Everyday, with growing frustration, my five year old asks when it is going to snow (he thinks it isn’t really winter because there is no white stuff). So today it started snowing in Virginia but we weren’t there to see it. The snow started AFTER we drove out of town. I haven’t had the heart to tell him.
But this makes it the perfect time to talk about boots as a style YES for office attire! I should clarify that it is really only a style YES when it is snowing. Okay, ground rules established … HOW do you wear snow boots with your suit?
First off, I am not talking big fuzzy Sorel style boots. Although, I have those and I LOVE them (Tivoli II). If I was wearing those to the office it would require at least a foot of snow on the ground (in which case I likely wouldn’t be going to the office). And if I did have to wear fuzzy snow boots to the office I would change them immediately upon arrival.
For boots that I would not only wear to the office but leave on my feet once I get there, I have a few go to brands.
- La Canadienne – The Canadians get it right. These are warm (most are fleece lined), waterproof and the selection is enormous. My favorite feature is the salt just brushes off – like it was never even there. Finding styles to easily fit under pants as well as match hem length makes this a no brainer choice for suits. There are so many styles, colors, materials and heel heights you can easily match your personality AND commute needs. I have always purchased mine from Amazon (usually on sale) but they can be found from lots of retailers. The ones I have can be worn with skirts or pants.
- Aquatalia – The Italians also apparently know a thing or two about snow and cold. This brand would be my back-up choice. The ‘Winter’ Collection is all waterproof but not very stylish. You will find more style in their ‘Boot’ Collection but make sure you search using the key word ‘weatherproof’.
- Bernardo – Originally known for their sandals, their venture into boots seems to be a good one (at least from a style perspective). I have not personally tried them but their reviews are stellar and how could you not love red AND velvet? Yes, please! While they will pair nicely with skirts, I didn’t find any that would pair with pants.
- Sorel – This brand is the real deal for drifting and blowing snow but they aren’t quite there when it comes to paring with a suit. They have a few wedge styles that are close … I still wouldn’t wear them with a suit – my highest criteria. They would be appropriate for a more casual pant or skirt look.
Where to Buy
I included several examples of all four brands at various price points. As a BONUS, many of them are on major sale this time of year!