I graduated from interior design school in 1979 and got my first job in 1980 across the street from Roots on Avenue Road and Davenport. During lunchtime, I would go to the store and just look around. With one of my first paychecks, I bought a pair of tall leather Roots boots. It was a big deal—they cost half my rent!

I’m Estonian and have always had strong, gymnast legs. This was post-Twiggy days, and French designer boots from that time would barely fit over my ankle. I remember going into a fancy shoe store and the guy working there put his hand on his hip and said, “We don't have anything to fit you.” It was disheartening and I developed a complex. But Roots made styles that fit healthy, athletic people.

I was wearing a vintage pinstriped suit from the 1940s, which had a long skirt I’d remade – and the boots. It was February 24th, 1980, Estonia’s independence day, and we were both at a convocation to please our parents. Instead of watching the boring speeches, we sat in the hall and talked. I distinctly remember these boots on my feet.

After five years, I wore those boots out. I went to the Roots store to see if I could get another pair but they were out of production. I asked if there was any way to get another pair and they told me I could get a custom pair made. They put me in touch with the factory that manufactured Roots boots. I gave them the first pair to make sure they knew exactly what I wanted. It was going to cost $500, which was a lot of money, but they were so cool and they empowered me. It’s the only time I’ve done something like that in my life, but I went ahead and did it.

Working in design, I always wore black because it wouldn’t conflict with whatever palette I might show my clients. I tended to wear my tall Roots boots, black jeans, black sweater or t-shirt, and, for many years, different styles of long, black tuxedo jackets. I’d have a black leather coat and on my shoulder a Roots purse that was big enough for my leather notepad.

I was afraid the new boots wouldn’t be as nice. But they were even better. It was a thrill. I never regretted it. And I took better care of this pair, probably because I felt like I should have originally bought four pairs. I saved them for better occasions. I winterized them and cleaned the salt off them. I kept the old ones for going on walks, wearing them in the woods—I wore the old ones until they were destroyed in a flood in 2000. But I was able to save the pair that had been custom made. They are the only pair of boots I’ve worn through different fashion eras. They are the only pair of tall boots that fit me perfectly. They define me.