and so i went to the bazaar in kostanai to have a poke around. bazaar shopping ought to be a recognized sport. you have to weave between people in narrow aisles that are arranged in a seemingly maze-like manner, presenting you with a serious potential to get totally lost. it doesn't help that every other stall in the bazaar sells the same clothes/shoes/bags/whatever, so it's not like you can pick out a distinct landmark to guide your way. next time, i'll have to take a ball of string or some breadcrumbs to mark my path.
anyhow, after passing by the same stall three times, i found myself a nice tote bag that fulfilled all of the kaz-tastic accessory requirements: shiny, shiny, and shiny. it's a faux patent leather tote bag in a dark blue, complete with silver grommets.
if i really wanted it to be kaz-tastic, however, it would also have a number of large metal buckles and a large metal plate with a fake D&G or Dior or Chanel logo on it. unfortunately, i haven't integrated into local culture that much. i just can't bring myself to spend what little money i have on that crap.
fabulously ridiculous kaz-tastic shiny bag, check.
now for the boots. walking in boots, like bazaar shopping, should also be a recognized sport, particularly in the winter. i don't know how they manage to stay upright, but these kazakhstan girls can walk around in 4-inch high heels, which are usually the width of a pencil, in ice and snow. i, however, cannot. nevertheless, i figured it was time to bite the bullet and buy myself some kaz-tastic boots. again, the kaz-tastic accessory requirements apply here; the shinier, the better. and when it comes to shoes, another accessory rule comes into play: the higher, the better.
in the autumn, the zelyony bazaar in kostanai is boot heaven. the selection is unbelievable, with every other stall selling a variety of them. again, after wandering up and down the aisles, back and forth, i finally settled on a pair. 4-inch high stiletto heels, buckles, ruching, and faux patent leather. these boots have not just met, but have surpassed the kaz-tastic requirements.
you're probably thinking that these shoes are totally ridiculous, which they would be in any other non-KZ context. but if my 50 year-old counterpart can wear knee-high, patent leather boots with rock star-esque chain detailing that are rather age-inappropriate to school, then i don't see why i can't wear these boots to school. they're totally age-appropriate, despite being a little weird for daytime wear and a little on the S&M side. i don't care. they're fabulous.
and fabulously kaz-tastic.
