McLeod's Daughters may be returning to our screens and Barnaby Joyce is a fashion pin up.
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Welcome to the winter of 2017, the era of elevated rural chic. Where Fendi is designing shearling jackets and R.M. Williams are now producing gold boots.
Back in 1993, R.M. Williams created the President boot especially for Bill Clinton; now the popular Yearling Adelaide style comes in sparkling gold leather for Ziggy Stardust fans.
But only female Bowie fans need bother adding these disco boots to cart.
The brand, better known for moleskin trousers and being the deputy Prime Minister's preferred boot maker, has released a metallic version of its bestselling style that can only be purchased online for $545. Prospective buyers will then have to wait about eight weeks before they are delivered.
"The Adelaide features a feminine toe shape, a lower height profile giving an elegant line into the ankle and a tapered heel with a rubber grip heel piece. The signature RM tugs have been resized and specifically designed for a woman," the product description reads.
Some customers were frustrated when the new colour was released earlier this week after numerous sizes sold out within hours of becoming available.
Despite R.M.'s being worn by the Duchess of Cambridge and seen on the catwalk for Australian designer Dion Lee, agricultural publications are bemused at this latest fusion of fashion and farming.
"When you think of R.M. Williams you think of the good boots, the go-anywhere boots, the farm boots. Boots you could wear to a wedding, or in the paddock," The Land, owned by Fairfax Media, publisher of The Sydney Morning Herald, opined.
"You probably don't think of metallic gold boots. Or boots that wouldn't look out of place in a Sydney nightclub... But boys, stand down. These are ladies' boots."
The metallic boots – a look many Australian retailers, including Tony Bianco, are promoting for winter – is in step with R.M. Williams' corporate direction to "target townies".
Its foray into high-fashion isn't surprising considering the brand has been controlled by L Capital since 2014, a subsidiary of the Paris-based luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, owner of Louis Vuitton and Celine.
It also makes sense that the tide has begun turning toward farmer-inspired style at a time when many urbanites are considering a tree change, coincidentally at the suggestion of the deputy PM, in a bid to escape the soaring cost of inner city living.
Why try getting into the Sydney housing market, which is the real estate equivalent of the exclusive Studio 54 club, when you can have your smashed avocado and eat it too while dressed for a night out at a defunct disco?
