Q’s from the Group Chat: Sole Survivor
Walk a (slushy) mile in these Vibram boots.
I’m back with another Q from the Group Chat, but this time, it’s a question I posed to some friends. Because nothing embodies being ‘down and out’ like a freezing wet ass planted firmly in a pile of New York City slush.
It’s time I retire (put down) my Ganni boots, which are truly at the end of their days. They’ve transversed the globe with me since 2018, and we’ve done unthinkable things together that I simply cannot repeat on the World Wide Web. But alas, there’s a hole in the sole, and my feet hurt when I wear them. It is time. So now I’d like to know, what the girls (and guys) are wearing during this temperamental winter. Meteorologists have stated that we should expect round after round of snowfall, more than we’ve seen in a long time. Unfortunately, the lovely loafers I bought from COS to get me through the rainy winter are just not cutting it.
So, in my quest for a replacement that won’t drag my sock down with every step, I’ve realized winter boots fall into three main camps: the quintessential, the impractical, and the so wrong it’s right.
Quintessentials:
If you’ve transversed the snow before then you’ve probably already encountered the duck boot. Through the seasons it has ebbed and flowed in popularity. But what it sometimes lacks in trendiness, it makes back up for in unwavering determination to get you through at least 17 winters before you ditch it curbside. The various evolutions of the duck boot have never strayed too far from the blueprint, becoming a household mainstay along with shoes like Timberland work boots, and Hunter wellies. All reaching critical mass consumption at one point or another. I have personally never been into the duck boot, they were a little too ‘Elmer Fudd Rabbit Season’ for me. But I’ve managed to find some respectable variations!
These Metropeak in Sky Blue/Black from UGGS is the little pop of color we (all) crave during a winter full of dark neutrals and low vibrations. | *On sale, $196
The North Face Glenclyffe Urban boots in ‘Black & Off-White’ for those who want to stick to their blacks, whites, and dry toes. (They’ve even got an all black low-top pair if that’s more your fancy) | $140
These Black Anatra Shearling boots from Diemme are too chic! The upper lambskin to the rubber sole made me shriek from excitement. | On sale, $361
But of course, not all of us are looking for function first. Some of us (me, sometimes) are willing to suffer a little for the look. Enter: the impracticals.
Impracticals:
I know the saying is “If the shoe fits… yada yada” but in this case, they do not fit. The weather anyway.
Chloé’s Rubber rain boots need no notes. If you’re dying to wear more than a 1-inch heel during inclement weather, then, look no further. | $595
Whereas Uggs were created for surfers to rock on the beach, Mou’s Eskimo 18 origins have always been frosty. Please indulge in the various colors with me. | $203
The famous Dr. Martens Jadon boots will forever hold a special place in my heart. These stomped through my college years so my post-grad Gannis could run? | $210
I know we all thought Dr.Martens would be well equipped for the snowy slopes and icy sidewalks, after all, they were constructed to withstand all the rugged terrain of wartime. Unfortunately, if the snow’s not soft and powdery, you’ll be left gripping rails and wondering when exactly you signed up for speed skating at the Winter Olympics. The rubber soles of a full gummy rainboot are no different. While you can get away with the rainboots, you're never too far from hazard’s doorsteps. If I’m going impractical, then I need to fully commit to the bit. And for all intents and purposes, the Mous are the bit. And yes, they’re only recommended for light snowfall, but my toes don’t know the difference when I’m trudging through a snowstorm and fending off the elements. So they might as well suffer in style.
And then there's the joy of embracing the chaos—the “so wrong it’s right” approach to winter footwear.
So Wrong It’s Rights:
All that glitters is in fact gold with these Onitsuka Tigers - Mexico 66, in the colorway “Desert Camp” | $180~
Probably the closest I’ll be getting to metallic shoes in the near future. I can’t wait until Vans Class Slip-Ons are the ‘it’ shoe again! | On sale, $27
The ‘so wrong it’s right’ leader comes courtesy of my roommate, who graciously let me grip her forearm as I waddled home last Saturday following a beautiful, crunchy snowstorm (I was in fact wearing the aforementioned COS loafers again, and slipping just about everywhere). Alexis however, was a beacon of stand-up-rightness, which she attributed to her sneakers—so sparkly, Dorothy would be envious—the metallic red Onitsuka Tigers.
Upon closer inspection, the bottom of the shoes had spikes that seemed to grip the snow just enough. This gave me total déjà vu back to middle and high school, where it was a rite of passage to be willfully underprepared for the weather at large (umbrella, who?), because yes, I would, in my full right mind, leave my house, while there is snow on the ground, sporting a pair canvas Vans, you know the ones, the slip-on variety. I was of the mind that they had their trademark waffle grip soles, and if they were good enough to help keep you grounded when defying gravity off a 2x4, then they were good enough to keep me vertical in the snow. And they did. Mostly.
So after all this research, I’m still unclear if I’ll bite the bullet on a new pair of winter shoes. I did my due diligence, now it’s your turn. And remember, the most important part, above even practicality, is—What shoe would you be embarrassed to be caught wearing in front of your celebrity crush?
These are the hard-hitting thoughts I’ll leave you with.
Stay warm, stay upright, and happy dressing! Till next time, xxx