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She Traded In Her Oil Industry Job to Design Cowboy Boots for the Office
She Traded In Her Oil Industry Job to Design Cowboy Boots for the Office
By Kathryn Dill
By Kathryn Dill
Growing up in Amarillo, Texas, Lizzy Chesnut Bentley was rarely without her cowboy boots—a pink pair from her grandfather when she was 4 years old.
Growing up in Amarillo, Texas, Lizzy Chesnut Bentley was rarely without her cowboy boots—a pink pair from her grandfather when she was 4 years old.
At Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where Ms. Bentley was president of the student Oil and Gas Club, she developed a reputation for helping students from out of state find their first pair of Texas cowboy boots and wearing her own favorite pair—vintage men’s two-tone ostrich boots she bought for $30—at sorority formals. By the time she was 24, she had amassed a boot collection 50 pairs deep, many of them vintage finds.
At Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where Ms. Bentley was president of the student Oil and Gas Club, she developed a reputation for helping students from out of state find their first pair of Texas cowboy boots and wearing her own favorite pair—vintage men’s two-tone ostrich boots she bought for $30—at sorority formals. By the time she was 24, she had amassed a boot collection 50 pairs deep, many of them vintage finds.
The footwear is both “functional and a fashion statement,” Ms. Bentley says. “You can wear them all day. You can put on jeans, and a white T-shirt, and a red pair of cowboy boots, and you have your outfit right there.”
The footwear is both “functional and a fashion statement,” Ms. Bentley says. “You can wear them all day. You can put on jeans, and a white T-shirt, and a red pair of cowboy boots, and you have your outfit right there.”
After graduating in 2012 she moved to Houston to work at Halliburton as a financial analyst. The oil business was booming and she loved the city, where everyone she met seemed to be professionally driven. One element of corporate culture irked her, though: She couldn’t find a pair of cowboy boots that worked with her buttoned-up office wardrobe. “I’m wearing heels every day. I’m looking around, all the men are wearing cowboy boots, and I was just jealous,” she says.
After graduating in 2012 she moved to Houston to work at Halliburton as a financial analyst. The oil business was booming and she loved the city, where everyone she met seemed to be professionally driven. One element of corporate culture irked her, though: She couldn’t find a pair of cowboy boots that worked with her buttoned-up office wardrobe. “I’m wearing heels every day. I’m looking around, all the men are wearing cowboy boots, and I was just jealous,” she says.
Finally, she designed her own—of black buffalo leather with a single strip of white piping up the side—that she tucked into skinny black pants and wore with a blouse and a blazer.
Finally, she designed her own—of black buffalo leather with a single strip of white piping up the side—that she tucked into skinny black pants and wore with a blouse and a blazer.
IN A NUTSHELL … TELL US ABOUT YOU:
IN A NUTSHELL … TELL US ABOUT YOU:
I'm the founder and CEO of CITY Boots, an online handmade boot store based in Texas. I love catching up with friends over dinner, eating good food, exploring new cities and hiking in national and state parks. My next stop is Zion! I am super family-oriented and have a younger sister and brother and a fur baby Birdie, my toy Australian Shepherd.
I'm the founder and CEO of CITY Boots, an online handmade boot store based in Texas. I love catching up with friends over dinner, eating good food, exploring new cities and hiking in national and state parks. My next stop is Zion! I am super family-oriented and have a younger sister and brother and a fur baby Birdie, my toy Australian Shepherd.
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY IN THE OFFICE LOOK LIKE?
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY IN THE OFFICE LOOK LIKE?
Every day is so different! Some days I’m on the road traveling to a pop-up shop, and some days I’m in the warehouse organizing inventory. I do a lot of texting with the factory, customers and my marketing and fulfillment teams.
Every day is so different! Some days I’m on the road traveling to a pop-up shop, and some days I’m in the warehouse organizing inventory. I do a lot of texting with the factory, customers and my marketing and fulfillment teams.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK?
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK?
It’s something I can put work into and see an immediate outcome. I definitely get what I put into it, which is very rewarding and motivating.
It’s something I can put work into and see an immediate outcome. I definitely get what I put into it, which is very rewarding and motivating.
“LOOKING AT ME, NO ONE WOULD GUESS…”
“LOOKING AT ME, NO ONE WOULD GUESS…”
I’m a widow. My late husband, William, passed away in April this year.
I’m a widow. My late husband, William, passed away in April this year.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION?
WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION?
A pair of diamond earrings I bought myself when I took a new job in my previous career. They go with everything and make my day so much easier because I never have to pick which jewelry to wear. They outshine everything I have in my closet.
A pair of diamond earrings I bought myself when I took a new job in my previous career. They go with everything and make my day so much easier because I never have to pick which jewelry to wear. They outshine everything I have in my closet.
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
“There are always a million reasons NOT to do something. Don’t let that stop you.”
“There are always a million reasons NOT to do something. Don’t let that stop you.”
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE AN UP-AND-COMING PROFESSIONAL WOMAN?
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE AN UP-AND-COMING PROFESSIONAL WOMAN?
You don’t need to have a 10-year plan; not even a 5-year plan. Life and career will throw you curveballs, try to be in the moment and do the task at hand instead of being distracted by what else is out there and what “should” be happening in your career or what’s happening in your peers’ careers.
You don’t need to have a 10-year plan; not even a 5-year plan. Life and career will throw you curveballs, try to be in the moment and do the task at hand instead of being distracted by what else is out there and what “should” be happening in your career or what’s happening in your peers’ careers.
WHO IS SOMEONE THAT HAS CONSISTENTLY INSPIRED YOU?
WHO IS SOMEONE THAT HAS CONSISTENTLY INSPIRED YOU?
Whitney Wolfe Herd, the creator of Bumble. She went to SMU and has done amazing things. She is such a genuine person too. She really wants the best for everyone.
Whitney Wolfe Herd, the creator of Bumble. She went to SMU and has done amazing things. She is such a genuine person too. She really wants the best for everyone.
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL?
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL?
When you can take a phone call from a friend at any time of the day.
When you can take a phone call from a friend at any time of the day.
HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH STRESS?
HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH STRESS?
Sleep!!! I’m a stress sleeper.
Sleep!!! I’m a stress sleeper.
SOMETHING YOU WISH YOU WOULD HAVE KNOWN SOONER IN YOUR LIFE?
SOMETHING YOU WISH YOU WOULD HAVE KNOWN SOONER IN YOUR LIFE?
Not to worry so much about the future.
Not to worry so much about the future.
FAVORITE QUOTE:
FAVORITE QUOTE:
You can have everything; you just can’t have it all at one time.
You can have everything; you just can’t have it all at one time.
FAVORITE WORD (AND WHY):
FAVORITE WORD (AND WHY):
Love. It’s all we really have at the end of the day.
Love. It’s all we really have at the end of the day.
Rebooted
Dill, K. (2021, January 24). She Traded In Her Oil Industry Job to Design Cowboy Boots for the Office. Retrieved January 25, 2021, from https://www.wsj.com/articles/she-traded-in-her-oil-industry-job-to-design-cowboy-boots-for-the-office-11611496827?mod=itp_wsj
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