Mom hasn’t called, and I’m (still) wearing western boots
Settling an age-old discussion: D wore them first.
In between the heavy-ish content you’ve come to expect (reflections on spirituality, friendship, and more) I think I’ll begin sharing fluff. I don’t have capacity to write about trauma as often as I’d like to publish on this ol’ substack. We’ll call those supplementary drops Marshmallows Postings. This is the first, Marshmallow Posting 001: Mom hasn’t called, and I’m (still) wearing western boots.
A long standing “argument” I have with a good friend, D, is who started wearing western boots first. It’s a silly argument, because we both know he did. At my 2019 Halloween party; he was a cowboy and purchased them as part of his costume. Then started incorporating them into everyday looks. I borrowed his pair for Papi Juice’s Pride party this past summer—at his suggestion (D, you started this; you really did)—and more-than loved them. I loved the look, how they looked on me, and the extra inch they provided; I’ve wanted to be 6’1 my entire life, and now, I finally could be.
I ordered my own pair soon thereafter; pre-loved oxblood Lucchese boots, purchased on eBay of all places. Then purchased another pair. And am currently scouting my third (and final) in black to complete my very holy trinity. If Mr. Porter wasn’t sold out, it'd be the pair down below from Celine, and for that my Chase Sapphire is very grateful.
My go-to look over the summer was a boxy tee, short short and my Luccesses. It became a signature look of sorts, so much so a friend I hadn’t seen in literal years spotted me in Silver Lake, Los Angeles off the boots alone. When my follower-friends from TikTok see me in person they often comment on the boots. My Editor Brian, who I met in person for the first time last week, greeted my boots before he greeted me. I understood and appreciated that very much.
I am a big fan of signature looks—Jenna Lyons’ thick frame glasses, Jeremy O. Harris’ hair, Hailey Bieber’s big ass blazers—and felt sad (and silly for feeling sad) at the thought of retiring my boots for the Fall/Winter. So I’ve been experimenting with new looks to extend this aspect of my signature look through winter and beyond. Here are a few that are working. And keep scrolling for some boots to keep an eye on if you’re considering grabbing a pair for yourself.
The COCKTAIL DRESS CODE:
I love playing with tension in my style. Masculine vs feminine. Traditional vs trendy. Playful vs serious. For this first look, I started with a classically masculine piece—the double-breasted tuxedo blazer—and brought it down to earth with a Dodgers baseball cap and western boots. The polka-dot skirt, hiked way up, made it heaven on earth.
The COZY KITTEN:
I am always cold. My apartment heat is on September 1 and runs through March. This boot application includes everything you need to feel warm and cozy—a big ass turtle neck and beanie—plus a blazer, accessories, and boots to look like you tried. I am on record saying beanies are st*pid, but I do recognize they serve a purpose. So I threw one on and really leaned into the stupid with a starfish broach and giraffe pin for no reason at all.
The MORNING AFTER:
Dating doesn’t stop in the Fall/Winter, which provides opportunity for a surprisingly chic morning-after moment. Last night’s sequin top, coat, and boots, paired with some gym shorts found on his bedroom floor. He won’t miss them, and they look better on you anyway.
Boots you may like. Pro-tip: if you’re not feeling the cost of new boots, search the brand/style you’re into on eBay. Most boots hold up well, and they may feel like-new.
Tecovas “Dillon” — $495 — tecovas.com
Lucchese “Gavin” — $895 — lucchese.com
Dan Post “Sly Python Boot” — $314.96 — danpostboots.com
The perfect, and now sold-out, Celine western boot that will inevitably be available on Grailed in a few months — $1,350 — mrporter.com
Acne Studios Fringe Blanket Coat — $1,450 — acnestudios.com
*obviously not a boot, but I felt it necessary to acknowledge this very good western moment
Before we part… in a recent post—Mom hasn’t called, but I prayed today—I discussed my renewed interest in the idea of the divine and commitment to acknowledge everyday divine happenings. Here are some recent ones:
Omar Apollo released a song feat. Kali Uchis, Bad Life. It’s one of those songs that made me almost-cry at first listen.
This bag by Dentro (h/t to the love of my life, everything I aspire to be @londongirlnyc for introducing me to the brand).
Watching a private screening of The Sun Rises in the East with Tianna. One of the interviewees featured, Dwana Smallwood, a former student of Uhuru Sasa Shule, said very poignantly: To waste a gift is to insult the ancestors. You know how to write, but you’re not writing poetry? You know how to dance, but you’re not dancing?
That is my fuel for the next six months.
My mom texted me. To read a religious magazine she thought I’d like, but it was nice to see she texted me. It was nice to read “I love you.”
My words in print for Brooklyn Magazine’s Fall ‘21 issue.
BIG X BIG O,
Coley Bradshaw
💋
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