Shoes Day Tuesday: Winter Boots

If you live in a warmer climate, you may never understand the struggle of finding the right winter boots. Here in the Midwest, we need boots to wear when we have somewhere to go and won't be able to change our shoes and therefore need them to look presentable. We need a pair that will withstand a blizzard. And we need boots that we can wear after the blizzard when the snow is melting, the whole world is wet, and we are waiting for the next snow storm. 

Those in more temperate zones may be able to get away with the basic bitch standard Hunter boot with a pair of wool liners. In fact, that was the #1 recommendation Katie 2 heard when she first moved to Chicago back in 2011. But for many reasons, that is just not a viable option, least of all being that her feet were frozen after just 10 minutes outside.

Fear not! We are here to offer you plenty of options to fulfill all your winter booting needs. 

Boots That You Can Pretend Aren't

• Sorel is the gold standard when it comes to winter boots. Katie 2 swears by them. They are insanely comfortable, no matter how many layers of socks you have on. You can find them to fit any category. Case in point. Seriously. Just imagine them peeking out the bottom of your pant leg, or with a cute skirt. Or these. Remember: both say they are best for light rain. You can wear them in the winter when it's chilly or with a little bit of slush. Just don't expect to get Mac-Daddy warmth or dryness from them.
• Katie 1 is a fan of Aquatalia. (Is she really? Or is she a fan because of her love of the Duchess of Cambridge? We may never know.) But these will fit the bill. 
• The Stefanie Waterproof Boot by La Canadienne is the best when it comes to boots doubling as real shoes in the opinion of Katie 1. The price tag should come as no surprise once you know who is recommending them. (Katie 1 has a pair. So does her mom. In fact, her mom recommended the brand to her and Karen is very rarely wrong about shit. They are worth every penny. 
• Elizabeth bought a pair of the booties last year and was very pleased, which is why we are recommending the Ellie Waterproof Knee High Riding Boot by Blondo. 
• These Tula Waterproof Boots will make you look like a BAMF. 

Moderate Winter Day

• Confession: Katie 2 hates Uggs. Like despises them. She always hoped they would die out after 2000-2005 when every other girl wore them with denim skirts. Unfortunately they never died. (She blames Tom Brady.) Imagine her surprise when she came across these beauties and found out that they were in fact Uggs. 
• Herringbone? YES PLEASE. We also love the contrast detail on the laces and eyelets. 
• Remember when Katie 2 said she loved Sperrys? She wasn't lying, which is why she is recommending these for a midweight boot. 
• Who doesn't love L.L.Bean? If the answer is you, don't bother checking out these. 
• In the words of Katie 1, "nothing is more classic than a duck boot." And she is right, which is why we picked these in the most classic of colors. 

Mac Daddy Winter Boots

• We did say Sorel is the gold standard. Here is your go-to iconic boot for heavy snow days. 
• None of us have tried MuckBoots, but Amazon says they are loved. So we feel fairly confident recommending these from our favorite store ever. (Buy gourmet cheese, a dog bed, and a vacation?!) 
• If you're the outdoorsy type, you're familiar with Keen. If you're not, let us introduce you to comfortable, durable boots. Listen- no one said hiking boots were attractive. So imagine our surprise when we came across these cuties.
• Another outdoorsy brand is Merrell. They have a great reputation for good reason. Merrell boots are comfortable and sturdy and do the job. These are called Polar boots for a reason. For something shorter and just as cozy, go for these. Personally, we love the riding boot look of these. They could probably almost qualify for the "wear and not look like you're wearing a boot" category.