Here at T&C, we pride ourselves on our discerning eye for quality. With Tried & True, our editors will give you an inside look at the pieces they simply cannot live without.
When I was in high school, my mom and I went to Bergdorf’s and I bought a pair of red flat knee boots with a little bit of slouch—I can’t remember if they were Sigerson Morrison or Loeffler Randall, which is wild to me but I digress—and when I say that I loved these cranberry hued boots, that doesn’t do them justice. I wore them to death. Quite literally well into college! Perhaps even after. But after many resole-ings and probably 8 years of wear I had to let them go. And for years, I have not found a suitable replacement. That is until I came across the Neil J. Rodgers Eva Boot.
The slightly slouchy boot, which comes in burgundy nappa leather and a host of other colors and materials, was the obvious and perfect replacement for the shoe I loved so, but of course an elevated upgrade to what I was wearing at 16. Structured, but not stiff, they hit high on the calf, which is great for lengthening the leg and creating a layered effect with midi and matinee length skirts and dresses. But pair them with a mini and the goldilocks-caliber-just-right-amount-of-slouch adds an air of undone, unfussy elegance to the look. I’d say the same with pants tucked in.
And of course, there’s the 2.1 inch heel—just enough to give polish and support, but not in the way that makes your feet hurt. This is key. Why? In particular when it comes to styling a piece in a non-neutral hue, having versatility in other ways is key. The Eva boots are both chic and offer a refinement to any outfit, but are also not so high that they look out of place with a daytime outfit. Nor do they look overly dressed down with a frock in the evening. Crucial! This makes a non-conventional color all that much more wearable. Which isn’t to say that I don’t think that a burgundy boot isn’t for everyone. The rich color is such a wonderful way to experiment with the red trend and also play with color in your outfits.
TLDR: I am having just as fun with my red boots as a 32-year-old woman as I did with that first pair all those years ago. Now I have a style of boots that has all the sophisticated details to match, and I know they will be in heavy rotation for seasons to come.