Hi ho! Hi ho! It’s off to shoveling we go.
Like a fierce and slightly creepy heroine in Game of Thrones once said, after baking a man into a pie (I did say it was slightly creepy), “Winter is coming”. That means trees, menorahs, kinaras, and reminiscing of the highly anti-climactic moment we all realized that the scriptwriters were indeed referring to the fact that winter, the season of snow, was coming.
But I digress. Winter has almost fallen upon us, and our tots and spouses, are in dire need of a new pair of boots. Without further ado, I give you XOXO’s Boot Guide for Snowy Days.
Vegan Women
If you have been reading my articles for a while now, you surely know that I default to vegan brands whenever possible. Very excitingly, more and more brands have been switching to vegan textiles, and the market for vegan snow boots for women has finally been tapped. Now, there are multiple options to choose from. My favorite pick is the WVSport Snow Boots from Will’s Vegan Store. They are sturdy, durable, insulated, carbon-neutral, and very reasonably priced for quality vegan snow boots, coming in at $168.
Vegan Men
Although the range for vegan men’s snow boots has been a little bit broader than the range for vegan women’s snow boots, the variable options to choose from are still equally refreshing. No one knows better than our magazines that the fellas love a chic winter get-up just as much as the ladies. For this, I recommend they turn to the “Matthew boot” from ALTERCORE. With its slightly abstract shape that inexplicably evokes memories of cartoons like “Hey Arnold!”, the solid black lace-up boots are the perfect blend of avant-garde and traditionalist, while still being sure to keep its core function, to get you through the snow intact.
Women – Wide Feet
If you’re like me, you spent a highly frustrating childhood with feet that were inexplicably too big for a size 8 but too small for a size 9, cursing the great shoe masters for not foreseeing this dilemma (and yes, they very well did). Discovering that my feet were simply too wide to fit snugly in what should have been the right size proved to be quite helpful down the road, as more shoe brands began to accommodate wide feet. For us women with wide feet traipsing through the snow, I recommend LifeStride’s “Bridget boots”. The boots, which happen to also be made by a vegan company, ooze demure quality and style, allowing the wearer to give a nod to winter fashion’s subtlety while still being undeniably chic.
Men – Wide Feet
If there is anything more frustrating than being a girl growing up with wide feet in larger sizes, it is being a boy growing up with wide feet in larger sizes. Finding a good quality winter boot that fits my brother’s size 13 wide feet was to a Lord and Taylor what Pan was to the labyrinth, and if you don’t know the cultural reference, do yourself a favor and don’t Google it unless you enjoy having nightmares. The point is, that men with large, wide feet struggle to find good winter boots. Fortunately, Lands’ End has a pair of decent winter boots for wide-footed men that do go up to size 13. These are currently on sale for the holidays.
Kids
Last but most certainly not least are the merry little kids. For a pair of boots that keep style gender-neutral, the REI Kamik Snowdrift boots fit the bill nicely. The boots are on sale at the moment, and additionally, REI currently has a holiday code GEARUP23 that members can use to get 20% off one full-priced item.
Winter smells of the holidays, eggnog, and a healthy dose of indulgence for all. If Arya taught us all anything, it is that even the most passionate warriors for good do it in style. And stylish these boots most certainly are.
XOXO,
Your Fashion Bestie
