I have a number of people for whom I need to pick up gifts this year and thankfully, for the sake of the Planet Blog, they fit into interesting stereotypes! Of course, these gifts aren’t going to be perfect for everyone, but they are a great place to start!

To: My Teenage Friend

This is a super cute and trendy bootie, made in cozy flannel and detailed with great, eye-catching buttons. The soft bootie is really in this year, and I happen to have a 17 year old to buy for. For less than $50 I can give her a pair of booties from one of the up and coming brands in the marketplace.

I happen to love my Blowfish boots and these will look great with skinny jeans, leggings or cozy tights. The rubber footbed and outsole offers a bit of protection from the elements but these are stylish and reasonably priced!

To: My friend who is jealous of my Socks.

I was wearing my black Injinji socks around my friend’s house the other day and no one could keep their eyes off them! Now they are in high demand in my circle so you know I’m going to snap up a bunch and give them as holiday gifts.

I mean – they’re totally fun! And also, I can attest to their being cozy, especially in lined boots. So if you have people in your life that are open to new things and want a great pair of high quality, performance socks that will get some attention, Injinji socks belong under your tree!

To: My Five Year Old Girl.

I am snapping up some great Acorn slippers for my little girl. She is extremely girly (I don’t know where she gets it from) and so I’m grabbing her the Acorn Boa Bootie in Pink Sherbert. I’ll buy a size up and be confident that they’ll fit through next winter as well.

Acorn has an amazing reputation for cozy durability so I know this is a gift that will keep her feet warm and the pink, fuzzy texture is sure to please. Plus, with a memory foam midsole cover and a non slip weatherproof outsole, she won’t go sliding all over the kitchen floor!

To: My Best Friend, Who has Waist Length Dreadlocks

WeBe Bags! Useful, versatile, adorable and made from recycled materials, these bags are eco friendly and have a style all their own. You can get a roomy tote or even a sizable duffel bag and every one is made out of a feed, flour or coffee sack.

In fact, you may not even end up getting exactly what your order because they are often each original! So if you have an eco-conscious woman in your life who has a unique sense of style and is always in need of a good bag, check out WeBe for a great holiday gift!

We’re seeing it all over the place these day – super short skirts and cute ankle boots – or booties. Just yesterday I saw Nikki Hilton rocking some ankle boots with her denim, frayed daisy dukes and here we’ve got Taylor Momsen, filming next season of Gossip Girl, in an edgy outfit with a super short skirt and an over sized flannel completed with a fabulous pair of mid heel black leather ankle boots.

We saw the ankle bootie become super popular last year and it looks like we’ve got more looks to pair with this trend, but how can you take the look you see on celebrities but add your own signature style?

Well, we looked around on Planet Shoes to find some interesting options for you. These aren’t the ankle boots you see everywhere – from Naot to Pikolinos, these boots are high quality and boutique and guaranteed to give you a unique look that is going to get you noticed!

Here are some great black ankle boot options perfect for summer, into fall and winter!

Let’s start with the  Blowfish Willis! The reverse wedge heel, structured yet slouchy look and perfect ankle height will make these perfect with short shorts, and with skinny jeans as the weather cools.

Blowfish offers the best value for fashion these days and you can see the quality in the detail. The fun and vibrant purple lining and the architectural nature of these boots elevate their style – and they’re super comfortable as well!

If you want to go with a slightly edgier, rocker look, check out the Blundstone Classic Boot. This black leather work boot has a more masculine, chunkier look, similar to the punk aesthetic of the Doctor Marten’s but with an easy pull on style and elasticized fit for comfort. Blundstone is one of the best known names in high quality boots.

In this case, you’ll be taking a boot made for function and giving it a fashionable edge. Perfect to add that biker flavor to even your most feminine outfit, the Blundstone Classic boot is also extremely practical, developed for durability and hard wearing.

For a more modern and innovative look, check out the Naot Remu, a funky bootie with faux lacing and a fascinating combination of textures that give it a futuristic feel. This is truly a boot for the fashion forward – a real attention getter – but also a boot designed for function and comfort.

The footbed is specially designed for additional shock absorption and the materials that go into this boot are all top of the line. The combination of tanned leather, suede and elastic material help the boot fit your foot perfectly, supporting you and keeping you ahead of the trends.

And, last but not least, the feminine ankle biker boot; the Pikolinos Cuba. This ankle boot is beautifully shaped and made with eco-friendly leather. The shape of the toe will elongate your legs and the mid sized heel will keep you comfortable walking to work or dancing in your favorite bar.

The side belt adds edginess and this boot is truly perfect for your cute micro mini and will look hot in the fall with jeans, skirts or just about anything you choose! This is also a perfect staple for your fall wardrobe, made to last but with a commitment to the earth!

So take inspiration from fashion forward celebrities and then make your own look!

Do you like modern architecture? Buildings that have a little edge, a unique look that isn’t in the least bit cookie-cutter? I do, I like a building with a little funk and a little rebel about it – and I get that same feeling when I look at Blowfish shoes. The designers let their imaginations fly and don’t limit their vision to the expected materials, silhouettes or colors.

Take the downtown Seattle Public Library. Funk-y. It looks like a cube that has bits shifted this way and that, odd angles and lots and lots of glass to let in the light. The inside features super bright colors and a ramp that spirals up and up and it looks like no library you ever seen before.

With Blowfish you see the same innovation. Instead of strict lines and perfect edges they create ripples and waves, twists and turns. Bright colors are paired with geometric designs and patterns like plaid which brings energy to these shoes.

Easily paired with jeans they can go from campus to a night out with friends and give you a style all your own along the way. They look finished but not formal, a truly individual design sensibility that you don’t find anywhere else.

Have you seen the Stata building? It is part of MIT’s campus and it combines slouching towers, windows that stick out at odd angles, and combines different materials like textured brick and smooth metal to make this beautiful, chaotic building.

Blowfish harnesses that same youthful, madcap exuberance capitalizing on their position as a young brand they aren’t stuck with the same old same old.

One of their most widely known designs, the Hobbit boots, uses unevenly spaced buttons to create a slouchy look that takes the boring out of their boots and slides them straight into funky.

Blowfish ballet flats are created anew with swirls of twisted material that accent the fluid lines of the shoe while tye-dye fabric literally allows each shoe to be unique. Embellishments such as fringe, embroidery and even a little bling on their summer sandals keep each pair of Blowfish shoes looking fresh.

As a young brand Blowfish has captured the newest trends- and even better, created trend setting patterns and looks that have inspired their loyal customers. Never relying on what has been, the Blowfish designers are always ahead of the curve bringing what will be the hottest new look to the market.

We love a great boot and Blowfish is totally delivering. Tall or low, canvas or leather, classic or funky, you’ll find a great option. Blowfish is a newer brand made up of folks who have made a serious mark in the industry helping brands like Sam & Libby, Rocket Dog, Aerosoles and Esprit stand out amongst their competitors and now they’re doing it with their own company.

Let’s start with one of our all time best Blowfish boots, the Hey Now. Offered in a couple of colors (grey wash and black wash twill to be specific), these canvas tall boots with innovative button detail have been a long standing best seller. Casual, comfortable but offering the style edge we all need and love, these boots need to be in your fall collection.

The zip up the inside of the leg for easy on and off and the flat and flexible rubber sole keep you comfortable while you’re on your feet. Versatile and unique they’ll look great with skinny jeans, a legging or with a cute skirt. They are also perfect for the fall transition time when you’re ready for a style changeup but it’s still a bit warm for your full on tall leather boot.

Another Blowfish style, the Wild Life tall boot is coming on fast and furious. With an adorable 2.5 inch architectural size wooden heel, these leather boots with the rounded toe and buckle detailing give a different look than the more comfy and slouchy Hey Now.

In chocolate or black leather, you can pull these on for wear in the office or out at the bars. Simply pull these boots on over jeans or leggings – no zippers to deal with! The styling is classic and the materials are of incredible quality so if you take care of these boots, they’ll take care of you.

Now, if you’re fashion conscious and you’re looking for some great ankle boots, or bootie options, Blowfish offers the soft and gathered Willis boot.

These have a low cut leather upper, round toe and architectural wooden heel for a comfortable, stylish look for fall. You’ll find them not only in black and brown, but also a gorgeous natural if that’s the look you’re going for. The leather dresses them up a bit and makes them versatile for any outfit or style.

For a slightly different bootie look – in a flat – you have a couple of options. First, check out the Blowfish Hybrid D, in black or brown. A brushed suede upper and rubber flexible bottom with a metal clasp detail and easy in and out inside zipper makes these a great and comfortable ankle boot option.

They are good looking and clean which will make them great for fall and they are super versatile, working with a simpler style or for someone going for a more funky look.

Likewise comfortable but on the wilder side, you’ll find the Blowfish Hobbit in four different canvas “work shirt” plaids. Mimicking the button detail on the Hey Now, the hobbits are all about slouchy comfort and fun styling. Go a little crazy with Fuchsia or Green plaid, you’ll stand out in style and feel comfortable to boot! (ha ha)

So while you’re looking for options in boots this fall – high, mid or ankle boot – consider the blowfish boots we have over on Planet. You get the style, the detail and the comfort!