Current obsession: Vintage boots from eBay

Some great size 8 vintage boots...






I'm currently into vintage boots, and I have found a wealth of them on the pages of eBay. Why vintage? Well, as you all know, I love shoes, and in recent weeks I've been exhausting myself looking through the racks at places like DSW, Famous Footwear, Marshall's, and the like for just the right boots. I'm particularly interested in three types of boots right now:

• Riding boots
• Knee-high high-heeled boots
• Cowboy boots

Now, of course I have a ton of knee-high high-heeled boots, but as you may know, I have rather healthy calves. Most of the boots I've come across either don't fit my legs, are too cheap/plastic-y looking, or way too expensive. I especially want to find a pair of KHHHB that I can fit over my jeans, as well as riding boots and cowboy boots that fit the same bill. I've never owned cowboy boots and I'm kind of picky about how they look (I don't want too much of a "Western" look) so eBay has been a great resource in that regard. And riding boots are all different as far as fit and style and the leather used. So this has been a bit of a challenge, but I'm always up for a challenge when it comes to shoes!





So of course I turned to eBay after being disappointed at both brick-and-mortar and online shoe stores. And I figured I'd look into vintage boots, because they are generally better priced, nicely worn, and made of better materials than something I can get for the same price that's new. These photos are from a selection of boots in my size that I found while browsing this afternoon. There are tons of other boots available in a vast array of sizes, too. I already snapped up a pair of gorgeous brown leather riding boots (first image, below), and have my eye on a stunning pair of cowboy boots (second image, below) and some pretty flowered high-heeled boots (third image, below). Many other pairs have caught my eye, but I have to proceed with caution because of those previously mentioned healthy calves o' mine. The prices are awesome, and I love the worn and well-loved (but still in great condition) look that these boots have.





Aren't they lovely? I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the cowboy boots might be a "Buy It Now" item (I emailed the seller requesting such a transaction). And I asked the seller of the floral boots about the calf size (again, those pesky healthy calves) and I'm waiting to hear what she has to say, since it's hard to see in the photo.

eBay can be a great source for shoes, but you need to be smart and careful about your purchases. Make sure the sizing is stated, and that the photos are clear and show the product in detail. And feel free to ask the seller about any damage, scuffs, wear, etc. You'll run across rather worn and damaged shoes that are being sold for ridiculous prices, but most of the shoes and boots are in pretty decent condition. The seller should also be willing to answer any other questions you have about the product, and they are sometimes open to a "Buy It Now" transaction (so that you don't have to bid with others and jack the price up). It can't hurt to ask, can it?

Now, back to all those lovely boots...

Happy hunting!