Eamonn Fitzgerald's Rainy Day

It's been more than a year ago now, 3 November 2005, actually, since Rainy Day first posted thoughts about boots. The initial observations were made in Venice of the rising tides, where footwear of every kind, from waders to Wellingtons, is fashionable. Here is part of what we wrote at the time:

"Stores were packed and there was simply no getting inside shoe shops because excited female buyers had laid siege to them in search of the season's must-have item: equestrian-style boots. No matter where we looked, the boots were there. Teenagers wore them with black tights and miniskirts, while their mothers were wearing them with various permutations of denim or autumnal skirts in corduroy."

Since then, the boot virus has spread faster than avian flu and now everyone seems to be in on the act. From thigh-high "Pretty Woman" ones to militaristic ones, boots are everywhere. So, is the trend nearing its end? Not likely. The fashion industry is notorious for pressing the oddest fads into service and the latest helper who's coming to the aid of the party is Johnny Depp. Aye, mates, Captain Jack Sparrow sports a fine pair of knee-high cuffed boots in his Caribbean films and pirates, er, manufacturers from Burma to Beijing are ramping up production of brigand gear to cope with the insatiable appetite for sexy footwear. Think I'm making this up? The Manolo was onto the trend two months ago, but he did have a warning for fashionistas:

"If you wear the boots do not wear the buccaneer shirt. If you wear the buccaneer shirt, do not wear the Deppian mascara. This is the only way in which you can avoid looking exactly like the Adam Ant, circa 1981. And so, with this warning in the mind, the Manolo would still recommend the purchase of the piratical boot, but only those that are not ridiculous in their swashbuckling exuberance."

The Manolo knows whereof he speaks. For those getting ready to step into the Xmas shopping frenzy, he recommends a very handsome boot from the Anne Klein of New York. Only $363.95 a pair, or a mere €277.97 for Eurotrash. Of course, if you've got real "pieces of eight" to spend, it must be a pair by Celine. Be prepared to untrouser a few thousand, though.