I have this beautiful memory of my grandfather - a.k.a. “Papa” - as a cowboy boot-wearing son-of-a-gun. He was a top executive at a Fortune 500 company and he wore Western-cut suits, cowboy boots and talked on a CB-radio. His handle was “Cotton-pickin' Chicken Plucker.” Papa was a wonderful character and set the tone for me of what a “real man” is.
Whenever I visited Papa, it was my “job” to help him pull off his cowboy boots at the end of a long day. I don’t know if he actually needed help, but I jumped at the chance and enjoyed the tug-of-war during each boot-removal ceremony. I usually ended up flat on my bottom holding the heel of one of his fancy boots with two hands and laughing my head off.
Maybe it was Papa’s influence or my Texas heritage, but for me, wearing cowboy boots means you are also wearing your personality. You just can’t wear ‘em without feeling a little swagger in your walk.
Ariat cowboy boots
When the kind folks at Ariat asked me to check out their cowboy boots I was happy to oblige. Talk about boot-inducing personality! I had a helluva time choosing a pair and ended up with the Heritage Western X Toe in vintage black with turquoise stitching. They are GORGEOUS! I really think the “X” toe is key in making these boots look stylish and versatile for jeans/pants or dresses. I tried a wide toe and I didn't love them as much. Plus, I don’t think they work as well with skirts – and with the beautiful stitching, you will want to show off the detailed work underneath a simple dress or skirt. Just perfect for this urban cowgirl.
I also tried on the Ariat Crossfire Caliente – which are hot, hot, hot! But I wasn’t keen on the wide square toe. But if you like a little color in your life, then these might be your ticket to the rodeo.
Comfortable style
Ariat was founded on creating advanced performance footwear and apparel for top equestrian athletes. They use this same technology in their more fashion-forward items as well. The Heritage Western boots are really comfortable. It only took about a week to work them in – just a little rubbing on the backs of my ankles – but any full-grain leather boots will need some time to mold to your feet. The soles of my feet never felt better in boots. The padding is generous, even with a 2.5” heel, I didn’t have any discomfort on the bottom of my feet.
Recently, Ariat unveiled an improved Ariat.com that features an enhanced shopping experience with powerful navigation, product comparisons, multi-angled product photography and a community section with social media, news, events and athlete blogs. Yee haw!
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Disclaimer: Michelle received a pair of Ariat Heritage Western X Toe boots in vintage black to facilitate this review.
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