It was all about the boots. I wanted relatively flat heels for all the walking I do across the vast campus of the National Institutes of Health, including a hefty climb up the 202-foot long escalator at the Medical Center subway stop. I suppose I could just ride the escalator and not climb it, but what fun would that be? There are 340 steps from station to surface and even though I am in great shape, I still find myself a little breathless when I reach the top. Much as I love them, I’d just as soon not have to contend with high heels in that endeavor. A pair of fabulous Zane boots by Brash were the one souvenir I brought home from a recent trip to New York City. I loved their rich cognac color when I first set eyes on them and was wowed by how comfortable they were for walking all over the Big Apple. So I formed Thursday’s outfit around the boots.
Comfortable vintage leggings by Jacques Moret in a rich chocolate seemed right, as did a brown long-sleeved T-shirt by Fruit-of-The-Loom. I grabbed a grayish-green “boyfriend” sweater by Laura Scott which has been hanging in my closet since before the term was coined. It seemed to complement the neutral palette I was assembling to mirror the barren winter landscape. For fun and extra warmth, I pulled on a pair of faux fox boot-toppers with studded faux-leather detailing by Fabulous Furs, a gift from my best friend, Kari, on my birthday last September, and wrapped a super warm scarf around my neck which tied all the wintery hues together. When Kari’s mother, Joyce, in Spokane, Washington, sent me that scarf many years ago, I thought I would never have anything to wear it with. But it has turned out to be a terrific winter accessory and I have appreciated its toastiness on many occasions over the years. On this day it served me well by bringing a coordinated kick to my look.
Upon my arrival at the National Library of Medicine, I set down my briefcase and proceeded toward the reference desk to pick up some books I had requisitioned from the library’s extensive holdings. I passed two African-American women who were so smartly dressed they looked like they had come fresh from a magazine photo-shoot. I couldn’t help but compliment them on their stylish attire. In turn, both ladies said they had been “checking me out” and loved my cold-weather outfit. That made me feel really good.
On the way home from work, I stopped at the supermarket to pick up some provisions for Superbowl Sunday. Two men pushing a shopping cart laden with beverages and game-day snacks stopped to tell me how much they liked my boots. And here I thought there was no panache to my drab winter ensemble.
By the time I returned to northwest Baltimore County, Maryland, at the end of the day, the temperature had dipped back into the 20s. But I remained gemütlich in the knowledge that cold-weather garments can be fetching as well as warm.
Cheers,
Lynell
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