Riding boots
Riding boots are the quintessential all-occasion boot. The perfect alternative to the overly-casual UGG boot, riding boots have been the go-to casual boot for many winter seasons now and are arguably the most versatile winter shoe one can have in their repertoire. While a casual brown pair like these by Dolce Vita (pictured at right) are a great option for everyday, a glossy black set like these by Dior could work with a dress or pair of nice jeans to a dressier event.
The trend to watch this winter in terms of footwear is the over-the-knee boot, which has been appearing in stores all over with a flat heel as a hybrid of the standard riding boot. Thus far, great over-the-knee boots have proven hard to find: the wrong leather looks cheap, the right leather is often too expensive, suede creates an undesirable Peter Pan-meets-Robin Hood look and a high heel is often too “Pretty Woman” (see: Stripper boots). Prada offers a great pair sold at Neiman Marcus, but in case $1,300 is a bit out of your price range keep an eye on lines like Nine West and Steve Madden to start following big-name designers with this trend.
Stripper boots
UGG boots
They’re called “UGGs” for a reason. Let’s face it, folks, these boots are just plain ugly. That being said, who really cares what a shoe looks like when it’s as comfortable as these boots? UGG boots are the perfect shoe to wear for studying, lounging around your dorm room or any other casual activity that requires absolutely no fashion effort. Wearing UGGs to class represents one of two things: you were up all night studying and never changed into “real” clothes, or you’re so hung over you can’t be bothered to put on “real” clothes.
Just as UGGs aren’t really appropriate for class (or any real-world activity for that matter), they’re not really appropriate for rainy weather either — the suede gets wet, and you don’t want to stump around in what essentially equates to soggy slippers. Save these cozy boots for studying or lounging indoors, or running a casual errand on a dry day. UGGs come in a variety of colors and heights, and can be purchased throughout Nashville (I got mine at Dillard’s in Green Hills Mall) or online at Nordstrom.
Cowboy boots
Here in Nashville, cowboy boots are an obvious go-to option for cold days, rainy days or even with sundresses at fall tailgates. Go with the true Texan form and get your own personalized, pointy-toed pair (Monogram? State flower? Go for it) or a more conservative, rounded-toe style. There are a wealth of stores downtown selling boots, and even a place where you can get three-for-one prices (if you know who to ask). Pay whatever it takes to get a great pair of these boots, because they’re worth the investment: you can wear them to most (casual) occasions, and no one likes cheap leather.
Rain boots
Contrary to the vehement opinion of my roommate, you CAN wear rain boots even when it’s not pouring outside. If there’s water on the ground or the sky looks questionable, bust those puppies out: you don’t want to slog across Alumni in satin ballet flats just because it’s not actively raining or get caught between classes in one of Nashville’s random weather changes.
A great option, and one that I’ve noticed to be the most popular among Vandy students, is Hunter rain boots. These sturdy wellies have been in production for over 150 years, and it shows: their construction is flawless and they never go out of style. At $115, these aren’t the cheapest of options, but they’ll last a lifetime and come in any color you could possibly want. A note of interest when purchasing these boots online: they run several sizes big, so when in doubt, order a size or a half-size down. Visit Zappos.com and check out these stylish shoes in hunter green, navy blue or any other of their many colors.
