The Bia & Bella
The Bia and Bella are structured boots made of panels giving you a firm and supportive feel in the saddle. The concealed zip is off centre and almost hidden from view, which creates a streamlined look and feel. The laces are threaded through hooks on the Bia, which are sealed to your perfect fit from day one and eyelets on the Bella, which are more like traditional lacing.
There are also 3 options for the fastenings - the long strap and popper (hiding the laces) the most popular, followed by the long strap and buckle (gold, silver, silver and diamante and antique available) and finally a short strap and popper, which leaves the laces on full display giving the longest leg line possible.
The regular panels are firm depending on the leather chosen but there is the option to add a reinforced outer panel if required. You can also add full sheepskin lining or just add to the foot making these models amongst the most flexible of our collection.
Whilst the Bia and Bella require very little by way of breaking in, they will feel very different to a rear zip boot and we always advise clients to prepare to spend a week or two breaking them in. Add to this polished leather and they will feel very firm to begin with but just give them time and they will feel amazing and like a second skin.
The Rita
We refer to the Rita as the baby sister of the Bia and Bella. With eyelet lacing giving a softer appearance and a rear zip they will be super soft from day one. As with all of our rear zip boots they won’t be as structured as boots created from panels as they don’t have any boning and are made from one piece of leather, but they will still be more supportive than you think due to our unique close contact feel from precision craftsmanship. The Rita works particularly well as a fashion boot too with many clients buying suede models to wear with jeans and leggings!
So which to choose?
Styling will most probably be key here and most clients are drawn to one or the other – it’s rare for clients to be torn between the two strangely. All laced models offer flexibility in sizing, which is favoured by so many riders who know they might fluctuate in weight from time to time – perfect during super-hot summers where most of us will struggle to get their boots up at one time or another. It is worth bearing in mind they will arrive with a perfect fit where the flexibility will come from opening them rather than tightening them.
Dressage riders (in most cases) are more drawn to the Bia and Bella, which offer far more support generally and most definitely in the ankle area - that said both will fit the ankle perfectly! The Rita is most definitely a more casual, laid back version of the Bia and Bella.
Eventers, showjumpers and even those hunting (yes, we did say hunting) have also bought the Bia and Bella but this is where they can be divided as our jumping collection give a far closer contact, which would be our first suggestions for those who only jumping or where jumping is the primary discipline.
Ultimately you can dressage or jump (secure your laces!) and anything in-between and the boots will perform beautifully. The question will be if you want a firm full on dressage boot (Bia and Bella) or a more laid back and as comfortable as old slippers (Rita) pair of boots. If you want to create the illusion of longer legs both will do the job but the Bia and Bella have the edge if you want that sucked in (think boot Spanx) leanest possible look. Ultimately both will feel amazing after the breaking in period so go with your first instinct and buy the boots you were first drawn to!