Review: Born Rosita Ankle Boots in Melanzana

I love shoes with a fiery passion.  They’re almost certainly my favorite item of apparel, and I’m often attracted to wild, Carrie Bradshaw-esque styles.  But when it’s time to purchase, I morph into No-Nonsense Nellie.  Oh, I’ll snap up stilettos with unique details- as long as they’re black/ brown/ otherwise neutral.  Last fall, though, I interviewed M.J. Aileen’s Mary-Aileen, and she reminded me that bold footwear can transform an outfit just as quickly as great accessories can.  Since I don’t hesitate to buy statement-making jewelry, scarves, and handbags, I felt it was time to start adding some more exciting shoes to my wardrobe.

A couple of weeks ago, I finally made good on that resolution and ordered these:

Okay, I know- they’re just ankle boots.  But they are PURPLE!  For me, that’s a major step.  They retail for $175, but I got them for $89 on RueLaLa, which was enough of a bargain to satisfy No-Nonsense Nellie.

The color is more amethyst than the picture- like a rich, mellow eggplant- which turns out to be surprisingly neutral.  I’ve worn them once so far, with skinny jeans and a gray sweater, and they definitely gave my outfit a chic boost.  And since they’re Born, I don’t have to tell you that the construction and comfort are fabulous.

Unfortunately the Born boutique at RueLaLa is long over, but I found the same boots at Zappos.com for $139.65, which appears to be the best buy at the moment.

And if you love the look but would prefer to spend a little less, I happened to notice a very similar style on sale at Aerosoles.com…

It appears that Aerosoles is actually sold out of the purple, but the gray, brown, and black are discounted to $67.49 to $90.00.  They are so cute that I may be able to convince myself to pick up the gray.  (And FYI, select sizes of the purple Aerosoles are available for $119.95 at Endless.com and Amazon.com.)

I’m thrilled with my RueLaLa purchase and know that scoring Borns for under $100 is nothing to complain about, but it’s a good reminder that many companies design from the same “inspiration.”  Ultimately, I’ve learned two valuable lessons from my Born Rosita experience.

1. If you’ve fallen in love with a shoe that costs more than you want to spend, look around because there’s a good chance you can find something similar in your price range.
2. Don’t be afraid to experiment!  While it’s important to trust your own sense of style, it’s way too easy to fall into a rut.  I found a great, classic boot and instead of purchasing my default (black), I chose a color that’s different for me.  And it worked!

Lucie Amberg is the Director of ZinaBeverlyHills.com.