Taylor Swift's Boots Are Made for Winning
I know why Taylor Swift didn't win Best New Artist at the Grammys. It had to be those damn Jimmy Choos she was wearing. I'm not saying they were bad luck. They just weren't good luck -- the kind she would've had if she'd worn her signature Liberty Boots.
Swift may have been snubbed by fashion police for wearing cowboy boots on the red carpet, but when she wears those boots, good things happen. Have you seen them? The nice people up at Liberty took their Love & Peace boots and Taylorized them. And once she started wearing them with dresses, like some kind of glamorous bohemian cowgirl, she became known as much as a fashion icon as a teenage country sensation.
If it sounds like I'm obsessed with these boots, it's because I am. Not solely because of their looks, but because I believe in the power of adorable boots. I believe that something so out of the ordinary gives you confidence you wouldn't have with Uggs, Birkenstocks, or flip-flops. Everyone else has those. These, though, are rare for two reasons. One, they aren't available at stores everywhere (and there's no Isaac Mizrahi rip-offs of them at Target). And two, they are pricey. Some are in the three-digit range, some way beyond. You have to earn that 2" stacked heel, pointy toe, whip-stitching and hand-tooling.
As a member of the Future Liberty Boot Owners of America, I can tell you that saving for a pair is as easy as giving up Starbucks for a year. Make your own lattes at home and soon you'll be walking a little taller in your own pair of Libertys. That's my plan, anyway. When I start going to concerts in the Rose and Crown boots, the Tattoo You boots, or the 60s Cowgirl boots, I expect a little boot envy at first. But eventually, country fans will get used to these works of art on my legs -- because once I get them, I doubt I'll ever wear anything else.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
mustang sally says:
Those pink boots in the picture are about $800 and then the Taylorized ones I think are about $1600. Thats a lot of cash for boots but they are super cute. :) Any thing woulda been better than designer sandals at the Grammys. She looks good in everything. Taylor should wear what’s comfortable and she didnt look it that night anyway.
me too says:
Ebay has these boots sometimes because I’ve been looking to get them to. The ones with the eagles are only $350, not as cool as the jolly roger ones in the picture but still would be that confidence boots you talked about! Taylors Love boots are very nice in the pic
Jeff says:
I’m a guy so I cant get boots exactly like that but I think Steven Tyler wears that brand too so maybe if I win the lottery I can get a pair like his. I do think boots can have an effect on the way you feel about yourself and Taylors music is a good example of the way she feels. Shes a good role model even though shes rich enough to have multiple pairs of these and those Jimmy Choos.
Joe says:
It’s not like she can’t afford them. And by this, I’m not talking about her recent success. I’m talking about the rich family she grew up in and the father that paid the 500,000-1 million dollar recording session bill for her debut album.
Money can buy anything, including a recording contract.
Lenore says:
Is that true that he bought her a record deal? That is he first time I have heard of that side of the story. Makes you wonder how she got to where shes at now. I though they grew up n a farm in Pennsylvana.
Just Joe says:
Lenore,
Yes, it’s true. It’s also a practice that, according to my friend, is becoming common among new artists. It’s one of Nashville’s many dirty little secrets. Apparently, Taylor’s dad had a tree farm or something in Pennsylvania and made a killing off of it. My friend also told me he’s talked with parents of children who went to school with her in Nashville and they say she’s a rich spoiled little brat.
Rockin’ T from Toronto says:
Hey Joe, lighten up. Sounds like your dad couldn’t buy you one and so you’re bitter.
The girl’s a one in a million talent and as as working musician that’s met her I’ll tell you that she’s the real thing. I don’t believe anyone ever got rich farming in America in the last 100 or so years and heresay (look it up!)isn’t woth anything.
Just Joe says:
Rockin T,
I can’t sing worth crap, but my friend who moved to Nashville can.
Do you even know how much it costs to record an album in Nashville nowadays for a debut artist? My friend told me 500,000-1 million dollars.
How fair is it to him, and the thousands of other people busting their butt in Nashville right now, to get overlooked because they’re “poor?” It’s almost like it’s a class conflict. The “have’s” are getting the deals while the “have-not’s” aren’t.
Just because you met her doesn’t mean that you know her inside out. How long did you meet with her, 5 minutes?
Someone who knows says:
This is bull. She got a record deal because Scott Borchetta fell in love with her voice and her charm. Get a life. Quit picking on gifted 18-year-olds.
Just Joe says:
Someone who knows,
Mr. Swift? Is that you?
Someone who knows says:
Just Joe,
Bitter Uninformed Liar, is that you?
BRIANNA LEASK says:
YOU ROCK LIKE SO MUCH!
A friend says:
Joe is telling the truth. I am from Reading PA and knew Taylor Swift’s family. She grew up on a small horse farm on Freemansville Road, not “Wyomissing, PA” like her bio insists. She moved to Wyomissing later on, right before she moved to Nashville. Trust me - there are NO horse farms in Wyomissing. It’s filled with big, expensive homes and mansions. I’m sure they stated she lived in Wyomissing her whole life because it sounds more “country” (ala like “Wyoming”).
Taylor Swift has indeed always had a luxurious and wealthy lifestyle. Her dad made his millions off being a stockbroker in NYC. Got her some sleazy junior record deal with Sony by the time she was 12, even though she had minimal songwriting experience, if any. A few years later she was getting endorsements by Taylor Guitars and appearing in Abercrombie and Fitch ads, years before she even had a cd out. Her dad also at this time hired Britney Spear’s manager. TRUST ME - SHE ONLY GOT ALL OF THIS BECAUSE HER FAMILY IS LOADED.
Ever wonder why she can’t sing for s— live? Here’s your answer. She also wasn’t country in the beginning. She was attempting to do pop songs until it was recommended by a friend to go the country route.
Just Joe says:
Thank you “A friend.” See people? Don’t ever doubt me again!
AllisonKraussFan says:
I head she was very wealthy too- and that is at least partially how she got her record deal. She went to Britney Spears camp for teens- so that tells me that she was clearly going the pop route originally. She doesn’t sound country at all- and now sheis remixing all her songs for pop radio and MTV. I think she should just go pop and be done with it- she can’t sing live anyway- so she is better suited to pop where she can lip sync with everyone else. She comes off as a spoiled brat to me too- but if she could sing, I would not care that much. She can’t sing- and she is getting by on daddy’s money, her looks, and the cluelessness of the public that thinks “oh how cute- she is 18 and writes her own songs.” They are so mesmerized by your youth and looks that they ignore her very poor singing ability. She would never have even made it to the hollywood rounds on american idol.
Taylor Rocks says:
What a beautiful gal! We are both country girls!
T J says:
How do you people know she can’t sing? You ever been to a concert like I have? Bashers the lot of you - Taylor has now gone double platinum, she is touring with Rascal Flatts (before that George Strait), her videos are in the top ten, her debut CD has spent weeks at number one, she has more myspace friends than Carrie Underwood. She was knocking on Nashville doors when she was 10 years old. I’ll tell you now, you don’t sell close to 3 million CD’s if you can’t sing. So knock off that drivel. It don’t work here!
Daddy’s money - ha! sounds like it was hard work and dedication to me.
If you feel so sorry for poor performers why don’t you sponsor them.
That is an option you know!! Work! so you get yourself a sponsor then you can afford the down payment on your debut CD.
ScottyB says:
Hey, this is Scott Borchetta, the person who signed Taylor when she was 14. All the RIDICULOUS comments about her father spending a million dollars to ‘buy’ her a record deal are absolutely false. I have had the good fortune to work with the biggest of the big in Nashville including Reba, Strait, Vince Gill, Toby Keith, Sugarland and now Taylor. If you don’t like her music, that’s your perogative. I can tell you with absolute clarity that she is one of the most talented artists I’ve worked with some 25 years in the biz. Also, when starting the new label Big Machine and watching every dollar, I can factually tell you we made her first record for one-third of what major labels spend. She’s always loved Country music, starting with Leann Rimes. She came to Nashville the first time when she was 11. As far as her vocal talent, she’s unbelievable. Ask a real singer about Taylor’s ability and uniqueness and they will tell you how special she is. So, if you are jealous of her success and you’re looking to tear her down, keeping making this crap up. But, that’s the American Way, create your heroes and then tear them down. We’re making her second record right now and it’s going to blow people away. She’s likely to be a big star for a long time to come so you might be smart to pick a fight you can win and a target you can successfully tear down - this ain’t it…
TomH says:
Scotty, thank god you posted this message above if it was somehow really you posting in a blog. Please note that Scott is completely right. I have been working here in nashville in the music industry for the past two and a half years and have a natural gift for finding talent. Trust Scotty on this, she’s not getting to where she is by paying for it. Paying out money can only get you so far in this industry and she’s way above that level. She has a great songwriting ability and a unique voice that people adore. She just won two awards at the CMT’s that was completely fan based voting! If you’re looking for an example of paying out money and forcing publicity to sell records, take a look at the massive failure of Tila Tequila. She’s made her money off the crapy tv shows and baring photo’s, not music. Her single only sold 13,000 downloads at release time. Tila is selling her “image” not her voice! Just like Paris. So for anyone to take a stab at Taylor is just jealous, don’t be. she’s not shoving her success down your throat like every other star in Hollywood.
Lisia says:
wow