Like 95% of D.C. area residents, my #1 complaint about summer is the humidity (coincidentally, it's 95% from May-Sept.). I'd put mosquitoes at #2, because West Nile Virus scares the citronella out of me. But #3 is lack of boots. Summer is for bare feet calloused by walks on hot sand and blacktop, for saltwashed canvas sneakers, and yes, flip flops. The rest of the year is boot season.
So many fish in the boot sea. Lobb balmoral boots, brogued Tricker's, mocc-toed Red Wings, and snakeproof Russells. Alden Indy boots, Docs, and Danners. Quoddys and Yuketens. Jumpers and boondockers. The boots that been my footwear white whale are Vibergs, Canadian-made boots (and oxfords) that wrap suede or chromexcel leather on round-toed lasts and welt it to a variety of soles. There's no Viberg retailers nearby, and I'm not yet willing to throw down half a D.C. rent check on boots I can't try on. Superdenim's Viberg makeups for this fall have me half convinced, though. With the right pair of boots I could wander blissfully during that month I don't make rent.
