WESTERN HERITAGE
CITY BOOTS: MADE FOR EVERY OCCASION A boot fascination turned into a business for this Texas native. By Meg Drake
Lizzy Chesnut knows a good pair of boots when she sees one, even from a young age. This passion led her to creating CITY Boots - Lizzy’s own line of handcrafted boots. “I was always a boot lover and collector,” said Lizzy. “I filled my closet and bedroom with my [boot] collection so I decided that I needed to channel that energy elsewhere.” She had always gravitated toward vintage boots, but finding a pair in the right size and fit proved to be more difficult than she anticipated. She suspected if she was having this problem, others were too, and thus the idea behind CITY Boots began. When Lizzy was laid off from her job in the oil and gas industry, she found herself with time to tackle her dream. One of her first steps was drawing inspiration from her own vintage boot collection. “Most CITY Boots have the rounded toe, tall tops, and the feminine riding heel,” she said. “All characteristics that are reminiscent of vintage boots.” She also likes to put her own unique spin on each pair by incorporating different colors. The road to success for CITY Boot hasn’t always been easy. As a finance major and someone who has spent the majority of their professional career in the oil and gas industry, navigating the fashion world is still difficult for Lizzy. She offers this bit of advice for those just getting started. “Don’t be afraid to be different and go against the trends,” she said. “Don’t get distracted or discouraged by what others are doing.” “Starting a cowboy boot company has given me my own place in this wonderful western world,” said Lizzy. Today, CITY Boots feature footwear for him and her. Her clients are often those who value comfort, classic styles and quality for a fair price. One thing is certain, Lizzy doesn’t like to sit idle. On a weekly basis she is participating in pop-up-shops around the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex, displaying her boots at various equine events and hosting creative brainstorms with team members. She has big plans for CITY Boots and these activities are just the beginning. “I have boots in Iceland, Australia and the United Kingdom,” she said. “But I’m not stopping there. I have a few things up my sleeve. You’ll have to wait and see what new things are coming,” teased Lizzy. One of these goals includes getting a pair of CITY Boots on Princess Kate Middleton. “I always say I want to convert ‘city’ people into cowboy boot wearers,” said Lizzy. “I feel like she would be the ultimate win.” To learn more about CITY Boots, visit www.cityboots.com.
48 | Ranch House Journal