Ever since I can remember, I have always had a style icon in my life. Over the years, the eclectic cast of characters I tried to emulate grew and changed dramatically. And they all came rushing back to me the moment I put on these Stuart Weitzman thigh high boots I’ve been dreaming about since the early 90’s.

The earliest icon I can remember idolizing was Olivia Newton-John from “Grease”. Not the sweet blonde, hair flip, headband / saddle shoe wearing Sandra Dee. Oh, hell no. I’m talking about the sexed-up, wild haired, spandex-laden Sandy that Travolta drops to his knees for. And I was 3. Already shady instincts. My mother would always indulge my latest obsession by tracking down the person’s entire outfit and giving it to me for Christmas. How on earth this woman found Olivia’s slingbacks in a size 4 is beyond me.

There was a year where I wanted to be Olive Oil (I can’t make this up) and I walked around in huge men’s construction boots and a knot bun. Then there was Christie Brinkley in Vacation (the shirt dress! the Ferrari!), Kim Basinger in 9 ½ Weeks (buying garter belts while being a 12 year old virgin with no dates = pointless and confusing), Winona Ryder in Beetlejuice (strawberry blondes cannot pull off goth, just fyi), Michelle Pfieffer in Catwoman (had the bodysuit, wore it around my bedroom, not in public), Sandra Bullock in Speed (random, yes, but she got to make out Keanu, so understandable) and, of course, Thelma (no explanation needed).

But no one lasted longer than Julia. This is where the boots come in. Pretty Woman changed my world. That great hair, the smile and… the thigh high, patent leather boots she held up with a safety pin. They were on the poster, they were her co-star (sorry, Richard) and I knew I could never pull them off in my super awkward, adolescent state. But just give it a few years and I was ready. I tried them on. Beyond spectacular. They work with everything. And, now, I have the balls to pull them off.

xoxo, Alex

  Zara Green Lace Top (similar one here) // Zara White Jeans (similar one here) // Stuart Weitzman Boots // Louis Vuitton Bag // Persol Sunglasses

Photos by Patrick Muniz