I think "pretty boots" are a good idea.
When I had my son, strollers came in various shades of blue/tan/dark green - it was only special ordered for me to get a white one with black dots and red trim. It stood out everywhere.
When my daughter was born, "girlie" strollers came into vogue - all of a sudden they came in pink, florals, etc. You could suddenly get them in bright yellow and other fun colors. And then expensive car seats pushed it with designer covers.
I do think skates will become less traditional on skaters - Sasha Cohen is coming out with a line of crazy combos that won't break a budget. The silver heel on the ice fly gets attention, colored blades.
There is an overwhelming desire to stand out - whether it's trying to find a unique name for a child (Apple?) or being different (rainbow skates in a sea of white).