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For years, I have been looking for the perfect “going out” shoes with little luck. I cannot seem to give up comfort for trendy labels or the perfect silhouette—especially when walking or dancing is involved—and have never liked breaking the bank on statement heels or flashy boots. Whenever I do either for the sake of Friendsgiving or my office holiday party, all I get is blisters and a lack of funds to spend during gifting season.
I think people are surprised when I recommend discount shoes over luxury, given how much I love fashion. While I collect some vintage and splurge here and there, shoes are a different story, necessitating a delicate balance between changeable accessorization and functionality. Especially during party season, when you need many different options that allow you to navigate long nights and icy terrains.
That’s why, since prom, some of the best luck I’ve had in finding my longest lasting and most beloved shoes has been at DSW. Whether for going out or going to work, there are reasons why they persist in offering designer brands for low prices: endless deals, easy-to-browse editorials, and a wide breadth of styles, to name a few. Long before writing this and inspired by recent celebrity looks (tall, luxe boots for wintertime dinner date, or casual clogs for Christmas morning coffee run), I checked DSW. Birkenstock Bostons (in the color sold out everywhere else) and sleek Nike Pacifics: this felt like a shopping secret worth gatekeeping.
Like a boot vigilante, however, I’m ultimately more committed to helping fashion-forward party goers and gift givers. With prices rising everywhere else, I feel like there’s never been a better time than to go back to basics–a one-stop shop for gift giving, event dressing, and holiday coziness. With a new Holiday Lookbook and Gift Guide, DSW gives you just that.
Inspired by my own wardrobe and real gift shopping list, I’ve broken down some key trends right now and how to achieve them with DSW’s wicked deals.
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All-American
Hype over PSLs and “leaf peeping” has fluctuated over the last decade, but the autumnally iconic pull-on boot remains as iconic as ever. Cultural fixations the Americana (denim, cowboys) has also waxed and waned of late, but Frye—bringing quality leather goods and Western influence to more urban fashion capitals throughout the 19th and 20th century—has remained a style staple.
I can earnestly say I have coveted a pair of Frye boots for a decade, and just never seem to pull the trigger on leather ones, with a price tag that rivals more flashy designers. In walks Frye and Co., a more accessible collection that bodes similarly quality shoes at a fraction of the cost. Browsing DSW’s Holiday edit, I was shocked at how “real” the Miranda Western Boots looked, and how indistinguishable they were from old school Fryes.
Skeptical and hopeful, I was intrigued by the diverse colorways and won over by “Mulberry,” a wine-colored, versatile take on the classic Banana Yellow. When they arrived, my accomplished fashion-writer and New-York-socialite friends couldn’t believe they were under $200, and I couldn’t believe how comfortable they were. Easy to Westernize with denim but sleek and comfortable enough to wear with any dress, I feel like it’s going to be Frye Girl Autumn forever.
Elevated Minimalism
“Upper East Sider,” “Quiet Luxury,” and “Old Money” trends can be confusing and annoying, especially when the most forward-thinking versions of them demand you buy $900 tank tops. My personal frustration with these trends, however, stems more so from a simple fact; cute, simple flats and boots are uncomfortable… especially walking around places like the Upper East Side!
My annoyance also stems from pure jealousy, as—much like my decade-long plight for a more Western take—I yearn for sky-high boots that are comfortable enough to walk to dinner in. With reservations at one of the hottest new restaurants in the West Village, I prayed my new Dolce Vita Gabby's in Black wouldn’t give me blisters.
The truth: I walked 45 minutes to dinner and back in these things with absolutely no blisters or soreness. I felt like a certain other pop star, who loves to wear high, sleek boots to dinner in the Village, too.
Casual Cool
I was recently charmed to learn that myself, my niece, and my mom all put UGGs on our Christmas lists this year. Real comfort, the kind you can count on year over year, never goes out of style. Starting in December, I put my UGGs on and never take them off, but have also been wishing for a more seasonally appropriate house shoe to replace my mail-getting Crocs.
I can’t think of anyone, regardless of gender, in the whole world, that wouldn’t want a pair of the classic UGG slippers for the holidays. Though, I wouldn’t put it past you wearing them out of the house, either, with a monochromatic leisure set or wide-leg jean. I think of these as the winterized Croc or Boston, a slip-on that keeps you warm and comfortable while safeguarding an outfit from seeming try-hard.
DSW Keeps the Holiday Season Fun
With sizing and ever-changing trends, giving the gift of fashion can sometimes be more high pressure than it is fun. Getting dressed up during party season can feel the same, demanding a tight-rope-walking act of warmth and comfort. There’s a reason DSW has been around so long, and why a range of generations rely on their affordable collection of designer brands; you can get real, quality brands for less, and exchange sizes for free. With brick and mortar stores all over the U.S., you can also return things in-store for free, and look for the right fit.
Best kept fashion industry secrets are often surprising, but finding comfortable, long-lasting, affordable shoes at DSW is less a secret than something that seems too good to be true.
Shop DSW and Get 20% Off Boots with Code MERRYBOOTS
