creates a very dramatic statement, which might not appeal to you as a Type 1 woman. But if that is fun for you, go for it! Plus, if you’re looking for a boot to keep you warmer in winter months, go with a taller style.
Mid-calf and knee-high boots are great styles and there’s a lot of variety within these styles. Look for fun Type 1 elements in the design lines such as spirals in the stitching, bright gold buckles, laces, stamping, etc.
Most likely you’ll wear a mid or knee-high boot over pants so make sure you have some slimmer fitting pants to go with your boots. If you have wider calves there are many options to fit a variety of sizes. Check out this post about boots for different body shapes.
A bootie is a fun option, that doesn’t offer as much coverage. If you don’t like to wear boots over your pants, a bootie is a great option.
Boots tend to have zippers or buckles. Luckily, it’s not a deal breaker if the metal is silver–most are. So make sure it isn’t a featured metal and if you find a gold zipper, HOORAY! As for those silver metals, you can always refashion them with nail polish!
4. Heel height
As a Type 1, you are most likely comfortable in multiple heel sizes. And it’s the same when it comes to boots. Choose a heel height you know you’re comfortable with. Most online stores have an option to sort boots by heel height.
That’s it! Now you know how to find the best Type 1 boots.
Remember to look for the proper elements and make sure the overall look of the boot is Type 1.
Now take a moment and write down what you want and believe it will show up for you. When it does, do a Type 1 happy dance in your new boots!
