Went to the city yesterday. Yes, that’s what we in Northern California call San Francisco. What? It’s not the only city in the world? Well, yes. We know. Never mind.
Here’s the final word on San Francisco street style.
Hunting.
Yes, hunting. Apparently, either on horse, or on foot. Otherwise, why would absolutely everyone be wearing boots? As in, everyone.
All kinds. Over the knee? Yup, saw some of those. Up to the knee, with the boots’ uppers either quilted or embossed in a pattern? Yup, saw some of those. Mid-calf, sort of rustic-looking, including buckled straps? Yup, saw SO MANY of those.
In closing, if you’re going to San Francisco, forget the flowers in your hair. Foot leather. That’s where it’s at.
Have a wonderful weekend. I might have to lock myself in the house to avoid buying boots. Or a bow and arrow. Peer pressure is a powerful thing.
Edited for expansion of horizons: For more on-the-street boots, this time in the City of Lights, AKA Paris, take a look at Une Femme’s post on her visit this fall.
Images
Barney’s New York Sartore Belted Over-the-Knee Boot $1,155
Barney’s New York Co-Op Studded Buckle Ankle Boot $580
34 Responses
I'm really interested in what one would hunt in San Francisco…
I do mid-calf ones, without the buckle straps or the studs.
I'm almost to the point where I would cut off my broken Shrek toe to wear a pair of boots! I'm freezing all the time, because I just can't get warm wearing flip flops in 30 degree weather! Please tell me you went to Gumps?!
Love my boots, both my "riding" style and my spiky heels. Although, due to massive amounts of snow, I'm sporting my hiking boots only. Ugh.
"The city." Yes. (And for heaven's sake, NEVER "Frisco.")
The Boots are a big thing here in LA as well (and Paris too, when we went in October). I really love my boots, and have a few pair but tucking them into my pants feels a bit too costume-y to me now. With a skirt and tights, absolutely.
How amazing…SF shopping and you went HUNTING…but you did not go GATHERING? Maybe it was just not a boots day. I'll bet there was a trip to Gumps to gather up a few Christmas ornaments on sale?
I am lusting over some red Hunter boots to wear on rainy days in the garden….and maybe just stand them by the door and admire them.
ah, "the city" is NYC, well really Manhattan!!!
I assume boots are big in SF and Paris for the same reason they're big up here in the PNW: they do a good job of keeping out the RAIN!
[And I guess they wear them in LA because they can't resist 'em?]
Those first ones are calling to me.
The top one is very Robin Hood-y. Perhaps hunting with a quiver?
@Jan: one hunts burritos in san francisco, of course.
the barneys in the city is a particularly navigable one, LPC; i hope you gave it my best. i feel you on the boot acquisition feelings, and on, well, archery; if a serious yen for points and flights (fletching for arrows, not flights, okay), i humbly suggest you buy yourself a really excellent set of darts. so much more portable than a quiver, such a satisfying thunk.
addendum: i once saw a guy with a crossbow on the MUNI in san francisco. for reasons i imagine are understandable, i do not remember whether or not he was wearing boots.
These were the same boots that I saw everywhere in NY when I was there in November. And, I came home from that trip with my own pair of over the knee boots, that look just like the one in your photo except with short heels. I wear them all the time because they are so comfortable.
Talley Ho
I'd fit right into The City then (can you believe I've never been and I only live a short flight up the coast and across the border?) — I love wearing boots, love them! I have two pair that I have to get to the cobbler's today, and enough others that I'll manage to keep wearing boots while those are mended. . .
Clearly we know each other here. Yes, I went to Gumps but all they had left on the ornament sale table were a) glittered bottles of alcohol which I adore drinking but do not want to put on my tree b) simpering geishas c) generic snowy things. Darn. Mater! Get thee to San Francisco at some point:). Lauren, you manage to make me guffaw like few others. Deja – I believe I will add a link above to your boots in France post. For expanding our cultural horizons, bien sur.
I think the boot thing has spread all over the country. I see people in boots all the time – even in the summer.
Makes sense that both Parisians and San Franciscans (the former tromping cobbled streets, the latter climbing hills) embrace these boots, footwear in which you can actually walk. Yes, materfamilias, San Francisco is a must visit!
I would love some hunting boots.Or maybe riding boots. What am I riding though? oh boy.
As a New Yorker, I'm afraid I agree, the City is Manhattan island, every place else is the city.
In the city here (Boston) you need boots to navigate the snow piles from October 'til July ~sigh~.
I did buy footwear, when last in San Francisco, but it was a pair of ballet flats.
I love boots. All sorts of them. Except ankle boots. Thought they were hideous in the 80s and they are just as hideous now. Please tell me that you did not wear a scrunchy in your hair when you went into The City ;)!
And me as well, especially when I go to the mission. With enormous laser cut earrings, natch. I've been wearing nice brown ones over jeans. David normally hates the boot look, but likes mine because it's "very equestrian" (true). That's the Stanford riding team coming out in him.
I said that word to myself. "equestrienne," while I was up there. My dad kept his horse in the Stanford stables, BTW. Bet he crossed paths with your David. And Entertaining Mom, if you don't want to know about my scrunchy, I won't tell:).
Actually, the city is London and to be specific the financial district in the E1 postal code. When I first worked at Lloyd's of London it took me months to understand friends who said "I work in the city." No kidding, pal. It's a big town.
Have you seen Eddie Izzard's take on SF calling itself 'the city?"
Yes, growing up in northern NJ, "the city" was strictly NYC. We never even said "Manhattan." Now that I live here in MA, it's funny; no one calls Boston "the city." It's strictly "Boston."
SF is a city I long to see.
And boots?? I love boots, always have.
I have thought of you a lot this winter, out and aboout in various places. Because, it seems, there have been several sightings of the red plaid jacket variety that you blogged about last fall. And I've started looking at fashionably dressed women and thinking, "sturdy gal," or "grande dame." I do believe you are influencing the whole country.
I may be the only person in my world who does not have a pair of boots, lest you count my LL Bean boots for snow and my Wellies for rain ;-) Will I succumb? Not sure. Will keep you posted ;-) {sorry, I couldn't avoid that silly pun}. xoxo
Hi Privilege!
I just turned the big 50 and love the preppy, privileged life. However, I wonder what you think is appropriate attire for casual wear for a woman of "our age". Thank you so much! I would love to see you do a post on the "mature woman" and her casual wear. How to look great, without trying to look like our daughters!
XO
Anonymous, one of the things I've been mulling over is how to dress to sacrifice the absolute MINIMUM of style. Or, to dress stylishly, so as to sacrifice the absolute MINIMUM of comfort:). Because when you're 25, a certain amount of style is conferred by the fact that your lips aren't the same color as your skin…
I see similar boots all over the City (except here it is NYC) when I go down. Good for hunting in all spheres. I love boots, especially when the weather masks itself in gray or arms itself in icy steel. In boots, one is armored.
LPC – I have started my double secret probation blog at last: http://diaryofagolddigger.blogspot.com/
This is all the stuff I can't put in the regular blog just in case my in-laws have found it. Yeah – I know. Nothing to do with boots.
PS Jan, what one would hunt in SF is straight men. I hear they are quite rare.
CF
LPC, you must buy yourself some boots. Comfort, yes. Warmth, yes. Style, yes. But, honestly, they are somehow empowering for me. Longer stride, better posture, my black riding style boots say "bring it!"
This is an awful admission for me to make, but my calves don't fit into alot of the taller boots on sale in Hong Kong. (Unless they are the slouchy ones, but I don't like them. They don't work on people are petite as I am).
What's up with this? Proportionate to my body, I do have heavier legs, but I'm hardly obese. Who's ever heard of being too fat to buy footwear?
The greatest irony is that I am one of the few people I know who actually do ride horses regularly. I almost feel like I deserve to benefit from the new "equestrienne" trend.
Sigh. When I was in England, there was a place that would measure your leg and make tailor-made riding boots. It was WAY too expensive for me, but one can always dream.
I can think of a few things I would hunt for in SF. I love the foot gear though…thanks for the very fun post! :)
hi
can i ask if anybody wear boots in SF during the march weather? I'll be visiting in march and I have no idea if I'll look like an idiot because my country is hot all year round.
Anonymous, yes, if it's a cooler day we will wear boots. But it can be 75 degrees. San Francisco is a city of layering. I'd say bring the boots, but prepare for them to stay in the suitcase if we have a run of bright, sunny, days.
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