Lucy Parker on Brown Boots - Confessions of a Footwear Fanatic

Lucy Parker is DUO’s very own expert on all aspects of the wonderful world of ladies boots. Lucy is a self confessed footwear fanatic, who for years has been an ardent fan of DUO’s perfectly fitting boots and shoes. From her footwear-filled home Lucy has agreed to regularly give us an insider view on a life stuffed to the brim with family, work, friends… and footwear!

Three great reasons to wear brown boots this spring

Why is the British climate always so schizophrenic at the beginning of March? This week we’ve had four seasons in every single day. On Monday I hung the washing out to dry in the sunshine for the first time this year, at lunchtime I dashed out to grab it off the line as hailstones the size of marbles pelted me from above. In the evening my children were skipping around the kitchen in glee at the prospect of more sledging (and more days off school!) because, would you believe it... it started to snow.

These tri-polar weather systems leave me with one agonizing problem – what on earth should I be wearing when I leave the house? The solution is, of course...brown leather boots. Let me give three good reasons why I will be wearing brown boots this spring:

1) They are hugely versatile and go with absolutely everything in my spring wardrobe (except monochrome!)
2) They’ll keep my feet warm if the weather is cold, and if I’m out and about when the sun makes an appearance I won’t look like I am heading to a funeral
3) Most importantly of all...DUO have just launched their Spring calf fit boot collection, and their brown boots are GORGEOUS – I want them all.

According to my fashion barometer (my eleven year old daughter Ellie) monochrome is everywhere at the moment. Black and white just saps the colour from your face, and makes blonde hair look drab and lifeless. Give me those beautiful spring floral prints any day, they look perfect teamed with mid brown and tan boots, accessorised with a gorgeous rich brown leather belt and bag. Until we go away on holiday and I can work up a gentle tan to soften my winter complexion, I’m sticking to tones that cheer me up and bring the sunshine back into my life.

Top of my brown boots wish list are Duo’s Estelle, they are a classic flat style with clever ruching detail over the ankle. They are the most utterly versatile brown boots, and I can imagine living in them long into the summer months. Duo’s Greta style (bought this month in Edinburgh) have also been fitting the bill perfectly for a less casual look.  Adding these two pairs of brown boots to my collection has given me scope to revitalise most of my mid-season wardrobe from last year without breaking the bank.


My daughter is at that in-between age where she’s just starting to experiment with fashion, but her foot size is still small (she is a size three) and we find it hard to buy her shoes and boots that fit her properly. DUO sell shoes for small feet, and boots for skinny legs which is the answer to her sartorial prayers. Ellie really knows what she likes, and has her monochrome-obsessed eye on DUO’s black Bern boots at the moment.. Thank goodness we are at opposite ends of the trend spectrum this spring – long may it last. Ellie is tall and perilously close to growing into my clothes and shoes. They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but when your daughter steals your wardrobe – it’s definitely time to reinvent your look!