Boots are expensive, so why not get the most out of every pair you own and switch up your look instantly with shoe jewelry! Wha? New York City jewelry designers Erica Chan and Tamar Wider have created a collection of footwear accessories called The 2 Bandits. The newest addition to the rather expansive collection is “Riders,” a line of adjustable leather and chain harnesses worn at the base of any boot—flat boot, bootie, shoetie, heeled boot, etc. And 2 Bandits isn’t just limited to chains; they also have beaded and fabric adornments for boots, including the Native American-inspired “Cherokee,” the boho-inspired “Edie,” the “Moondance,” the “Santa Fe”— the list goes on and on. So, yeah, my plain black riding boots can have a second (and third, and fourth) life. Eh, ya gotta kind of love that. [Cool Hunting]

My roommate swears by FitFlops, those fugs sneakers/sandals that give you a workout while you walk, claiming she’s seen changes in her calves and rear. But I’m not convinced and would rather spend more time at the gym than wear those curved clunkers. Though I might be persuaded to try them now, as Anna Sui has designed a pair to look like warm, cozy moccasins, which are just in time for winter and conveniently hide the curvature. The boots, named Shakoha, come in three colors—brown, black, and blue—and are made with double-faced shearling, suede, metal studs, and hand stitching. When there are inches of snow on the ground, who doesn’t want to be bundled in perfect snow boots? What’ya think? [FitFlop]

The Desert Boot turns 60 this year. To celebrate, Clarks Originals has released six new, unique designs inspired by the 1950s through the 2000s. There are three styles for women and three for men. Each pair of the 60th anniversary Desert Boots, which retail for about $146, comes in a specially designed box. There are souvenirs too—the booklet on Six Decades of Looking Forward to the Past and a replica keychain made from the same materials as the boot. [Clarks]

All this talk about the Desert Boot has made me nostalgic for my Catholic school days because this boot was one of the only shoe designs that could satisfy the strict dress code but also provided style and safety for the female students. After the jump, see how you can sport the Desert Boot today.

There are two types of people who wear Dr. Scholl’s—old ladies seeking orthopedic comfort and Jessica Simpson. Now the brand is doing something a bit more versatile with a new line of boots. Designed by Diego Dolcini, who has previously worked with Pucci, D&G and Tom Ford, the collection includes classic leather mid- and high-heeled platform boots, riding styles done in rubber, and cute-colored Wellingtons with corduroy patches. Comfy and stylish rain gear? We’re always a fan. Plus, these look a little chicer than, say, a pair of Easy Spirits. [My-Wardrobe.com]

Kate Moss was spotted leaving the John Frieda salon in London today, but it’s not her hair that caused us to look twice. (Um, definitely not the ‘do; perhaps she just got a conditioning treatment?) Maybe only a supermodel can get away with pairing black denim hot pants with tights, a leo underneath a blazer, and a rockin’ python bag all at the same time, but knee-high, slouchy brown boots are accessories that look good on everyone. We were trying to think of which high-end designer made these when we remembered our recent over-the-knee boot gallery and realized that, save for a slight color discrepancy, Kate’s boots were kind of spot-on knocked off at, wait for it ... Victoria’s Secret. With the huge demand for mega-high leather boots growing by the increasingly cooler-out day, we’d advise you to click over there and snap up the Devon boot ASAP. Because the majority of other options out there cost as much as, well, as much as Kate Moss’s actual boots probably did.

If you’re like me, you’re probably super excited about the fall weather and on the hunt for the perfect pair of boots to wear with skirts and dresses (and pants too, I suppose). While I haven’t found my perfect boots yet, I did find this interesting pair by Colin Stuart at Victoria’s Secret. Booties and zippers are both hot trends this season, and these combine both of those elements, along with the option to wear them as taller boots that can also be slouched down. They’re perfect for girls who spend lots of nights at their boyfriends’ and don’t care to lug around multiple pairs of shoes—or spies who frequently change disguises. [Victoria’s Secret]

Doc Martens are the ultimate iconic grunge boots. From neon pink to army fatigue, we’ve seen many a color and print variation over the years, some better than others. But we’re truly stoked for the latest incarnations in floral and tweed created by equally iconic Japanese designer, Yohji Yamamoto. Our favorite from the collection, which debuts at retailers in late August, has got to be plain old black on black. We love how the classic leather boot is complimented by a rich, jet black, tweed panel on the foot. All this chicness is going to cost though. The boots are $710, which is hundreds more than what the standard Dr. Martens go for (around $150). Log on to Dr. Martens website to find out where you can buy them, if say, you’re really rich and feel like it’s worth an extra $560 to get the Yohji version. Um… 

We normally put away our boots in favor of flip-flops and sandals when summer comes, but ankle boots have made their presence known on red carpets of late, and we’re trying to decide whether we should keep our feet ensconced in leather for the next few months.

“There are certain women who are just over wearing dresses with delicate shoes,” designer Alexander Wang told The New York Times. “They enjoy the irony of pairing something heavy with something short and sexy.”

When my parents moved me from NYC to a small Massachusetts town in third grade, I instantly became the weird kid, owed largely to these floral-printed Docs. They were loud and flashy, especially because I wore them with a poodle skirt and ruffled blouse. This scared the living daylights out of Sleepytown, USA. (I also listened to Madonna. The horror!) If only being “unique” was that simple these days by just wearing a pair of crazy boots.

Still, you can now try your best at being a style standout by getting your hands on a pair through Urban Outfitters. The iconic Doc Martens 8-eye boot comes in two patterns: choose from a white background with pink and blue flowers, or black with purple and peach buds. Don’t think you can fade into the crowd with these babies. They’re made for stomping out the competition. [$128, Dr. Martens, Urban Outfitters]

Date dressing is a tricky thing. We don’t want to resort to skin-tight, low-cut, belly-bearing clothes to be sexy. We want to be adored for our witty banter, our keen intellectual insights and our artistic sensibilities. And yet we want to look hot. Really hot. When a friend spied these (unworn) Luichiny Handy Boots in our closet while we were bemoaning the fact that the guy we’d been seeing couldn’t remember what neighborhood we live in (despite the fact that he used to live close by), she handed them to us and said, “Wear these, and he’ll remember your neighborhood, your phone number AND your birthday.” On our next date, the first words out of his mouth were “Those are hot boots!” Score. Now…we’re not sure about the guy, but we’re in love with the boots (and so is everyone else we’re dating). [$135.07, Endless.com]

Dr. Martens isn’t the only boot-maker collaborating with other designers this year. Hunter Boots, famed for their wellies, asked Jimmy Choo to work with them, and a pair with an embossed crocodile pattern, leopard-print lining, and gold-metal buckles and rivets was the result. The boots will be available in June for $395 in Jimmy Choo stores and on its website. In case you’re price shopping, a pair of Hunter Originals goes for $115.95. [WWD via Nitrolicious]

Above, clockwise: The Original Cherry-Red Eight-Eyelet 1460 Work Boot; Sean John’s Interpretation; Vivienne Westwood’s Fishnet-Decorated Version; And Lulu Guinness’s Purple Painted Pair.

While cleaning out her closet, my sister found her beloved pair of sparkly gold Dr. Martens from high school. She wore them that night, just another sign that the brand is making a comeback. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, which is next January 4, Dr. Martens asked big name designers like Vivienne Westwood and Rick Owens to customize the original cherry-red eight-eyelet 1460 work boot. You can’t buy any of the designer interpretations, but you can get a pair of the originals and decorate them yourself. [1460Boots.com via Nylon]

You know those really fabulous boots you’ve been dying to own, but really can’t afford? Forget them. Now’s your chance to breathe new life into your worn boots and shoes for a fraction of the cost of a new pair. Most cobblers can put a new heel or sole on any kind of footwear. And some can stretch a pair of shoes or even turn a pointy toe into a rounded toe. It really doesn’t make sense in this economy to spend a ton of money on a frivolous purchase when you can just update what you already have. I have a classic pair of lace-up boots from the 90’s that I can still wear because my cobbler changed the sole and polished them recently.

I was flipping through New York magazine at the gym last night and was absolutely puzzled when I came across a small ad for something called “Bootie Pies.” These boots are made for wearing during the winter after you get a pedicure. The company means well. They don’t want your newly painted nails to get smushed in shoes, or for your feet to get frostbite from wearing flip-flops home from the salon. But the aesthetics just aren’t there. Basically, the boots are Uggs with a removal toe covering. They also have a zipper in the back that allows you to slip your foot in easily. It’s true that peep-toe booties are in right now, but these don’t fall into that category (and that trend is questionable anyway). Why spend $128 on ugly boots when you can just spend an extra 5 minutes at the drying station? If it snows, your Bootie Pies certainly won’t protect your tootsies. [Bootie Pies]