I have held a life-long view that shoes in any colour other than black or red are fundamentally wrong. Brown shoes? Urgh. Not for me, no thank you. It’s never done me any harm and I have spent a lifetime sticking to these principles. Of course this is a prejudice that is founded on sand – there is no reason for it other than at some point before I can remember, I decided that this was the case.

So imagine my surprise when I found myself the owner of a pair of very “brahn boots”. I was sort of coerced by DM who thought they were cute and I was seduced by the fact that they are environmentally friendly boots. The soles are biodegradable apparently. I am a sucker for a biodegradable boot! The buckles and tassels make me feel as though I should be wearing a fringy jacket and a Stetson. Does this make me a cow girl? Or is that a prejudicial statement too?

It helps that the boots are dead comfy and very easy to wear. It helps that DM commented on how “stylish” I looked when I went out the other day wearing them. It even helps that I can almost imagine myself as Doris Day in Calamity Jane when I’m wearing them…OK – I DID say almost. I know that may be a leap of faith too far for many readers of this (even my parents would balk at me singing “the deadwood stage”).

Even though I have some very intransigent views about some things, I am prepared to admit that my prejudice about the colour of these boots has gone. I’m still feeling a bit squeamish about brown shoes in any other context though. I’m not imagining any other brown shoes finding their way into my wardrobe any time soon. For now though…”whip, crack away”.