Today’s reader question has to do with boots for suits:
Spending a lot of time in cold, wet Washington the last few weeks has convinced me I have got to find boots that I can wear with a suit. I don’t want to be Sarah Palinesque, and as much as I love my Frye Harness Boots, that is clearly not the look. What advice do you have for boots with a basic conservative suit (think Lafayette)?
This is a great question, as — you’re right — the Harness boots probably aren’t the look. We would argue that, on casual days, you can probably wear things like Hunter
rain boots beneath your suit pants while traveling to/from the office, provided you switch into pumps once arriving at the office — but then, Hunter boots aren’t the best when it’s freezing. (And, lest you make the same mistake we’ve made: The classic Uggs are not waterproof. Yes, they are both ugly and nonfunctional.) We’ve always heard great things about the LaCanadienne brand: supposedly ridiculously comfortable, fashionable(ish), and waterproof. (Pictured at top: La Canadienne – Doreta (Black Leather) – Footwear, on sale at Zappos for $199 (formerly $250).) We would probably stick with this kind of boot to wear with suits — mid-calf, so it won’t look too odd beneath your pant leg, with a reasonably low heel that you can walk in if it’s icy and cold. (You might want to think about what kind of socks you’ll wear with it when you buy it — e.g., the thicker the sock, the larger the size.) If even that one looks too high, you may want to try a wedge boot (particularly if your suit pants are hemmed for heels) or something lower, such as these “Flora” boots by Santana (pictured at right.) (Santana – Flora (Black Suede) – Footwear, available at Zappos for $124.)
If you don’t care about fashion at all (or heel height), we’ve had good luck with the inexpensive waterproof shoes and boots from Land’s End. For example, try the “Weatherly Shoes,” now on sale for $19.99.
Readers, how do you survive the cold, rain, sleet, and snow?
Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. We begin the week in splurge mode, with our most expensive suggestions, and wind our way to Friday, where a less expensive item of clothing might be just what you need to make it to the weekend.
We love to wear our Wellington’s when it rains, but the lousy thing about them is that they’re gigantic rain boots — it’s impractical to buy an extra pair to stash at the office, and you can’t easily tuck them into your bag to take with you if there’s only a chance of rain. Inevitable result: that 30% chance of rain turns into a flash flood on the day you’re wearing your brand new suede Manolos.
Fortunately, one woman has created a solution — they’re boots designed to go over whatever shoes you’re wearing by enveloping them in rubber; beyond the slip-free sole they don’t really have a “form.” Thus, they protect your shoes from the elements, but they also fold up and tuck neatly into a bag smaller than most women’s cosmetic cases — easy to throw into your briefcase or keep a pair in your personal drawer at the office. Available in black, pink, yellow, and green; they’re available at Shuella for $49.95. (The store is also offering free shipping for a limited time.) Shuella – your shoe umbrella
