Thrifty Thursday: Chinese Laundry Turbo for Less

Serena van der Woodsen stole my shoes. Obviously it’s not enough that she rules the Upper East Side; has been romanced by a slew of adorable suitors vying for her affections – the poetic Dan Humphrey, the artistic Aaron Rose, the sophisticated bad boy Nate Archibald; is attending an Ivy League; can buy anything her heart desires; and virtually has the world at her fingertips. No, she has to go and steal my shoes, as well.

Okay, so Serena was wearing Chinese Laundry’s Strate Boot, a magnificent piece of footwear that has since been discontinued, not the equally as gorgeous Turbo, which is proving to be just as satisfying to my well-being. And, to be completely honest, they weren’t mine to begin with exactly; just something I fancied from the moment I laid eyes upon them. But in my mind I was already wearing them on shopping sprees and coffee dates, and then there they were…strapped to her feet.

The 22-inch shaft pulled up stylishly about her knee, providing the ideal above the knee aesthetic to be donned with all sorts of luscious legwear – leggings, skinnies, minis, tights. The supple gray suede scrunching in all the right places yet retaining a very…a la mode slouch where required. Function and fashionable flair juxtaposing with one another upon one preemptive, must-have piece.

But I suppose it’s all right. There’s nothing stopping me from picking a pair up now. Except, perhaps, the $99.99 exaction. Oh, to be a young lady with the bank account of Ms. van der Woodsen. But I’m not; therefore my assortment of footwear must simply suffer in silence. Don’t worry dolls, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel – both for me, and all of you wanting to envelop these enchanters. And that consolation, kittens, is Charlotte Russe’s $34.99 Knee-High Suede Boots.

A round toe and a slight chunk of a heel give way to a 17-inch ruched shaft made up of faux suede fabric perfect for tucking jeans into, or simply wearing with cutoff denim on those slightly sticky days when you crave a little boot boogie. Now that’s something to…gossip about.

I’m having a Blair Waldorf moment…it feels good to undermine Serena van der Woodsen – even if it is simply in the saving money department.

Your turn loves…will you be thrifty or suckered into putting on your spendthrift cap?


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Chinese Laundry and Charlotte Russe for the pictures.


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