In the opening scene of Wild, the movie adaptation of Cheryl Strayed's 2012 hiking memoir, Reese Witherspoon as Strayed chucks a Danner mountain boot off a cliff in frustration. Don't worry: After trekking 50 miles more in sandals wrapped in duct tape, she's able to get a new pair. The boots, Danner's Mountain Light Cascades, are special re-creations of the ones Strayed wore during her 1995 journey. "Fox Searchlight approached us to make the exact model that appears on the cover of the book," says Will Pennartz, Danner's senior marketing manager. The Portland (Ore.)-based company custom-made Witherspoon more than 30 pairs of the discontinued style. (A similar version exists but uses a slightly different leather.) Then, with Fox Searchlight's help, it rolled out a limited edition to be marketed with the movie's release. "As soon as Reese posted photos of herself in the boots, we started getting requests from fashion publications and from fans wondering where to buy them," Pennartz says. The Mountain Light Cascades are available for $300 online at danner.com, as well as at REI and select Urban Outfitters. They're rugged and waterproof but will also be popular with city dwellers-they look just as good with tights and miniskirts as they do with hiking shorts. Confirms Pennartz: "There's a strong crossover between outdoor style and fashion right now."
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