Proudly Introducing: the DUBARRY Longford Boot!

As a longtime friend of the Dubarry team, I am honored and privileged to help give their newest boot a proper US debut. The Longford boot has all of the classic Dubarry elements as the Galway boot, but with a sleeker silhouette and some beautiful new detailing. A double buckle adorns the top, with the signature Dubarry script logo subtly embossed into the smooth leather. The boots, in true Dubarry form, are made in Europe of Dubarry's DryFast-DrySoft™leather and fully lined with GORE-TEX® from bottom to top, making them completely waterproof but also lightweight and breathable. The Black and Walnut color options (shown below) will initially be offered in European sizes 37 to 43 (up to USW 11.5, USM 10) and will retail at $529. Apart from the obvious practical appeal, the boots are simply beautiful.

Dubarry LONGFORD boot in Black.

Dubarry LONGFORD boot in Walnut.

Nothing better embodies the spirit of the Dappled Waistcoat more than Dubarry boots: they are hard wearing, well crafted, but still effortlessly stylish and timeless. I've been steadily wearing Dubarry Galway boots since 2005, and from October through March you really won't see me in anything else. This year they kept me dry through Hurricane Sandy and helped me shovel my driveway out of snow three feet deep during the crazy blizzard in February. Oh, and a little trade secret.... my boots have lasted so long because I take proper care of them! I hose them down if they get muddy or dirty and let them air dry, and I regularly apply Dubarry Leather Cream to the foot part so they don't dry out.

A rainy Galway day in February, paired with black motorcycle jeans and a North Face parka.

For those of you lucky folks who will be attending Rolex Kentucky this year, a limited number of Longford boots will be available for sale at the show, so absolutely stop by the booth and slip a pair on. By the looks of them, you won't want to take them off......... ever. If you're an Instagram user, tag any Dubarry related photos #dubarry #dubarryboots #rk3de #roadtorolex2013 @dubarryofireland @rolexkentucky, and if you want to make me envious you can tag me @aezeum!

As for the rest of us, Dubarry is running an exciting social media contest through the Rolex Event in which one US resident can WIN a pair of Longfords and thereby increase their quality of life a hundredfold. Click here or on the image below for details on the competition!

I may have to wait until the Hampton Classic Horse Show this year to get my hands on a pair, but please believe I will -- in Black -- and I'll spam photos of them on Instagram to make you all insanely jealous until you can't help but get a pair of your own. I dare you to beat me to the punch!

Field Trip: Bayard Cutting Arboretum!

A few shots from my hiking and exploring excursion yesterday, as always wearing my trusty Dubarry Galway boots. Fall is a beautiful season... get outside and enjoy it before winter comes!

Field Trip: Trail Riding!

I'm always pretty antsy to get outside, but the first couple weeks of Fall when you christen your light jackets and sweaters are probably the most intense for me. After a long and stressful work week, my friend Samantha and I decided to go trail riding. Going out in the woods to ride is also a nice break from riding in a ring most of the time. Though our trail guide and companions were admittedly not as great as the last time we went to this particular barn, it was impossible not to enjoy tromping through the woods on horseback.

Ariat Quantum Devon Pro Zip Paddock

Leaves are still pretty green!

Sam riding Phil -- gorgeous Paint!

Post-ride with Tex.

Partially due to the chill, and partly because the last time I rode Western with half-chaps the insides of my knees were sore, I opted to wear my full-length chaps. I haven't worn those since I was in high school, so I was definitely pleased that they still fit. My new-ish Ariat paddock boots are so handsome that I've been wearing them for street purposes, but I decided that I was wasting their functionality by not riding in them. Also -- I don't care if you ride English or Western, trails or lessons, it does not make a difference. WEAR A HELMET. My Charles Owen GR8 has served me very well over the years and I will not get on a horse without it.

While it's easy to order riding gear online from big sites, I always recommend taking a trip to your local tack shop and seeing what they have to offer. If you're on Long Island, the Country Riding Shop in Stony Brook has always been my favorite, but if not, a quick Google search will certainly find you the tack store nearest to you. Shop small and local!

Wishlist: Dubarry Edition

I had the pleasure of working at the Hampton Classic Horse Show for my friends at Dubarry of Ireland this past Labor Day weekend, and I was able to try out some of their newest designs. Here are some favorites/must-haves, including the tweed waistcoat that inspired this very blog:

"Daisy" in Connemara Smoke

"Iris" shirt in White

"Swift" Gore-tex lined jacket in Olive

The Daisy vest is cut exquisitely... really top notch tailoring. It's easy enough to dress up or down as well, so it's definitely a piece that could get a lot of mileage in the fall/winter seasons. The Iris shirt really caught my attention because of the subtle, tuxedo-like panels in the front. Unlike a lot of other shirts striving towards the same vibe, the Iris has the detail without adding any bulk. The comfortable,  two-way stretch cotton fabric is form-fitting without having any bunching, giving the shirt a stunning silhouette. In the outerwear department, I've been searching for a proper weatherproof jacket that still has some kind of tailored shape for a very long time, to no avail. Dubarry's older "Skerrit" and "Sutton" jackets have the same idea, but the "Swift" seals the deal with the belt and more prominent hourglass shape. 

The unquestionable practicality and quality of all these items make it really hard for me to not blow up my credit card. Regardless of what's on the runways this fall, I feel the most comfortable and stylish in classic and versatile pieces. Also, the fact that I currently own no waterproof outerwear aside from a hat and a couple pairs of boots leaves the other 90% of my body sorely neglected. Christmas is coming though, I guess I should probably start behaving... probably. WINTER IS COMING.

Dubarry.us

Boots to Fall For

A very wise Dutch gentleman once told me that he couldn't respect a woman who wore sneakers, (I believe he called them "gym shoes," actually). Nothing compares, he stressed, to proper leather footwear. For whatever reason, I was very struck by that simple image of a "woman in sneakers," or a man in sneakers for that matter, and have made a point of working against that. After a blazing hot New York summer where my Rainbow flip-flops and my Ariat paddock boots were the only footwear that saw any action, I'm ready to jump back into boots for fall.

I'm sure you'll all be pleased to know that every boot I've posted works for both men and women. I generally hate the overt attempt at feminization that is evident in any kind of rugged outerwear made exclusively for women, so I think these styles are classic and functional, and transcend any kind of gender labeling. The first two I've posted are the Danner Light Heathman and the Danner Mountain Light Stark, both a part of their Stumptown collection and as always, made in Portland, Oregon. They're gorgeous, well-made, rugged, and will look better and better the more you abuse them. 

Next we have the iconic Dubarry Galway boot. It took me a couple of years to warm up to the black/brown color, because I always preferred the brown ones that I have (see the next image: me standing in the floodwaters of the Schuylkill River August 2011 after the hurricane). I like having a lot of contrast in my wardrobe, and the black/brown just WORKS. I've had Dubarrys for over 6 years now though... walked through blizzards, rivers, horse s**t, some pretty unspeakable things, and they haven't once failed me. They are lined to the very top with Gore-tex and the leather is Dry Fast-Dry Soft, so they don't get warped and weird over time.

Last but not least are the Blundstone 500. A unisex work boot icon, still made in Australia. I have them in the all black, but I do appreciate the contrasting lighter gusset on the Stout Brown color option. They are more water resistant than waterproof, but I've worn them in the rain, snow, and walked through puddles without any incident. I initially bought them when my quest for something classic yet resembling combat boots left me empty handed, and they've done the job well. I like wearing them with some kind of colorful sock over my jeans. Aesthetically it's pleasing to me, but it's also rather practical for hiking or walking through the woods, since the boots aren't tall. 

Though there are a lot of boots that look cool out there, it's not enough for me if they don't serve a functional purpose. Hence, my gripe with the majority of women's fashion footwear. If the leather isn't real, or is cheaply tanned, or the stitching is poorly done, or the soles are super thin, I'm just not interested. I'd like to be ready for any kind of adventure that comes my way, or at the very least... wearing something very comfortable. 

Danner Stumptown Collection

Dubarry

Blundstone

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