Vivienne Westwood Pirate Boots
Hello friends! Today I want to chat about my beloved Vivienne Westwood Pirate Boots and give you my honest review of these iconic boots after 15 years!!!
But first…
Before I get started with the post, I want to take you back in time to when I got my Vivienne westwood pirate boots. It was around 15 years ago and I had a friend who worked at Vivienne westwood, so I would often pop in and say hello and often end up buying something. I owned a lot of VW at the time and it wasn’t long before I treated myself to these boots!
I thought they were SO cool and because they were flat, they were super comfortable to wear every day AND they basically went with everything, so I knew they were a good fashion investment. I wasn’t earning much money at the time, so they were a bit of a splurge at around £250. But I wore them SO much and I have no regrets!
Over the years I bought more pairs in different colours, but I sold them all because I needed the money. But these black ones I could never part with!
With that in mind, I would advise you to go for the black or tan leather pirate boots as these will be the ones you get the most wear out of. The squiggle print ones are hard to match with your wardrobe and the suede ones will mark and wear faster. Where as the leather in a plain tan or black will be easier to slot into your wardrobe and last longer. After all, mine have lasted 15 years and they still have plenty of life left in them!
Where to buy Vivienne Westwood pirate boots?
Vivienne Westwood pirate boots are generally made to order and you can buy them from their stores in london. You can also find them online, but they are rarely in stock, however it is worth looking just in case any come in stock. Aside from that you can find pre-loved Vivienne Westwood boots at the following places:
–the real real (use code ‘REAL’ for 20% off)
If you are wanting to buy your Vivienne Westwood pirate boots new, you generally won’t find them at their stockists (like Selfridges or mybag) instead you will find them at the Vivienne Westwood owned stores. You could also phone them and try to order over the phone. Generally they take around 6-8 weeks to order, as each pair is made by hand in the Uk.
How much do Vivienne Westwood pirate boots cost?
Vivienne Westwood pirate boots cost around £580. However if you want to buy them preloved (authentic stockists above!) then you can find them for around £200-250 depending on the condition.
Should I size Vivienne Westwood shoes up or down?!
The Vivienne Westwood gold label shoes and boots tend to be fairly generous in size, so I would say order your size, but if you are a half size and not sure if you should size up or down, I would advise you to size down. The leather will also give slightly but generally the shoes and boots are generous fittings.
As for the Melissa x Vivienne Westwood shoes, these are less generous so I would say to size up, as I have always found these run on the smaller size.
What can I wear the Vivienne Westwood pirate boots with?
The Vivienne Westwood pirate boots are great as they basically go with everything and anything! You can wear them with skinny jeans and an oversized shirt, or a vintage dress or even with a plain black outfit. You can of course go full head-to-tow Westwood – with jewellery – and wear them with lots of layers and shapes, but generally, they go with most things, they are really versatile boots.
Pros and cons of Vivienne Westwood pirate boots
Pros: iconic and timeless piece, great quality, can be styled in many ways, really comfortable, great for chunkier calves as well as thinner calves, made in the Uk.
Cons: a fashion investment, made-to-order so you may have to wait 6-8 weeks for your boots, not good if you are in a hurry as the buckles can take a while to do up.
Vivienne Westwood pirate boots review
I have had my Vivienne Westwood pirate boots for 15 years now and they are still looking good and going strong. They are incredibly well made using beautiful quality leather. They are really strong and durable and they will last you for years.
Each pair is made to order, so whilst you might have to wait 6-8 weeks for your order, they are worth the wait and feel really special. They are very much an iconic piece, but they still feel quite rare, which I love!
As for the fit, they are nice and generous in terms of both length and width, which is lovely as a lot of designer shoes are small and narrow. They are really comfortable and great for accommodating wide feet with a high instep and larger calves. Because of all the straps, you can adjust them to fit your feet and legs however feels best for you!
In terms of wear, Vivienne Westwood pirate boots tend to age really well. In fact, they tend to look better with a few marks and scratches on them. Also, as time goes on, the colour of the straps will darken and get a little richer, which adds to the look. As for the leather, as that softens up, they tend to sit nicer on your legs and ankles too. You can see that mine are really well worn and have never looked better!
If you choose to buy your Vivienne Westwood boots new, then you can enjoy the process of wearing them in and letting them mould to your feet, but if you choose to buy them second hand, then you can save the money and know that they will still look good, even if they are fairly old!
A BIG tip I would give you though, is make sure you take them to the cobblers to add a rubber sole. This will really protect your shoes and add years to their life. Leather soles are lovely but they damage fast in the rain, so if you wear them a lot, you could end up wearing holes in the soles and damaging them beyond repair. Adding a rubber sole will cost you around £7 and it will mean your shoes are stronger and rain safe.
I have worn my pirate boots everywhere from work to lunches to london fashion week. They are perfect if you are on your feet all day and they really are as comfortable as slippers. They add an extra ‘something something’ to the plainest of outfits and because Vivienne Westwood is such a cool brand and synonymous with punk, you can wear them when you are scruffy and hungover and look effortlessly cool. They are the perfect way to cheat your way to chic on a lazy Sunday morning!
I have had my Vivienne Westwood pirate boots for 15 years now and I am so happy I bought them! They are super comfortable, really versatile and you can dress them up or down as much as you want. They are incredibly well made and I honestly cannot stress enough how comfortable they are.
Finally, the Vivienne Westwood pirate boots are super cool and fashionable but they aren’t the ‘hottest’ ‘must-have’ item either. So they are recognisable and amazing, but you also don’t have to worry about them getting too popular and becoming unfashionable.
If you love them and you think they will work with your style and wardrobe, then I would 100% recommend them! They are classic, cool and mega mega mega comfortable and versatile. Plus it says a lot that I still love mine after 15 years!
♥
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