Appropriate shoes for snowy, cold climates?

What kinds of no or low-heel shoes are appropriate for winter in a snowy, cold weather climate?

I prefer to wear shoes with either no or a low (around 1") heel for my everyday footwear. I save the 2-3" heels for formal occasions. I find it easier on my feet and allow me to have my pants all the same length. Plus, I like my height and prefer to not add to it regularly.

I didn't wear boots at all last year - 1" heeled ones seem masculine under pants/jeans. I also don't like wearing tall boots under pants/jeans and rarely wear skirts during the winter. I stuck to kitten heel pumps for work and going out (knee high hose keep my legs incredibly warm) and a patent black mix between a slip on fashion sneaker and a loafer with socks for casual events (not too attractive, but it covered all of my foot).

Are pumps like these okay for winter with hose under pants/jeans or skirts?

http://www.stevemadden.com/item.aspx?id=40522

http://www.shoes.com/Shopping/.....pg=5080574

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/17765319/c/3.html

What about a loafer with trouser socks under pants/jeans? With sheer black or nude hose and a skirt (not sure if this look is quite right)?

http://www.endless.com/dp/B001.....B00188ZCIS

http://www.shoes.com/Shopping/.....pg=5040903

http://www.shoes.com/Shopping/.....pg=5040970

Or should I really stick to a boot for winter?

http://www.shoes.com/Shopping/.....pg=5081344

http://www.shoes.com/Shopping/.....pg=5071402

http://www.shoes.com/Shopping/.....pg=5048809 (These look very much like my last two pairs of go-to boots.)

17 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Hmm, I am not sure what you are exactly asking. And btw, welcome to the forum!

As long as the shoes keep you dry and warm in your climate, they should work. It is up to you what you prefer.

The first group ( pumps) looks great for both pants and skirts. As for the second group (loafers), I personally do not like them with skirts, only with pants. The boots are great as well and would work for pants. For skirts you'd typically need a knee high boot that closely hugs your calves.

katiwei

Active Member

I can see how I'm being confusing. I'm having a hard time explaining even what's confusing me!

Wouldn't shoes that are more open be less appropriate for snowy winters? Like these flats and others similar to them?

http://clarks.zappos.com/n/p/dp/42706828/c/72.html

http://clarks.zappos.com/n/p/dp/42704456/c/72.html

Could I wear trouser socks with those and not look juvenile or frumpy? Or are they like ballet flats in that aspect, where one would rather be barefoot? I love flats.

Thanks for the welcome! I've been reading the blog for a while but I'm finally starting to do some shopping so I needed a bit more specific help!

I personally wear only closed shoes (boots) when there is snow on the ground, I am too cold for anything else, and I can imagine that you could get snow into your shoes if they are open.

My guess on the trouser sock issue is that ideally it should be avoided ( barefoot is best), but if you must then I would either wear them with bootcut pants where the flare would cover the sock completely or wear them with full tights and skirts.

I am just speculating here though, so we should wait for someone more qualified to give you proper answers.

I tend to think that boots are the way to go with snow as well (a big reason they're around probably too). There is a greater potential for snow getting into flats. However, snow is just another reason why I don't want an every day boot with a substantial heel; it gets slippery! But again, boots with a 1" heel just don't seem very feminine.

I have to believe that there's some kind of alternative to boots for women during winter. Men seem to be able to wear their shoes year round and I rarely see men with fashion boots even when it's super snowy. Also, I'm not talking about walking blocks in the snow but rather going from home to car to indoors. I wear snow boots for longer distance walking or really messy weather.

There's another thread on wearing ballet flats with socks. The consensus was to go barefooted with them unless you're especially trendy or young; even trouser socks wouldn't be chic. I couldn't figure out if this extended to flats that are actual "sturdy" shoes as opposed to thin ballet flats.

I just found this post from 8 months ago: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....?replies=3 Based on that thread, I'd say that trouser socks and hose (even nude) should not be worn with flats of all kinds.

So it still leaves me puzzled on what other type of shoe is available for women during the winter. Maybe pumps and casual loafers will continue to be my go-to shoes.

Mai

Think the dressier end of oxfords and loafers, like so:

some loafers:
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/45450720/c/72.html (my current loafer of choice)
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/4.....62650.html
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/45444334/c/3.html

And then oxfords ... it's a little harder to find any which are all three of work-dressy, feminine *and* winter-safe, but I think this one gets at least close:

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/39936510/c/41011.html

I definitely wouldn't wear it with a skirt, but under jeans I think it would be a suitable alternative to boots.

If you don't like the above, I would rethink your feelings on the whole boots issue - I have a pair of classic, black leather, knee-high boots with a one-inch heel, and they are completely feminine (hopefully also okay on ice now that they've been resoled). I've also got a pair of five-eyelet Doc Martens which technically have no heel, but I seriously doubt most men would wear them, given that they're made of magenta velvet! (Gosh, I love those boots. Although I wouldn't suggest wearing something like them to work, certainly.) I believe Angie also rocks a pair of 20-eyelet Docs in standard black.

More practically, BarkingDogShoes has a nice roundup of fashionable and winter-useful boots here:
http://www.barkingdogshoes.com.....forta.html

Kristen

(website)

I live in Chicago, which definitely has cold winters! Basically, if it's snowy, I carry my shoes with my tote bag and wear warm winter boots outside. It's crazy not to do anything else -- why ruin perfectly good leather and suede with all that salt?

For winter shoes, I really like booties or chunky-heeled 2-inch loafer/oxfords/mary janes under my pants, and I wear those with trouser socks. With skirts, I can often wear the same shoes but with tights, or pumps and hose if it's for a more professional business meeting. Usually my flats and ballet flats get stowed away once fall is over, but they come back out in the spring.

It's funny, I keep reading about all the mary janes and oxford heels in style now, and all I had to do was pull out my winter shoes from last year and there they were, ready and waiting!

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