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2020 Update: Hunting for boots for suits? Check out our recent roundups of the best ankle boots for work and stylish booties for the office.
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? What do you think are the best boots for suits?
Sarah
I’m in Buffalo, and my philosophy is that anybody who’s expecting me to be fashionable while scraping ice off the car or trudging through six inches of windblown snow on the way from the metro is simply asking far too much.
During winter months, I pack my work clothes and shoes in a bag and wear thick pants and boots until I’m in my office. Then I change.
Cat
For walking through slop, I actually prefer boots that are designed for your pant legs to be tucked in (usually mid-calf height, to protect the fabric from getting all that goop on it, but not so high that you end up with a pantaloons effect).
For a work-day appropriate boots under suit look, maybe Cole Haan? They have plain (read: professional) styles – as long as your hem is not too short (way more obvious when you have a visually heavier boot at the bottom), I think they’d be fine for a bus. cas. office.
I
I got these Cole Haan boots last year, http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/2973705 , and I think they are right on the money. They are comf, sleek, nice leather boots. The heel is not too high. I wear them with skirts and dresses all the time.
Otherwise, for wet days, if its not freezing, I wear my rain boots (definitely with my pants tucked in) and if it’s cold i wear wool or cashmere socks. When its snowing and freezing, I have a pair of north face boots. I keep a pair of black pumps in the office, and just change into them when i get to work.
L
La Canadienne boots are amazing! I own a pair I got on sale at Nordstrom and will probably wear them until they fall apart, which given their quality, will probably not be for a long time.
zee
I absolutely agree with the La Canadienne recommentdation. I had mine for six years and wore them almost every day in the winter. They resist salt and weather, plus the soles hold well on ice.
spacegeek
Another vote for La Canadienne. I own 2 pairs–one brown, one black, and they are my go to boots for rainy weather. They are truly waterproof leather, comfy, warm and stylish enough for casual Fridays. But then, I don’t work in a law office, and I live in S. California! :-)
jcb
wow! 3 recommendations in a row! I have thought about trying them for years, maybe I’ll pick up a pair now. Thanks.
Liz
Is there *anything* that will work with a skirt suit?
Daisy
I’m a lawyer in Chicago and I’ve found the best approach to winter wear is having a few pairs for different activities/weather & changing my shoes. For pure snow, I still like my Uggs because they are so easy to slip in & out of. For slush, sleet & the like, I wear a pair of Sperry rain boots with warm socks- I can tuck a pant leg inside of them, and they have a muted, cute pattern on them for when I’m wearing stockings & a skirt/dress. I’ve also found that Cole Haan leather pumps & dress boots with the Nike Air technology & the rubber soles hold up well in the snow/salt on the streets if I’m just dashing out for a cup of coffee or a sandwich & can be quickly polished and brought back to new at the end of the winter. If I’m wearing boots with a skirt/dress I’ve found that classic Cole Haan boots with no adornment are very classic looking & are in no way inappropriate/hooker-esque looking. I like to keep a nice shopping bag tucked inside my briefcase for me to pull out & slip my snowy boots into after I’ve put pumps back on at the office/courthouse.
L
I agree with Sarah – here in New England, if it is snowing a lot, I wear big boots and fleece pants into the office, and change when I get here!!!
Liz – I have worn a skirt suit with knee high boots, but those are nice boots, not snow boots.
Liz
Yeah snow isn’t a problem for me anyway, I live by the coast in northwestern Europe, we very rarely get any snow and if we do, panic abounds (I find it hilarious after moving here from a much colder climate). Yet, my legs seem to freeze so much easier than anybody I know so I’m trying to figure out whether I’m doomed to wear pant suits with thick stockings underneath or if there’s actually a few skirt suit looks I can pull off with boots for warmth.
What length of skirt did you wear with the knee high boots, if I may ask?
AIMS
I think boots with a skirt suit are just a no-go in any conservative setting. But that said, I think a pair of sleek leather boots looks absolutely fine (maybe even better) to wear to/from work, and you can just keep a pair of regular shoes under your desk to wear in the office.
For court appearances this is a bigger problem (carrying extra shoes is a huge hassle), and I would just recommend wearing short ankle boots and a pant suit on those occasions.
All that said, I find that skirts are always better on rainy/snowy days because your pants will inevitably just get dirty or wrinkled. I would take a warm pair of tall boots and a skirt over sleet-stained pants anyday!
Liz
Thanks for your reply :)
nancy pipal
Try Aquatalia Boots…all weather, waterproof, lined and warm, fashionable boot styles in various heights and heels, a bit pricey but very high quality [made in Italy] and worth every penny. Bought mine 2 years ago at Nordstrom’s. Can’t live without them.
DND
FYI: the reviews on these particular La Canadienne boots indicate that they are quite uncomfortable.
Anonymous
I practice in Maine and once the snow flies, you will find many attorneys wearing Bean Boots in Court with their suits (http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=503437&catalogId=1&storeId=1&langId=-1&nav=gnro).
Liz
Wow those are awesome, they’ve got this steampunk vibe I totally love but… People wear it for court? Seriously?
frustrated academic
I practice in Chicago now, but my first job as a lawyer was in Maine–people did wear their Bean boots into court, some changed shoes before stepping up, others did not. Some days we were so happy counsel had made it through the ice and snow, it did not matter what he or she was wearing.
In addition to the classic Bean boots, they have a few new knee high ones this year including a shearling lined knee high Bean boot that I have already requested from Santa. If you are looking for something that is warm and dry (and that will last forever), then look into Beans.
Lawchic
Wow, you just lost ALL credibility with me for recommending those two pairs. Call me crazy, but I still like to look NOT like a crazy cat lady, even during the worst snow days. There are a TON of attractive, comfortable boots out there. I have a pair of Corso Como that look kind of like this (mine are from last fall and no longer available): http://piperlime.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=4016&vid=0&pid=705345&scid=705345002 . They are snug enough to fit under pant legs and look good with skirts. There are a ton of similar boots out there this season at ALL price points.
Anyone who’s ever tried on ankle boots knows that they are absolutely THE. MOST. UNFLATTERING. BOOT. HEIGHT. EVER. Unless you’re a 15-yr old supermodel, you end up looking like you have the worst cankles in the world.
And those of you who drive can shut up now: no one said you have to shovel in the morning in what you wear to work. Try moving to New York and swimming across ice lagoons to the subway in work clothes, then we can talk.
So yeah, stop posting fugly stuff under justification of function. That applies to all of you.
E
Hmm? I certainly got the impression that ankle boots were being recommended only for pantsuits. If your ankle region is on full display while wearing a pantsuit, it mustn’t be hemmed properly.
I love ankle boots, but would never wear them with a skirt for exactly the reasons you’re describing.
anon
Dude, they’re boots. They didn’t kill your kitten.
KLo
Hear, hear!
Lawchic
In that case, why does this blog exist?
KH
Thank goodness I live in the south!
housecounsel
I am also a lawyer in Chicago, and I’m casting a vote for Aquatalia. I have had a pair of knee-high wedge suede ones for three years. They’re waterproof, warm and inoffensive to my fashion sense.
Elizabeth
I am boot shopping as well and these boots look appropriate: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3035535/0~2376778~2372808~6007659~6007676?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6007676&P=4
D
Those look great – that’s the heel height I’ve been looking for.
Kim
Take a look at Ara boots – they are waterproof and warm. I wear mine with pants suits all winter.
B
I love La Canadienne boots! They have found no equal. I wore my Ivanas (http://www.zappos.com/la-canadienne-ivana-black-suede) almost daily for over a year before I literally wore them out — and I killed those poor boots, I biked to work in them (in Holland in winter) daily for six months, then wore them for another year (in the rain and several feet of snow). The price point is unfortunately steep but they have *memory foam* and sooo comfortable. And waterproof. I ended up buying an identical pair when I finally split the outer sole completely in half. Unfortunately, they are wedges, but they are not inappropriate-looking, and give you a great deal of height without compromising any comfort (I’ve worn these for 12 hours straight on many occasions, danced in them, flat-out-ran in them, and never regretted it).
Also have a pair of Gaetanas and some short La Canadiennes — nothing beats the Ivanas, but they are all great shoes.
Now I’m drooling over the Isis, which look like the Ivanas but ankle-length, but can’t seem to catch my size on sale. The prices are often slashed drastically in the spring and summer. These are probably more appropriate under pants suits when you don’t have to trudge through feet of snow.
RZS
I’d like to vouch for the warmth and waterproof bona fides of the Santana Canada boots. I had two pairs (one brown, one black) that carried me through six new england winters (and two in D.C.). They’re terrific products. They seem to have different styles now than the ones I had previously, but I have a tall pair now that are my go-to boots for cold rainy D.C. winter. And I think some are nice enough to wear with skirts. Here are some styles.
http://www.zappos.com/womens-santana
jcb
At the risk of incurring lawchic’s wrath – having become completely obsessed with my fitflops this summer, I just bought the fitflop boots for the winter commute. And I can’t make myself take them off. I wear them under my desk (I am wearing them as I type!) – I do change out of them if I need to leave my office. I put them on for good after 7pm or so. No, they are not pretty, and usually I am a complete shoe freak, but suddenly I am in love with these ugly boots. This summer, I ended up wearing the fitflops constantly beause I could walk all over town in them and never get a blister, never get tired feet. Supposedly they help your posture and muscle tone as well, can’t vouch to that because I started regular pilates at the same time as I got into the fitflops (posture is definitely better now). You can get them at the bliss spa website, not sure where else they are sold.
Anne Vohl
I am in NYC and the weather is nippy. Boots are everywhere. I am not liking the look of high heeled boots with skirts. They look wobbly and unbalanced. Pretty, stylish short boots can look great with skirt suits, but please connect the skirt and the boots with the right shade of hose. If possible, keep the boot color going on up the leg for a smooth, long-legged effect.
Joyce
Ah, La Canadienne. It’s a brand from Montreal, where women really know how to rock their black leather boots, fitted winter coats and perfectly draped scarves. (It makes sense — it’s cold, and they’re French!)
Janda
I’ve been searching everywhere for fashionable rainy/cold weather boots and I’m so glad to see this thread. I’m still getting used to having a rainy winter season (I’m originally from FL) so it’s been a challenge finding work-appropriate, inclimate weather clothes and shoes. Thanks for all of the great suggestions! Another reason why I love this site!