Montana boots

For most of my life, I have eschewed all footwear cowboy-ish, partly as a result of unhappy memories associated with some people who wore them when I was growing up. Don't worry, that's all I'm going to say about that.

But having spent six weeks of each of the past two summers in Montana while designing costumes for Montana's only Equity theatre, the Alpine Theatre Project, and even attending some rodeos while I was there, I determined that I was ready to face my inner cowgirl and get me some boots to take back to Philly. And since I was taking such a courageous (for me) step, I wanted to get the tackiest ones I could find. But apparently, I went to a store where real cowboys shop (I even recognized some people from the rodeo), and it turns out that the boots that most real cowboys and cowgirls wear are more functional and tasteful than the ones you find on Zappos. Go figure. So I flew home with these beauties, one of the flashiest pairs in the store, if you can believe it. I love 'em.

This dress was a surprise from my husband. I tore a page out of the catalog and said "Hey, I like this dress. You should buy it for me, Baby," and then I left it on his desk. This was basically a joke, because Bryce and I both know that he rarely buys me presents. Hard to explain, but it was funny to us. I threw it in the recycling bin when tidying-up the next day, and didn't think of it again. Until about a week later, when he handed me a tattered paper gift bag containing a plastic bag mailer crudely wrapped in tissue paper. I was in shock. It was the sweetest thing he had done for me in a while. Go, Bryce!

Cardigan: H&M.
Dress: Chadwick's.
Cable-knit leggings: Mandee.
Fake pearl earrings, necklace, and bracelet: Rite-Aid (yes, the drugstore).
Boots: a store in Kalispell, Montana (the stamp on the inside says Oak Grove Farms).