Boots: Fryes vs La Canadiennes - YouLookFab Forum

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Boots: Fryes vs La Canadiennes

Anonymous

With narrow (12") calves and desire for something classic that won't go out of style, can take wet weather with care and is flat and comfortable on aging diabetic feet..is one of these brands preferable over the other? I'm thinking classic riding boots, although the Carson shorties in grey or other short boot is also a good idea.
Any opinions, suggestions, thoughts???

Dressing

26 replies

Latest reply was from Lena

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Hmmm, good question, Joy. (BTW, I just realized I never saw the results of your thread on basics to invest in -- did you get good answers?).

Both brands are wonderful. My black patent, flat LCs are the most worn boot in my closet but my Fryes are the most loved I suppose that isn't much help!

Dashrashi

Veteran

My LCs are waterproof and therefore invaluable.

Maya

Veteran

For your purposes I vote LC hands down. They are waterproof (tried and tested), good for narrow calves, comfortable, and they have tons of riding boot styles available. I have been lusting after the Stella personally.

Full disclosure: I am a huge fan of la canadienne and would own 10 pairs if I could afford it. On the other hand, I'm pretty lukewarm about Fryes.

garmenta

Fryes are more outdoorsy, La Canadiennes more urban. Other than that, it's a question of what feels more comfortable on your foot. There's no way to know without trying.

BTW, La Canadiennes tend to go on sale right about now. . .

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Garmenta, what are you doing to me!!! I would not describe Fryes as outdoorsy. Merrells and Keens are outdoorsy. Timberland and Uggs as well. Does that make sense?

Fryes are more casual, a little more boho. Earthy perhaps. But it all depends on the colour you select in the styles too.

Joy, you need a knee-high pair of LC's, and a short pair of Fryes.

Maya

Veteran

I think the western-ness of Fryes is what makes them outdoorsy. They remind me of the footwear I would use when I used to ride horses. Not outdoorsy like gear or hiking boots but they definitely have a horsey feel. Maybe that's why I can't get into them.

cciele

Veteran

I agree with many of the ladies who have posted. I have both Frye and La Canadienne boots -- both excellent brands. If you are looking for a classic knee-high riding boot, and you have a narrow calf, I would go with La Canadienne. Their boots are timeless, streamlined, classy, and have more narrow-calf options than Frye.

Many Frye boots are also timeless, but in a casual, fun, boho way. They also have some more trendy styles.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Maya, the horsy association with Fryes is American. (It’s the Western riding thing). I used to own my own horses and compete in shows. There is nothing more horsey than a knee-high LC when you trained in the British classical riding style, in my opinion. How interesting!

Maya

Veteran

Yes, I rode English style rather than Western, but my riding boots still looked more Frye-like in that they weren't as clean and polished as LC's. Very worn in and not a lot of shape or definition. Then I had my "nice" boots for shows, which were more like LC's. I did not know we shared a horsey background Angie!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

High five, Maya. I was a horsey lass through and through. Kept me out of trouble when I was a teen.

Christie

(That's what I've heard about teen girls with horses!)

Anonymous

Wonderful information. Thank you all. If anyone sees any great boot sales on these, please alert us. Angie, your advice makes sense and I will start saving up for 2 pair of boots.
Cricket, your comment brought back memories of being a sixth grade teacher. Two of the families one year went together to get a horse for their daughters who were in my class. Years later one of the moms told me it had been a very smart decision and bought them at least three years before the daughters got really interested in boys.

Maya

Veteran

Ha, I didn't own any horses myself. A woman in town owned a stable and used to give private lessons. I used to ride her beautiful Arabian horse Charlie.

But between horses and boys, sorry but horses win hands down!

Sorry for hijacking, Joy.

Lena

Ooh, I had no idea Angie and Maya were horsey lasses. I'm jealous! It was my childhood dream.
Hee, and maybe that's exactly why I'm so attracted to boots of all kinds - they remind me of horse riding.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Another horsey girl here. No competition, and we rode Western. My mom, brother and I took lessons every Saturday morning for years. Then my high school boyfriend came along and that was that! But for those tween years -- nothing beats falling in love with horses.

Sorry Joy. Back to boots. I am excited that you might get a pair of each! LCs and Fryes are both versatile and don't go out of style.

rae

(website)

Veteran

All LC footwear will be $69.95 tomorrow on 6pm.com!!!!!

Anonymous

Oh, Rae! I've not tried that site but will definitely see what's there. How do LC's usually fit? Pretty much true to size?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Aha! And now things are starting to piece together. Laura’s fascination and heart palpitations for cowboys stems from her Western riding days. Lena, Maya and my boot obsessions stem from classical horse riding days. How important our formative years were!

Joy, LC’s *sometimes* run half a size small. Rae, you're a honey.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Guilty as charged, Angie. Cowboys are my weakness. Now I'm just waiting to see you English riding ladies sporting jodphurs. Come on, you know you love them

p.s. Thank you Rae. That sounds like an incredible sale!

Joy, I've found that LCs run a tiny bit small. But my regular size still worked fine.

Maya

Veteran

Oooh Rae you have definitely twisted my very weak shopping arm!

Laura, there was a fab outfit on Project Runway a few seasons back that incorporated a cute pair of jodphurs and boots. Not that they would look fab on ME, but still. It was one of my favorite outfits, though you can't see it here because the jaw-droppingly killer coat is in the way:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oMke.....07_408.jpg

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Laura, I LOVE joddies - as we used to call them. I would so wear them again. Who's your favourite cowboy?

Maya, that's a fab outfit.

Anonymous

Thanks to Rae and to your input on sizes, I ordered LC Lolita ankle boots in grey suede from 6pm. There wasn't much in my size in riding boots, but they do come in smaller calf openings, so I'll be watching for the right pair. What a great sale! I really hope that these fit.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

There are some La Canadiennes on sale at 6pm.com today if anyone is looking at them.

Cowboys- Roy Rogers and his wife were locals here for many years. They changed the highway name to Happy Trails Highway in his honor, although nobody calls it that. There are several other streets named after him and his wife, too.
I never rode- either English or Western. I have a thing for donkeys LOL

rae

(website)

Veteran

Yay, always happy to share a sale! I hope it brings good shopping karma, as I have some riding boots on their way to me via FedEx.

Am I a huge dork if my favorite cowboy is Captain Malcolm Reynolds from Firefly?

Anonymous

You ladies are cracking me up!!
I am going to have to be a Frye's gal because my Dad used to ride in the Spring Valley Rodeo near San Diego many years ago. I was only 6 years old so I don't remember what brand of boots he wore but I do remember going toTijuana to buy them, and I know for sure they were not La Canadienne. (I hope I spelled that correct). This is fun, and brings back alot of memories.

Lena

Ooh, Rae, Firefly was great, wasn't it?
I think Dawn is another fan, too.