i still follow fashion (not slavishly, but still), but i think sometime around fall 2002 or 2003 i woke up to the ability to distinguish between whether or not this season's style was really... worth it? whatever year it was, i think i really disliked what was available in stores (decided by the runways six months earlier).

maybe people are trying to pull off some sort of S&M look with the thigh-high boots? iunno.