Fall Footwear Capsule for the cold - YouLookFab Forum

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Fall Footwear Capsule for the cold

cobaltblue

Veteran

I'd especially like to hear from those who either run cold or live in the cold (e.g. Suz, Sveta) but appreciate everyone's advice. I've just moved to NW Indiana (pretty close to Chicago) and want to make seasonally-appropriate choices for footwear. In the past, I've lived where it gets cold a few times per winter, but snow doesn't stick around or anything.

I need shoes that can go the distance for commuting on foot. Or maybe I need to change when I arrive at my destination? Not sure.

I currently have:
-Sam Edelman Petty booties (snake)
-Jeffrey Campbell heeled oxfords (3-toned, wearing out - need to find out if they can be resoled or otherwise repaired)
-Blondo boots (black, hopefully arriving soon in a large enough size)
-Silver metallic flats (definitely need to replace - worn into the ground and essential for my style)
-Black Cons with sparkly black snowflakes - probably won't work till closer to winter. Should have picked a different style!

I'm also expecting the Angie-pick Stuart Weitzman Chap loafers in the mail. I ordered them during NAS but had to size up. I love these, but they would need to be absolute workhorses to justify their cost. Will these work for Fall in this climate, or will I just wish I'd saved for boots/booties?

I really like all the outfits people have been posting with pointy toed flats, but I worry that they won't work very far into Fall. Should I sit that one out?

Is there a category I'm totally missing? I guess I really should have some more formal shoes - maybe that's where the pointy toed flats could come in...

Thanks for making it through these musings. Apologies for the lack of links and photos; I'm always posting on my phone.

Becky

Shopping

16 replies

Latest reply was from Transcona Shannon

Suz

(website)

Veteran

If by fall you mean September and October, a capsule similar to what you describe could work quite well -- as long as you are sure to have a waterproof option, because autumns can be rainy and if you are walking, your feet will get wet.

Having said that, I'm not sure flats are really your best option if you are limited in what you can purchase. I find flats quite difficult for autumn weather. They don't stay on my feet (so that's a personal issue). But quite apart from that, as the temperatures drop, you are not going to want to have naked feet. Especially if you run cold. So do you want to wear socks with your flats? Maybe with loafers. Or maybe nude toned hose will be okay to fill in for you.

Also, temperatures will vary quite a lot. September might actually be hot -- in which case you would use your flats, or even sandals.

Meanwhile, when winter arrives, you won't wear the flats, and the Cons won't be warm enough. So you'll be limited. You probably won't want to wear the Pettys when it is wet or messy out.

People DO sometimes carry shoes and wear boots and then change at their destination in our climate, especially for formal occasions or at work. That means investing in a tote that can carry the shoes fashionably, and figuring out ensembles that work with boots or regular shoes.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

For me for bus commuting shearling lined footwear is a Godsend. Also these
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/sm.....;contextua

Gaylene

Veteran

Non-slip footwear is a must if you are planning to walk in snow and ice. That usually means some type of textured or lugged rubber sole. Smooth leather soles are bad news in these conditions

I'd add a good quality, low-heeled winter boot like some of the La Canadiennes. They work in all kinds of slushy, icy, snowy, and freezing conditions.

Lisa

Veteran

When I am in full winter mode, I only wear boots and booties. I like a thicker sole than a sneaker under my foot and I don't like my foot to be exposed. Also, I have a pair of gear boots that can handle rain, snow, the days when the weather is really poor. For those days I change footwear in the office.

For fall I think sneakers, loafers, oxfords, really most footwear is fine, as long as the toes are covered. The top of the foot can still show because it isn't super cold yet.

cobaltblue

Veteran

Sorry to do a post-and-run. The day got away from me - dead car battery and broken air conditioner in the house. I will come back and thoroughly read your thoughtful replies!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Nodding with Gaylene re the leather soles (that means the Pettys). You can't wear those in slush, snow, ice. Dry sidewalk only.

To be completely honest, one big reason that I have a wardrobe hole for shoes is because there are really only a few weeks a year in my climate to wear them! It's basically sandals, or boots and booties. Shannon has said the same is true of her (and she lives north of your new home.) So....

Jyoti

(website)

Veteran

I walk to work and back almost everyday. It's about a twenty minute walk, and while I have sometimes done it in very low-heeled knee-high boots, almost all of the time I just wear running shoes and switch to something else when I get to the hospital. However, this is in the summer without any snow on the ground. I'll still do running shoes in the rain as mine are fairly waterproof. For the winter I'll probably switch back to low-heel boots (knee-high again) with orthotics if I still don't have a car.

I will say that I live in a place where it rains a ton, so I'm currently investigating rainboots and their use. I'll report back. xD

Anonymous

My sister lives in Chicago and wears boots a good part of the year. It may be best to save your money for the best boots you can afford or start on a boot collection. If walking much, you will want something with thick, non slip soles and fleece lined. DS went to college in Illinois. So cold and snowy! Are you in an area that gets the "lake effect" weather from the Great Lakes?

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

I live in Norway and need boots for at least half the year. We have snow more or less from nov/dec through march/april. Even booties isn't good enough in the dead of Winter when it's really cold. I recommend that you invest in a pair of neutral, tall boots and waterproof them. They will become indispensable.

Anonymous

I live in the Midwest, in a climate similar to yours. Fall footwear is tricky! The challenge is that mornings can be chilly, but the afternoons are warm (70's). Like you, I run cold. After making many mistakes, I've decided building a good bootie/boot wardrobe gives me the best bang for my buck, both financially and comfort-wise. Once the temperatures start dipping at night, trekking to work in regular flats can be mighty unpleasant if you're cold-blooded. Plenty of women wear open flats through October/November, and while it looks fine and seasonally appropriate on them, cold feet make me miserable!

It will take several years to build a good boot wardrobe. You're covered for early fall, but I'd start looking for tall boots in a basic color and a pair of snow boots.

Here's a rundown of my fall/winter footwear:

Early through mid-September: Sandals and flats. It's still hot at this point ('80s and '90s).

Late September: Flats with decent coverage (like loafers or Cons), booties on chilly days, rain boots for wet days. Maybe sandals on a hot day, but I usually prefer more coverage at this point because the mornings are starting to get chilly.

October: Covered flats, booties, boots. The unofficial rule of thumb in my city is that full boots don't come out until the afternoon highs are in the '50s. Otherwise, it tends to look a bit seasonally confused.

November: Booties, boots

December through February: Boots. Always boots. Gaylene and Suz are right; forget anything with leather soles at this point. You want warm and waterproof.

March: Boots and booties

April: Booties and covered flats

Hope that helps!

cobaltblue

Veteran

Finally back - we had AAA this morning (dead car battery - I didn't have the right wrenches. No borrowing from Dad anymore!), air conditioner repairman (wheel inside shredded itself and melted the motor), and washing machine repairman (hasn't worked since we moved in almost a month ago!) all here at once. Now we're down to only the washer repairman, who had to go back for more parts. What a day! Hopefully we'll all be cooled off and wearing clean clothes soon.

Suz, I was thinking about early Fall, which may be a much longer season at home than it is here. Oklahoma winter doesn't usually get into full swing till January, even, so I can usually wear the footwear I described till then and beyond in dry weather. Too cold for the Cons? Eep!

Anna, I'm adding shearling-lined footwear to my list. Glad to see that a pro cold-weather commuter like you endorses the SmartWool socks. I already picked up two pair and should purchase more.

Gaylene, I will check out LaCanedienne right away!

Lisa, yes, I'm realizing that I may get more mileage out of boots than shoes.

Suz (again) - I haven't worn sandals the last several summers, except one wedge pair for smart casual events. Even those I'd like to purge. No matter how hot my feet get, I prefer non-sandal flats for summer. Maybe I should be looking for a transitional shoe that I can wear now and then again next spring/summer. Metallic loafers?

Jyoti, changing at my destination may be the best plan for now, as I build my Fall footwear capsule. That way I can wear shoes that won't work in slush even on slushy days.

Joy, yes, lake effect snow is an issue here. I have yet to experience it but am not especially looking forward to it!

Ingunn, I will do just that.

Thank you for that breakdown, Stacey! It is so helpful to see what I might need when and for how long. I think I have a much better idea of how to allocate my resources now.

Will be posting updates and likely many a keep/return!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Yes, I think a metallic flat transitional shoe is a great idea -- although your attitude towards sandals may change if you continue to live where you are living. Depending on whether you have air conditioning. If I lived or worked in AC, I, too, would wear covered footwear all summer. But anyone who doesn't (and lives in a Great Lakes climate) will tell you that it's just uncomfortable not to wear sandals.

It will be FAR too cold for Cons except indoors from early November until probably March or even April. I completely agree with what Stacey says. Her rundown is exactly what I would say.

Well, having said that, you do see people (mostly students) wearing Cons in winter. But it is a recipe for very cold feet. And chilblains.

cobaltblue

Veteran

Suz, my summer house slippers are actually a thong style, so I guess I do wear sandals. Indoors, I only wear slippers or go barefoot. Outdoors, I wear closed toed shoes and did even in 115+ humid degrees in Oklahoma. I guess I just take my shoes off a lot! I'll admit that I haven't lived without air conditioning since I was 12 or so, so I may be cheating.

I have no desire for chilblains! Forget the Cons!

Packing to move made me realize that I had three pairs of socks that aren't athletic socks. Three. That really drove home something to me: this winter is going to be brutal! I need to buy a pair of Smartwool socks and some tights/hose every week! What kind of hose do I need for this frozen wasteland?!

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

I don't experience the snow or cold,but know for sure if I did that I would invest in utilitarian great boots for the commute and change to whatever my heart desired once I got there. My husband's family is in Boston and that is what they do...

rachylou

Veteran

I'm pretty sure I'd live in Sorels. I wear fake Sorels in California in the winter if out any length of time. The cold rules.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Welcome to the world of winter footwear CB!

We usually have snow on the ground by mid November, sometimes earlier. I wear my oxfords and booties up until the snow arrives. Then I switch to my winter boots and carry my indoor footwear in a tote to change into at the office and then back to boots when I leave to come home. This is for two reasons - to keep my feet warm and safe, and to extend the life of my booties and shoes.

I have four pairs of winter boots: 1) the Blondos which work well with skirts and dresses and pants hemmed for flats; 2) a pair of plain black leather knee high boots with a two inch heel to wear with skirts/dress and pants that are hemmed for heels; 3) cognac knee high high Hush Puppy boots for skinnies; 4) a pair of mid calf Naot leather boots that are extremely warm and have major grip factor - these are for casual days to run around with jeans on in the extreme cold.

I would not be able to manage with just one pair of warm winter boots since I have pants of different lengths. I find this winter boot capsule to be perfect.