<p>Hey everyone - I'm a female college student returning to a small school in the mountains of northern central Pennsylvania. I can't really remember how I survived last winter...but I do know I should consider some new shoes (boots??) for the winter weather. In the second semester, we tend to get a lot of snow. It's 40 degrees or below for probably about half of the academic year, and can get VERY slippery. I'd like something waterproof, with traction, but as fashionable as possible to wear with my all bootcut jeans. Anybody know of any specific brands or styles that are affordable that I could look into?? Thanks!</p>
<p>Red Wing makes fantastic boots, dunno how ‘fashionable’ they are but they certainly work which is more important</p>
<p>I’m in the same boat as you and I’m planning on investing in bean boots (from ll bean). Garance dore (the sartorialist’s girlfriend) featured them on her blog!</p>
<p>I know you said waterproof, but in winter I love Ugg boots. They’re not completely waterproof (you can wear them through snow, but be sure to spray them with that spray you put on suede shoes to keep them from being ruined when they get wet), but they’re VERY warm in the winter!!! I live in MN btw so it’s pretty cold. I know you said you wanted something affordable too, so idk if Uggs fall into the category for you, but I love them! Get the Classic Tall ones, because you can roll the top over and make them short when you want to, very cute. I have the Classic Talls in chestnut & brown, and Classic Shorts in grey. I might get another pair this year again.</p>
<p>I live in Michigan, so we get pretty horrendous winters. 
I had three pairs of boots this past year. One of them, which was what I generally wore to class in winter, were similar to uggs but were the kohls brand-- I thought they looked better than real uggs, i dont like real uggs. 
They had a thick rubber sole with lots of traction and were very well made, and I sprayed them with waterproofing spray and they did fine even sloshing through puddles. They look like new after one winter so far. This was what I wore when it was quite cold and the streets had been plowed, which they usually had by the time I had class.</p>
<p>Another pair I had were Sorel cumberland boots. They were a bit more expensive at $80 but are sufficient for hiking in snow-- these are serious business boots. I got these for the days the streets were not plowed and I was out and about in blizzard conditions. You may not need to worry about that.</p>
<p>Otherwise, I had a pair of rubber rain boots with fleece liners. In many areas I know you wouldn’t be caught dead with them, but in Ann Arbor if you’re a girl you’re weird if you DON’T have them. These were nice for days when it was more wet or slushy than snowy, and not subzero freezing cold. </p>
<p>There are a lot of different options out there for boots, it just depends on what’s fashionable in your area. I will tell you that I desperately wanted a pair of “inbetween” boots (for cold weather but not arctic tundra weather) that were waterproof, and I gave up and got the suede kohls boots because I could find nothing waterproof and cute that wasn’t hugely expensive (a la northface). Unless you’re literally tramping through knee deep snow on a regular basis, sueded boots that have been adequately sprayed with waterproofing spray will be okay and will probably be your best bet for a fashionable pair of boots. If you get a well made pair and spray them properly, you can step in puddles and snow drifts without damaging the shoes or getting wet feet, you just wouldn’t want to go for a hike in them.</p>
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I’ve had some non-ugg boots from Kohls also- these ones, but in black: [Unionbay</a> Stormie Heart Quilted Tall Boots](<a href=“http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/juniors/shoes/boots/PRD~297271/Unionbay+Stormie+Heart+Quilted+Tall+Boots.jsp]Unionbay”>http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/juniors/shoes/boots/PRD~297271/Unionbay+Stormie+Heart+Quilted+Tall+Boots.jsp) Maybe that’s what ^ was talking about, idk they have many other styles too. Personally, I think they’re ok, but they’re not nearly as soft as real Uggs and I had some water go through them, making my feet wet, and I haven’t had that happen with my Uggs. If you get Uggs, the chestnut ones seem to be the softest fur, from what I’ve found.</p>
<p>No, mine are the sonoma brand “katy” boots-- I thought they were SO! brand but was mistaken. Those union bay ones don’t look sturdy!</p>
<p>This one? [Kohl’s</a> - SONOMA life + style Katy Boots customer reviews - product reviews - read top consumer ratings](<a href=“http://reviews.kohls.com/9025/646298/reviews.htm?sort=reviewTextLength&dir=asc]Kohl’s”>http://reviews.kohls.com/9025/646298/reviews.htm?sort=reviewTextLength&dir=asc)</p>
<p>yeah I think I tried those on too. They’re cute, they just didn’t fit right. So far, Uggs are the only boots I have that actually ‘hug’ your leg; everything else is too big for my leg there and just feels sloppy, but that depends on each individual person!</p>
<p>Uggs are good. I usually wear them with skinny jeans or leggings and a longer winter coat. Decently okay-looking and very warm!</p>
<p>Yep, iluvpiano, those are the ones. For many people, uggs just aren’t the first thing that come to mind when someone says “affordable,” but it could be for the OP.</p>
<p>That’s why I said in my first post that I didn’t know if they fit under the “affordable” category or not. The OP can decide. They’re just the first thing that come to mind for me anyways for winter boots that are warm. They’re expensive, but worth it imo.</p>
<p>Since i live on campus i just go out in a hoodie, jeans, and tennis shoes, snow be damned (mind you my school is in CO, it gets prett cold here).</p>
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OP I can’t help you since I’m an incoming freshman from a warm country myself, and I’m sorry to butt in but I was really curious to know-- boot cut back in style?? I saw this amazing pair the other day, but I thought it was totally out like years ago… :S</p>
<p>Bah. Get some Gore-Tex and REAL boots that will last all four years for really rough days, and some Clarks Chukka boots for light days. Chukka boots are really in style where I live, and they’re really great with a pair of jeans. Just get some waterproofing spray (you can find it at any Footlocker) and you’re golden for protecting suede and the like. I wouldn’t recommend Uggs, they’re as impractical as they are ugly.</p>
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<p>I have always kept boot cuts in my wardrobe! I only preferred skinny jeans for a short period of time about 3-4 years ago. I prefer straight leg jeans, but I can’t find any that I like aside from Levi 524s…but that’s another story! I just bought about 6 pairs of bootcut jeans for school. I honestly don’t believe they ever went out of style! They are just a more relaxed look than skinny jeans. :)</p>
<p>okay, great! Thanks!
I’m going to go to that store and pick them up very soon then.
I just hope my size isn’t sold out now…</p>
<p>[L.L.Bean</a> Boots: Featured at L.L.Bean](<a href=“http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/506697?nav=gnro@metricsPageToken@&skip=0]L.L.Bean”>http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/506697?nav=gnro@metricsPageToken@&skip=0)</p>
<p>Bean boots. Best winter boots. I have had multiple pairs since I was little and they last forever. Super comfy.</p>