Remember those Madewell boots I was lusting over a while ago? Thanks to the miracle of Christmas and birthday money and after-holiday sales, they are now mine. Yay! Aren’t they cute? I know, they are so cute. Maybe it’s hard for you to tell how cute they are because of the crappy iPhone photo above, but you can just take my word for it. Alright!

I found out about CLAREVIVIER last spring when I stumbled upon Clare’s blog and saw the bag above. Love at first sight! That perfect specimen is her now-famous (or nearly so) La Tropezienne in scrumptious, delicious eco-tanned Italian remnant leather. I had one on order for about a week and then realized that I would probably not have much use for such a bag once Dylan arrived. (That turned out to be true. La Trop, though lovely, contains no pockets and no closure, two things that have gone from nice-to-have to essential in any bag I carry these days.) Clare herself is very sweet and was even going to make the bag special for me, with longer straps so I could carry it over my shoulder. Alas, it was not meant to be but I still think La Trop is the epitome of a simple, timeless, versatile, elegant bag. La Tropezienne can be yours, though the price has gone up from the bargain basement $150 I was going to pay in May to $240 (still a deal!) because of an increase in the price of the remnant leather used to make the bags.

Even though La Trop may not be the best choice for my lifestyle these days, there are still many other incredible options in the CLAREVIVIER line:

Messenger Tote in rich navy leather. I’m really into navy lately, especially with black and brown. This is the perfect goes-with-everything-but-is-still-interesting shade of blue. I am also a huge sucker for anything that can be worn cross-body, which is probably somehow related to years of riding around on my bike with a messenger bag. It just feels like the most practical and comfortable way to wear a bag, and it’s also kind of sporty and jaunty, no? This tote has the added bonus of little satchel handles for those times when you are feeling posh. (Or for when wearing the thing cross-body would make your skirt ride up.)


Remake Clutches in a rainbow of colors. Don’t they look like candy? I want several of these. They are all fantastic, but I especially love the bright blues, reds, and greens with contrasting zippers and the white lacy leather. Oh, and the black patent is hot. And that camel with the red zipper is so lux. Yeah, I want them all. Many sizes, for every occasion!

French Linen Zip Sac with a super cool chain-link print and contrasting zipper. Neutral but still distinctive, this would be so perfect for summer days.

Wrist Wrap in mirrored silver leather. Not a bag, but it would look so good on the arm carrying your bag. It also comes studded, but I prefer it without. So chic!

Last, but certainly not least, this is a special Remake Clutch for Target’s Red Hot Shop. It’s a big deal for a small, new designer to get featured at a big store like Target. I didn’t know about their Red Hot Shop before but it’s curated in partnership with Daily Candy and the items change every month. Bonus for you is that this clutch is priced $15 cheaper than the remake clutches available directly from CLAREVIVIER, so it’s a good way to support an emerging designer while saving yourself a little dough. I am a big fan of embossed leather and love the patent camel and flat black together, especially with the red tassel–so cute!

Madewell Archive Flat Boot
I actually owned these boots for a couple of weeks in late summer, but I felt horrible guilt about spending the money (see aforementioned single income), so they went back to the store. I am hoping they’ll go on major sale after the holidays so I can justify purchasing them then. If I get them I will probably cut a couple of inches off the top so they hit at a more flattering height for my leg (as is, they hit right below my knee, and I prefer a shorter boot).

Fiorentini & Baker Blink
These are hot, no? I’m really into practical boots that I can wear without worrying about getting them wet or scuffed. Since I am now a stay-at-home-mom, my fashion has to be functional in dirty environs such as the park or playground. A boot like this would stylize and add personality to my usual uniform of jeans and a tee but would also look fantastic with dresses or leggings (if you’re into that sort of thing, which I am not).

Sendra 2944 Motorcycle Boot
A slightly cheaper version of the Fiorentini & Baker motorcycle boots above. And the bonus is that these are available locally and they fit! I’ve found that many engineer or motorcycle boots are cut way too generously for my feet and legs. I stumbled upon these at Allens Boots in South Austin and it was instant love the second I tried them on. The leather on the shaft is extremely soft so they have a bit of sassy slouch when worn.

Justin Roper
Thanks to the magic of eBay, a pair of these sturdy boots is now in my possession. I have wanted a pair of Justin Ropers for several years but maintained that I would only purchase them in a local store once we’d moved to Austin. However, when a pair popped up on eBay recently for $30 I couldn’t resist since the retail is over $100. Aside from a huge price break, another bonus of buying used is that they are already broken in! They are also made of this awesome leather that distresses really easily so they don’t look as dorky and shiny new as the photo above.

J. Crew Sienna Moccasin Bootie
These are kind of a funny thing. I am not, and have never been, a fan of moccasins. Not in shoe form, not in boot form, and I don’t like fringe! Ever! Yet I find these booties strangely attractive. I think part of it is the lovely soft gray color, and I guess the other part of it is that they are a bit distinctive because the fringe runs vertically up the seams instead of in a ring around the top like you usually see with moccasins. I would leave the laces up the back tied loosely so I could just slip my feet in and out. I am picturing them worn with black skinny jeans, a cognac belt with a brass buckle, and a thin, slouchy off-white tee with a wide scoop neck. That would be some hot playground style, don’t you agree?