A Letter From Michelle: The Clara
A Letter From Michelle
Who decided Western boots were only for women half our age?
The six things I would check before buying a tall Western boot, the five sizes we do not make, and why the Clara is $79.95.
Women tell me the same thing about Western boots, and they tell me it apologetically.
They say they love them and are not sure they can still wear them. What they mean is that the ones in the shops have four-inch heels, contrast stitching you can see from the road, and a shaft cut for somebody with different calves.
So they buy the brown ankle boots again.
There is nothing about a Western boot that belongs to the young. There is a great deal about how most are made that belongs to nobody at all.
Six things I would check before you buy a pair.
How it gets on, before anything else
A tall boot you haul on is a boot you stop wearing. The Clara has a side zip with a pull tab, and a topline that curves rather than cutting straight across. Everything else here is preference. This is not.
“I like the taller shaft and the pointed toe. They look so nice with a midi dress and a cardigan. The khaki shade is especially beautiful for fall.”
Susan B.A heel you can still be standing in at four
Most Western boots are built on a heel that was never meant for a whole afternoon. This one is a low block, which spreads your weight across the foot rather than balancing it on a point, with cushioning underfoot.
“I’ve always loved cowboy boots, but I didn’t want a big high heel anymore. These have such a pretty shape, and the stitching gives them that classic Western charm.”
Nancy W.The stitching is the whole character
Take the stitching off a Western boot and you have a plain tall boot. These run across the shaft and over the foot, worked close in tone rather than contrast thread, which is the difference between a detail and an announcement.
“It’s the decorative stitching that makes these boots special. They have that slightly vintage Western look without being over the top. Exactly my style.”
Linda R.Western, without the costume
This is the line most pairs fall the wrong side of. A pointed toe and curved topline read as Western. A contrast-stitched shaft on a high heel reads as fancy dress, and you feel it walking into a room. Quiet color and a low heel keep it the first thing.
“I’m 72 and have always enjoyed a little country style. These boots have just enough Western character to make an outfit interesting. I love the simple, elegant design.”
Barbara T.Three colors, and the pink is not a joke
Beige, khaki and a dusty pink. The beige is the one most reach for, and it goes with everything they own. But the pink is soft rather than bright, closer to a faded rose, and it is the pair that comes back in photographs.
“The beige color goes with practically everything in my closet. I especially love how they look with my longer denim skirts. Very pretty boots!”
Carol H.Eight sizes, and the five that are missing
I would rather tell you here than let you find it at the dropdown. The Clara runs 6, 7, 7.5, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. There is no 6.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 or 11.5. If yours is one of those five, this is not your boot and I would rather you knew now.
“At 67, I’m much more particular about the shoes I choose. I still want something stylish, and these have a lovely low heel and such beautiful detailing.”
Patricia M.The Clara, against what else $400 buys
| Most $400 boots | The Clara | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting them on | Pull-on, and you fight it at the calf | A side zip with a pull tab, and a topline that curves |
| The heel | Narrow, and higher than you want | A low block, on a base broad enough to stand on |
| The stitching | Contrast thread visible from the road | Motifs across the shaft and foot, worked close in tone |
| The toe | Square, and heavier than it looks | Pointed, which lengthens the line of the leg |
| Underfoot | Thin, and you know about it by four | Cushioning built in, for a whole day out |
| Sizing | One run, take it or leave it | 6 through 12, and I name the five that are missing |
Why we are clearing them out now
The Clara came in at $399.95, and that number was for a tall shaft with a curved topline, a side zip and a pull tab, stitched motifs across the shaft and foot, and cushioning underfoot. I am not going to stand here and tell you that is a small amount of money for a pair of boots. But the store turns twenty this year, and my daughters Julie and Amy are both at the counter most days now, which is not something I let myself count on in 2006. We wanted to mark it by handing something back to the women who kept those doors open, so they are going out at $79.95 — a fifth of what they were.
I will give you the honest reasoning too. A Western boot either makes an outfit or wears it, and the difference sits almost entirely in the heel and the stitching. Get those two right and you reach for them on an ordinary Tuesday. If that is how it turns out, then $79.95 was never the point.
★★★★★4.8 out of 5 — from 3,369+ reviews
$399.95$79.95
20th Anniversary Sale — Save 80%
- A side zip with a pull tab on every pair
- A tall shaft with a curved topline
- A low block heel on a broad base
- Stitched motifs across the shaft and the foot
- A pointed toe, and cushioning underfoot
- Beige, khaki and a dusty pink
- Sizes 6 through 12, every size one price
- Free UPS shipping · 30 days to send them back
Every size the same price · while sizes last
One more thing, and then I will let you go.
Think of the last Western boot you tried on and put back.
It was the heel, the stitching, or it would not go past your calf. Whichever it was, it was the boot.
It was never you.
Check the same thing on these the day they arrive. If it fails, send them back inside thirty days.
Go and pick your color.
With love and gratitude,
— Michelle · The Hayes Family Hamptons
SEE THE CLARA — $79.95 →This is a personal letter from Michelle Hayes, co-founder of The Hayes Family Hamptons. Customer reviews are quoted as written. · Free UPS shipping · 30-day money-back guarantee.