Boots with da fur... and jorts with da tights

Calle Serrano and Calle de la Princesa are meccas of Spanish shopping, but the distinct style of the city is easy to spot on every street around Madrid. Perhaps the biggest phenomenon is the pairing of jean shorts with leggings.

Virtually every Spanish young woman walks around with faded out jean shorts pulled over either tights or leggings of any color. Purple is a sign of a true fashionista, though blacks, browns, and nudes are the most common.

And what shoes does one wear with such a combination? Leather boots, obviously.  Boots are worn either over the knee or ankle length. Some have fur interiors and laces up the front, while others stick to shiny zippers.

Though these trends in the shoes are obvious, no two pair look a like. In sharp contrast to the identical Ugg boots and Longchamp bags that march around Vanderbilt´s campus, each girl here has her own customized shoes and purses.

I immediately started shoe shopping for Spanish-esque boots upon arrival, but I remained admantly opposed to the jorts with leggings look. I have to admit though, after days of walking to school amongst the jort-and-tights decked out girls, I decided to give the apparel a whirl.

And now I actualy kind of like it. So if you see some blonde girl walking around campus in jean shorts and ankle boots in the middle of November next semester, think twice before you bash my style. It´s the cool thing to do in Madrid.

Other Madrileña must-haves: scarves, leather jackets, brightly-colored shorts

Things you can leave in the United States: stilettos, boot-cut jeans, hair brushes