Review: Born ‘Carolina’ Lace-Up Leather Boots

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The Born Carolina lace-up boot is the first pair of boots I’ve added to my Fall 2009 wardrobe.

These boots are very unique, yet surprisingly versatile. If you don’t have any lace-up boots, you should definitely consider these. For me, they were am absolute must-have for my Fall ’09 / Winter ’10 shoe collection. They are one of the best pairs of lace up boots you can invest in this season. I decided this based on style, comfort, value for the money, and versatility.

Style: Unique, slightly Victorian look completely modernized with buckles and tri colored details. The Born Carolina comes in Mudd (as shown above) as well as Truffle, a dark brown color. I think these boots are very unique and eye-catching.

Comfort: If you aren’t familiar with Børn shoes, then you need to yourself a pair asap. Born is another one of my favorite brands of comfort footwear. These boots are nice because the 2 ¾ inch heel is just enough height to make them cute and give you a little lift, yet they are comfortable enough to wear all day long. And don’t worry about tying laces, these actually have a hidden zipper on the inside of each boot for easy on and off.

Value: Born shoes are a tremendous value for the money because they are extremely well made shoes that will last through many seasons. They have many handcrafted styles, made from premium leathers and featuring fine details.

Versatility: These boots are more versatile than you think. As you can see, I’m wearing them with boyfriend jeans rolled up to show off the lace-up font and cute buckles. They would also look cute with cropped zip jeans or “Not Your Daughter’s Jeans” Rolled-Up Ankle Jeans. I can even see wearing these with a long skirt like this adorable Three Dots Jersey Colette Long Skirt or these cute Skinny Jeans.

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Børn shoes are well known for their Opanka hand-sewn construction. They have a special technique where they hand sew the upper, sock lining and outsole together in a single process. Not only does this method make Børn shoes extremely flexible, it also creates a natural cushioning effect. As a result, the under foot conforms and rebounds with every movement, providing a consistently comfortable environment.

Most Born shoes are made with traditional Opanka construction. However they have enhanced and expanded the Opanka construction over the years. All of their constructions are based on Opanka though because that is their heritage and what people have come to love about this brand.

This particular style is available in whole and half sizes. I purchased a size 7 and they fit perfectly. If you plan to wear them with thick socks, you may consider purchasing 1/2 size larger than your normal shoe size. As you can see from the Marc Jacobs Fall 2009 runway, wearing Lace-Up Boots with thick, legwarmer-inspired socks with leggings is a big look for this season.

Find your local Super Shoes and drop in to try these beautiful boots on. If you don’t have one in your area, order them online from

Born Carolina Lace-Up Boots A boot with an antique Victorian look, and fresh, modern accents. Nubuck Leather and fabric lining. Steel shank and leawood wrapped heel. Rich Opanka hand-sewn construction. Available in sizes 6M-10M, 11M