Winter boots: your routine for work? - YouLookFab Forum

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Winter boots: your routine for work?

catgirl

Veteran

Ceit's post got me thinking. At my old job, I used to just clomp around in my winter boots all day. My new job requires a little more finesse which means I will need to change into other shoes or boots from Sorels.

Do you all leave your changing shoes at work, or bring them back and forth? How many pairs do you have?

Dressing

30 replies

Latest reply was from catgirl

ramya

Veteran

I have now currently 3 pairs at eork Didi:)
At my previous job I kept 1 and wore outfits that matched it
Regularly rotate shoes. Get what I don't feel back home on Friday and fresh stuff on Monday:)
Dh used to take shoes matching his outfit to work every day. But I like my routine:)

Anonymous

I bring about 4-5 pairs to work, where they live on the bottom shelf of a bookcase. I try to have 2 tall boots, 2 oxfords/booties, and one flat of some kind.

I try and dress in the morning to fit one of my pairs of work shoes/boots. I wear my Sorels to work, then take them off and they dry on a little mat in the corner of my office. Then I pick my shoes for the day.

Sometimes if there is a special pair I want to wear, I will bring them to work and then take them home with me at the end of the day. I also every couple weeks will decide if I want to rotate out some pairs with some of the boots/shoes at home.

kkards

Veteran

admittedly, i don't live in place were i need to wear winter boots daily (although for many years i lived in boston and hartford ct), but when i wear winter boots, i carry my shoes with me daily. i have a pair of la canadienne boots that are dressy enough for work on day when i want to wear boots inside, and need winter boots outside.

Gaylene

Veteran

Usually toted my footwear to work in my bag unless I was wearing a pair of boots or booties as part of my outfit and as long as the weather was accommodating and the footwear was suitable for the walk from my home to work.

But I've got to admit that I always thought it a bit weird to see the piles of shoes, clothes, accessories, makeup supplies, and grooming devices stashed in some of my female colleagues' offices. Maybe it's as much an age thing as anything else.

Anonymous

Well, mine aren't in a pile all over the floor. They are lined up and tucked away where they aren't too visible. I don't have clothes, grooming supplies etc. visible otherwise.

To be fair, I also have a bunch of field equipment in my office too, like steeltoes and lab coats and the like, and that is pretty normal for around here, really.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I would swap out my shoes at work - which I do from time to time here too. And I absolutely do in NYC when there in the dead of Winter. The ability to swap out shoes at the office is an excellent one. Why wouldn't you use that option when you have the opportunity to do so.

Anonymous

I keep two pairs of shoes, brown and black at work, that go with most pants for 'just in case'. But I pack any other shoe with me most days and bring them back and forth. It is annoying but boots are necessary in most of Ontario from mid November to March. (and I commute by public transit)

we could start another thread on work bags and lugging lunch, shoes, laptop, wallet, etc...this has been a pet peeve of mine this fall, I feel frumpy with all my bags, totes etc,,,and about to add spare shoes....sigh

Diana

Veteran

If it is actively snowing I'll wear my Sorels and carry some oxfords or small booties. They have to fit in my (admittedly big) purse. I don't carry most of my boots around because they take up too much room and are annoying to lug around. I do also have a couple of pairs of old shoes under my desk at lab, but those are more for when the inspectors come around and I happen to be wearing sandals. Still, they work for winter shoe switching in a pinch.

If it's not actively snowing, well I live in an urban environment and snow is (mostly) removed in a somewhat timely manner so I can get by with my regular boots, provided they're not suede or very delicate.

I actually really dislike having to switch shoes if I don't absolutely have to, and I categorically detest it when women wear ugly commuting shoes. First off, you have to worry about things like PPL with two different pairs of shoes. I see so many women in dress pants and flats/sneakers and carrying their heels while their pants hems drag around on the dirty sidewalk/subway and get stepped on, and it makes me cringe. Secondly, I think I see more people when I am commuting/walking around outside than when I'm at lab (and honestly lab people don't care about my shoes), so why wouldn't I want them to see my nice shoes? Third, lugging around a second pair of big shoes is really annoying when you walk/bus/subway everywhere.

BIG disclaimer here is that I don't work in an office, or really anywhere where I need really dressy or uncomfortable shoes. I don't even own any pumps at the moment.

catgirl

Veteran

I don't have a lot of space to store anything in my new digs, but I could carve out a little shoe cave. I don't like being separated from my beloved footwear, though... it feels like leaving pieces of me everywhere! Crazy, I know.

Gaylene

Veteran

Angie, I guess it's because I see my office as a workplace where I meet with with people on a professional basis.

And I'm not referring to a couple of pairs of shoes on a shelf, or a shelf with a mirror and small toiletry kit, or a sweater or two hung on a hook. Seriously, we had a quick meeting in a colleague's office where it was downright uncomfortable with all her personal grooming tools and clothing strewn about her office. And she is not the exception, unfortunately.

Glory

Veteran

I worked in a downtown office for 20 years and yes I did swap out my winter boots for shoes. For many of those years it was a suit culture so there was not choice but to switch to pumps. I used to have a little shoe farm in the bottom drawer of my desk - usually 5-6 pairs.

Diana

Veteran

Angie, I touched on this in my response to Una but I just wanted to respond to your point directly too. I don't like to switch my shoes because it's important to me to look my best while I am out and about, i.e. commuting, shopping, everything else I do while outdoors. It's more important to me to look nice while doing these things and being seen by the world than while at work and being seen by a select few people whom I know well and who do not really care about my fashion choices. I do choose the shoes for my outfit based on the weather, activities, etc, of course.

ETA: If I worked somewhere where I had to wear pumps, I'd probably reconsider. But I think I'd try hard to design my outfits so they'd work with both the boots and the pumps.

JAileen

Veteran

I worked in two different winter environments. First, in a winter resort where people wore their snow boots all day, along with their cute winter outfits. Second, in a normal office with people wearing normal business attire. In the first, I would sometimes wear my boots all day, unless I got too warm. In the second, I would bring shoes I planned to wear that day.

My snow boots are quite vintagey and look cute with a parka, etc., but not so much with normal business clothes. These in the picture are not my boots, just their identical twins.

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Amy

(website)

Veteran

I usually carry a pair to change into. Like Gaylene, I have people in and out of my office all day long and wouldn't like it to feel like my closet at home. It needs to be neat and professional.

Thistle

Veteran

I bring mine back and forth, but I keep a spare (OMG I can;t beleive I forgot my shoes!!) in my bottom desk drawer.

Jonesy

Veteran

I don't switch at all: I just wear my regular booties, boots, etc. to work (I live in the Great Lakes region of the US).

ramya

Veteran

Hmmm I have a pair under my desk. 2 pairs in my drawer. What I remove is stowed away in a corner. That said I am a software engineer and only my colleague come to my desk.
They have admitted to being confused if I am in or not because of my shoes but I don't mind.
I tolerate their cups and plates strewn on their desk so my pretty shoes isn't as much as a eye sore.
I would love not having to switch but the temperature difference and weather donot cooperate

Sona

Veteran

I really enjoy seeing women in pumps at work in the winter. Last winter I pretty much lived in my blondo riding boots: in and out of the car. This year I am planning on keeping some booties and pumps at work: it might be cheery to wear something other than my blondos!! Una: I think you should consider keeping a pair of neutral pumps at work. Might help as a "pick me up" when the weather gets to be continuous Meh and blah!

Irene

Veteran

I was thinking 'What are Sorels?' and then I checked it out on Google. I'm just glad I can wear my regular shoes on the streets, even during winter. Although Sorels are cute, just not work appropriate, I guess.

Needless to say, I do not switch shoes because I don't need to.

Makrame

Veteran

I keep a box in my office under the table (a Nordstrom shipping carton, as a matter of fact), which houses one pair of tall boots, one pair of black mules (an "emergency" shoe that works with most outfits, even if it is not too stylish), and some flats. I wear Sorels to work most days. I also have some moto boots and Timberland tall boots that can withstand snow and salt, and if I wear those, I don't have to change.

The reason I keep my shoes in a box is because I don't want people to see a pile of footwear under my desk.

Anonymous

I don't switch shows unless I am leaving my house in a snowstorm.

Jjsloane

Veteran

I have a pair of emergency (walking) flats in my tote that I carry everyday and backup boots in my car (in case of stranding). I have a poison eye for people who have piles of shoes under their desk - I understand, but I can't do it myself. I live where snow is reason for the world to stop so I can effectively wear my snow gear to work if I want (more often than not it will mean working from home anyway). I figure I walk from house to car and car to office on shoveled parking areas so not a big need for real boots. I do wear more covered shoes (booties and boots with tights are what I wear through most of winter anyway). I love my Sorels, but they are a bit casual for work for me (I have lace up fur topped version and duck boot version)

JulieJohn

Veteran

Whoa, I'm feeling lucky that I have it so easy here in a warm desert clime, where I haven't had to contemplate this complication. All you cold/wet weather gals just got 10x more amazing in your ability to look fab all winter long!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I wear my winter boots outside and take my shoes or booties to work and change there. I don't keep shoes at work because I don't have the space and I like to choose my footwear each day.

Parsley

Veteran

I guess I'm lucky: ordinarily I just go from my garage to the hospital parking garage and never have to go outside in the elements. I don't even usually wear a coat to work unless it's below zero (F).

It seems like for you it would make sense to keep a spare pair of pumps at your office to change into.
It would be tough trying to get to work looking fab while dressing for Alaska weather!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I feel lucky that I work at home!

In all seriousness...because of my lifestyle and not having an "office" if I meet for work-related business away from home I have to do what Diana does and wear shoes/ boots look good and withstand the weather. So I don't really own a proper pair of snow boots except for gear boots, and I simply expect my other boots to do that duty. So far, in urban environments, they've held up. I do buy good boots (when I can find them) and I take care of them religiously.

If I had an office and spent most of my day there, I would most certainly either store a few pairs of shoes at work or carry them with me daily (probably the latter).

Gaylene, the neat freak in me would be mildly shocked by other people's grooming products on display in their offices....if it were me, I'd make a discreet curtain or something to hide such things.

Day Vies

Veteran

When I had a permanent desk I'd leave my shoes at work. Now because I have so many pairs I take them back and forth with me -- in addition to the fact that I do not have a permanent desk.
I am a firm believer in changing shoes. I worked with one woman who literally had an entire shoe closet in her office because she did not want to ruin her shoes walking to and from the bus (her words not mine). I think she made a good point. I am not sure I would leave all of my good shoes at work I might want to wear them on my own time.

Emily

Veteran

I carry shoes to work if I am going to change them, which happens ~50% of the time. I tried leaving them at work, but I am a shoe lover and hated having to remember which ones were where.

L'Abeille

Veteran

Ha! I have a 3-tier shoe rack at my office (in the kitchen, break room area that only staff see). I try to keep a variety of heel heights to go with different pant lengths and to vary the foot fatigue. It tends to be a warehouse fer backup shoes I forgot I had -- since joining YLF I have found a pair of patent loafers and a pair of slipper flats in my cache! Because of my long commute plus frequent overnight call, I have to be prepared for unexpected early snowfalls and various wardrobe emergencies.

I will wear outdoor booties in the office in spring and fall, but once the snow appears , with its attendant salt and sand treatments, I can't really wear my outdoor boots inside without getting slush on my floors and dirt ground into my carpets.

This year I am contemplating a third category -a pair of duck boots or wellies, to wear FROM my house TO my car. Since we moved into our "dream home" the driveway is unpaved and can be a morass of mud when not frozen over completely. l am also being reminded of PPL and matching footwear, which I was able to forget about during summer when I wore skirts and bare legs a lot.

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