Annmarie O'Connor: Incorporate weather-worthy boots into your wardrobe this season

Fashion and function can still co-exist

Thu, 11 Jan, 2024 - 06:15

Annmarie O'Connor - @aocdotme

It’s official. Mother Nature has the upper hand. There’s only so long we can baby name storms and avoid colours like yellow, orange and red. The word ‘unsettled’ speaks volumes and it’s telling us to pivot towards practicality, especially when it comes to footwear.

That’s not to say fashion and function can’t co-exist. It just means furloughing those kitten heels for weather-worthy footwear. What better place to start than eco-friendly and Insta-famous brand Vivaia whose sustainable water-repellent boots, like the Regina Pro, span 15 colours in sizes 35-43? Made from materials like recycled plastic bottles, these mid-ankle beauties will keep you dry while preventing errant speed wobbles with their anti-slip rubber outsoles.

Sorel’s Caribou™ and Out N About™ III styles offer similar surefootedness with traction rubber outsoles like Moulded Evertread™. Seam-sealed waterproof construction allows for extra security while pops of neon and tricolour felt uppers make them your stylish rainy-day MVPs.

Prefer sneakers? The Converse Counter Climate collection reimagines classic Chucks for warmth, water protection and traction. Their lugged 2.0 platform boots offer an extra-high-top, tall rubber sidewall and chevron-inspired tread with a waterproof jacquard upper and gusseted tongue to embrace the elements. Let’s not forget the cosy soft fleece lining.

With that said, sometimes a bomb cyclone or freak snowstorm has other ideas. That’s when we revert to the big guns like Hunter Wellingtons (glossy, of course) or Ilse Jacobsen’s Scandi-approved Otter boots. Should an Arctic blast make its presence felt, look to Timberland’s Moriah slip-on saviours made with PrimaLoft® insulation that helps retain warmth, even if the fibres get wet.

My advice? Let it pour. We’ve got plenty of shine.

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