One of the biggest problems women have during the winter is finding a shoe that is functional for the season, but still looks great. I know I live in constant fear of slipping in snow or ice, but I don’t want to go around wearing a functional but ugly pair of boots all winter, nor do I want to be relegated to just flats. Fortunately, even the most luxe designers are coming to realize that we need function as well as fashion! They are coming out with more and more shoes that are practical for the season, but still pretty as you please. Here are five of them, with some of my favorite examples!
1. Boots, Boots, Boots
Thigh-high boots, mountain boots, flat boots, ankle boots: whatever the style, whatever the designer, you’re sure to find some seriously hot boots this season. Jimmy Choo shoes and boots prove that you don’t need a sky high heel to look good, for example, and even those designers who put out high heeled boots this season understand the importance of thicker heels and platforms.
As for these lovely little Jimmy Choo thigh highs, here’s the 411: the Hilde Over-the-Knee Flat boots are high and sexy and sleek, and made of a luxurious, rich Italian suede leather.
2. Platform Pumps
Platforms are coming back with a vengeance and no one could be happier than I am. I’m a short girl, my fellow fashionistas, but I love high heels, so sometimes – especially in the winter – a thicker heel is my best friend in the whole world. Prada is doing some absolutely delicious things with platforms, such as with these gorgeous Bi-Color Patent Loafer pumps. There’s something classically elegant about the silhouette and the accents, like that charming buckle!
3. Luxe Loafers
I’ve always had a preconceived notion about loafers – and it wasn’t very good. They seem like shoes for old fashioned schoolmarms, librarians, and hipsters without a clue. This season, however, loafers have gotten a makeover, and make for an extremely stylish but fashionable winter shoe. Miu Miu shoes are awesome anyway, and the brand does loafers beautifully. The Miu Miu Patent Leather Loafers are preciously pink for those drab winter days.
4. Lovely Little Lace-Ups
You don’t have to go with sneakers this winter either. There are so many lace up shoes with a ton of style and flair, you’ll never want to wear tennis shoes again. Anytime you go for a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes, you’re ready to party like a rock star, but that is especially true with his hot Freddy Studded Lace-Ups, and you can find tons of practical but totally edgy shoes like this for the winter months.
5. Some Enchanted Evening
And for all those holiday parties and winter soirees, you still need something fabulous. Designers like Alexander McQueen, Dior, Miu Miu, and many others, have beautiful evening shoes that will give you plenty of stability over the ice. For instance, these luxurious Lace Peep-Toe Pumps from Dolce & Gabbana feature a hidden platform, giving you much more leverage and balance while still making sure you look completely stunning.
These are five of the most popular but functional styles this season. What kinds of shoes make you feel most comfortable in the cold?
