Posted on by PeaceBang

The Abominable Snow Minister

It’s hard.

I come from a land of snow and ice and slush and crud all winter and I do own a pair of perfectly okay black snowboots that zip up and keep my legs and feet warm and dry and that have a completely flat heel and are sort of uncomfortable and actually let’s admit it in this really long run-on sentence COMPLEtely DEPRESS me because they are totally void of beauty and personality and I HATE THEM there now I’ve said it.

I also have a pair of ankle-high black snow boots made by the umbrella people — what is that company again? Totes, that’s it — that zip up the foot and are completely waterproof and that also have no personality and totally depress me.

I have a pair of fake Uggs (Fuggs, I’ve heard them called) by Bear Traps or Bear Paws or some other name like that that I love. They’re fake shearling lined and they’re a light tan color and they’re like bedroom slippers and I wear them all winter. So they’re getting kind of chewed up looking, especially since my dog actually does chew them.

So I’m thinking, “Well, look. I have to think about this boot situation. I have all these boots that I love in various states of disintegration from age and none of them are weather-proof. The weather-proof ones I loathe. The tan Fuggs are fine but not for ministry work (except for days at the office and stuff, but you couldn’t wear them to a funeral or to church). What I need is a black snow boot that’s REALLY a snow boot but that I can wear to church without feeling like the Abominable Snow Minister.

PlanetShoes.com is having a 20% off sale so I’m looking but in a half-hearted way. What’s more dull than SNOW BOOTS. Blech.

31 Replies to “The Abominable Snow Minister”

  1. how about these?http://www.uggaustralia.com/ProductDetails.aspx?gID=w&productID=5490&model=Brooks Tall They are real sheepskin lined Uggs so they are very warm b ut more professional looking than most of their offerings.
    A dangerous website for me with such enticements as these http://www.uggaustralia.com/ProductDetails.aspx?gID=w&productID=3161&model=Classic Short Sparkles fortunately I came to my senses and also the gold ones are sold out.
    But I think the black ones might work. Professional looking and can hold up against snow etc.
    [The first ones are beautiful but very expensive for a shoe that doesn’t keep out the wet if you step in puddles, and I can’t avoid those. They’re awesome, though. – PB]

  3. Dear Peace Bang,
    I have a similar problem as I am an academic who lives in Chicago, so I need to dress for very bad weather and walking around campus, but also to give a professional image in class. Anyway, I’ve had good luck with Keen’s Bern High Boot. They are fairly casual, but they do well under slacks, or over tights with a skirt for a more casual look. And they are waterproof and toasty warm. I’ve also had good luck for a more professional look with a basic leather, lined boot that’s got a wedge-style heel. My other boots, all now no longer being sold, are all this style, and they’re great for snow and ice, warmth, as well as looking good with slacks and skirts. Good luck!
    Katie [I LOVE the Keen Bern High Boot, wow. But I know that wouldn’t zip up over my chubby little calf. Sad Face. – PB]

  4. These are the ones I have http://www.winterfootwear.com/p2435c112b126-north_face_mcmurdo_boot_womens_winter_boots.html

    I have the brown ones (they go nicely with my chocolate brown puffy jacket). I don’t know if they’re more boot than what you’re looking for, but they work well for me where I live… which is in Northern Ontario, land of snow, ice, and -30 windchill.
    [In that climate I would wear these, too! They’re cute but I am going to try something a leeetle more dressy. Like, what would you wear to do a funeral in?- PB]

  5. Here in the temperate mid-Atlantic, there is less of a call for winter boots. But I still love the ones I bought in Ludington, Mich. It was a small enough town to have THE shoe store in town on Main Street. They are mid-calf, black, nice leather, shearling (sort of) lining. Pointed (rounded, not stabby)toe, flat, good tread. Comfy, warm. I saw them in the window and loved them right away. I am an obsessive comparative shopper, so I usually wouldn’t let myself love and buy anything right from the window, like they do in the movies. This time it paid off.

  6. Hi, me again. Not true! I have a pretty muscular calf, and I was surprised that I am not only able to zip up the Bern High Boot, but even tuck jeans into the thing. That has NEVER happened for me before, and most boots don’t fit my calves. I’d give it a try before you give up on it 🙂 Good luck & good boots! Katie

  11. I can vouch for the Merrell Spire Waterproof – they are definitely waterproof, super comfy, and warm! This is the fourth winter for my pair and I couldn’t be happier with them. I’ve presided at burials in the snow in them, traveled to Scotland, and walked all over New York City – I literally couldn’t do winter without them.

  12. have you checked out LLBean? Their Deefield Low Equestrian style looks like it would work well in our climate. And the tall one looks like it would accomodate those of us who are sturdy above the ankle. Free shipping and a $10 coupon on the website!

    Penny’s also had a boot that was nice leather with a lug sole (though not too clunky) and a stretchy shaft, but they didn’t have it in my size. I saw it in the Nashua store, but not at Natick…don’t know which is the closest Boston mall for you.

  14. I have horrible “moon boots” because where we live now we get a few days of a lot of snow, so I don’t wear them much. No sense investing in boots that get worn a week or two (usually)

    However this year boot-lust has hit me. I want pretty boots that I can wear professionally. I also want boots that have a great non-skid sole, so I don’t have to worry about slipping (hence the aformentioned moon boots). I have to have a zipper because my arch is so high that I can’t slip my foot into a tall boot without one. And I too have the ‘chubby calf’. So I’m browsing.

    I discovered a pair I like at DSW. I also discovered that some boots come in two calf sizes – the usual one and a larger one.

    I don’t know if the more upscale boot makers do this, but it’s worth asking.

  15. I don’t really think there’s such thing as a snowboot that can do it all. I just wear my Bean boots (classic prep yet randomly trendy again) and carry ballet flats in my bag, changing once I’m inside. It works. I’ve learned the hard way that my Frye Carson Riding boots and icy sidewalks do not play nicely together.

  16. Oh, and on the ballet flats in the purse…sometimes I think if Jesus had been a woman, we would’ve never had Mark 6:8!

  17. I have a pair of Aquatalia boots that I bought four years ago. They’re waterproof, have one of those little grip patches on the soles, and go with my jeans, suits, skirts, whatever.

    They get me up and down icy, snowy stairs of three rural churches every Sunday morning and don’t sink into the turf at the cemetery.

    They were pricey ($400 Cdn), but worth every penny. I’ve replaced the little pull tag thingy on both zippers but otherwise they’ve worn well.

  18. My Hunter wellies are wonderful for all weather and if you got them in a black or a grey they would be perfectly professional. Especially under a pair of black dress trousers.

  19. That boot at Penny’s is on their website — named Paula — it looks a little chunkier in the picture than it looked in person — I guess the camera added pounds!

  20. I just bought a pair of these for the church I’m heading to in Wisconsin next month: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/412-gcKShqL.jpg&imgrefurl=http://warmboots.co.cc/tag/womens/page/2/&usg=__PtCjO1M5brIKAayrfM845MJfutc=&h=500&w=430&sz=21&hl=en&start=53&sig2=z5zRU0k_VaCQcfDBtQ-K8Q&zoom=1&tbnid=W9lhQsQTO5vEEM:&tbnh=127&tbnw=109&ei=C3D-TKGPFIWKlwf7tvSsCA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbare%2Btraps%2Bwinter%2Bboots%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D958%26bih%3D576%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C1678&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=312&vpy=243&dur=2134&hovh=242&hovw=208&tx=124&ty=133&oei=6m_-TKf3CYL78AaVqOXlBw&esq=5&page=5&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:53&biw=958&bih=576

    Sorry for the long link. They’re really warm, though, and for -20 below zero funerals, I’m wearing them. I’ll put on some black long johns, some black tights over them, a black skirt, these, and my huge black wool coat. Bingo. Funeral. Without the frostbite. [Love ’em, but my calf is 1/2″ too fat ! – PB]

  21. Yeah, I figured my suggestion might be a little more “snow boot” than what you’re looking for. They do keep my feet toasty warm.

    As for funerals – I change into an indoor shoe when I arrive at the funeral home or church. They don’t do internments here from mid-November until mid-May because of the frozen ground, so I don’t need to worry about outside footwear and funerals.

  22. Two brands I love:
    Blondo
    and
    La Canadienne (waterproof and very fashionable, not as warm)

    Both are pricey, but available at discount from sierratradingpost.com .

  23. The bummer with boot shopping is the price…hard to spend the kind of money you need to in order to get quality boots.

  26. This post made me laugh as I have tried on every boot in Manchester that looked like it had a sole you wouldnt slip on snow in. Or have wet toes like all those Uggs I see on people’s feet. And there were not many. Here in the Uk we dont get a lot of snow but we have it now and the makers of boots want us to fall on our backsides in a pile of indignity.

    They arent for ministers but I’m a lay worker for a Catholic Charity. They arent smart. But they have personality. I love them. I feel confident in the snow and i feel confident.

    http://www.schuh.co.uk/womens-black-dr-martens-phoenix-jara-boot/1503637020/

    Just want my boots admiring, I love them.
    [So fun! Love them! – PB]

  27. I hear your pain, PB. I finally solved this very problem — right here in your own beloved icy, chilly, wet New England — with fabulous Born boots. Elegant and chic enough for wear with skirts and dresses, rugged enough to work as real snow boot. 2.5″ stacked heel, treaded soles, shaft to the knee, sharp buckle details, lightly but warmly lined. I invested $185 four years ago and have worn them almost daily through four seasons of slush and snow
    http://www.bornshoes.com/Product.aspx?Productid=5471
    (I got them in the light mocha coffee color, depicted on the right side of that page.) I love Born boots!
    [SWOON!! This is reason to lose 60 lbs. right there. – PB]

  28. Those Born ones are beautiful 🙂

    I’ve spent a decade wearing crappy boots, and last year decided to spend the money and get some good pairs. I also live in the city and regularly walk a mile or so, often on ice-covered sidewalks.

    I used 6pm.com and picked up 3 pairs for $200 🙂

    for $100, the Sorel “Hoonah” in black – which are heavy-duty, cold-weather boots with a rubber sole that grips, isn’t flat, so walking on ice and snow is a go. These are dead-of-winter boots 🙂 It took me a long time to find ones that were fairly neutral but had really good grip when walking in winter. They work with pants if necessary but they’re not the ideal “work” shoe.
    Mine are black, but this shows them in a tan/white combo: http://www.6pm.com/sorel-hoonah-delta

    For a reliable boot I can also wear at work, they had a pair (for $35(!!!)) of very dark brown mid-calf La Canadienne boots, which were originally over $200 – a pretty boring 2″ heel, but again, a rubber sole with real traction, and a dark-brown colour that goes with just about anything.

    And finally, a pair of knee-high, black leather zip-up boots for $60 with a 1 1/2 inch wedge sole that are good for less damp/cold weather and also work with skirts.

    With shoe polish and leather protector they should last a long time 🙂

  29. Last year, after doing a funeral in which I had to take the arm of the funeral director 40 years my senior to make it to the graveside, I decided to INVEST in some “funeral boots”. Beautiful yet practical, warm and rubber-soled, not funky but not frumpy, low heal (I’m six feet tall) was my goal. Tried several. Finally spent the big bucks for a pair of la-canadienne boots and I don’t regret it AT ALL. They are fantastic. I can wear them to a funeral, a ski meet, the grocery, the opera. They go with jeans or formal black skirt, short or long. Worth every penny — best pair of boots of any sort I’ve ever had.
    http://www.zappos.com/la-canadienne-blanche-black-leather

    [Those are so perfect and awesome. I wish I didn’t have a fat calf. Those are the epitome of boots you invest in. They are worth every penny, indeed. – PB]

  30. Bearpaw brand boots are 50% off today only on endless.com: http://www.endless.com/f/12Deals/ref=sparkle-12Deals?ie=UTF8&pf_rd_m=AF16NM0QF9TKW&pf_rd_s=center-3&pf_rd_r=0NSCNHG275NZWRRNK5Y7&pf_rd_p=1283007922&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_i=DL2010DAY10

    I don’t hate the Barrow or Silverton styles, and with the discount the prices are quite good.

    Piperlime is also having a one day sale today- 25% off wintery boots with code musthave: http://piperlime.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=63774

    I heart online shoe shopping. OK, back to work!

  31. This reminds me, after nearly losing some toes at a funeral last winter, I need to invest in some boots of this nature.

    At said funeral, the funeral home staff member assigned to drive me to the cemetery was the only woman on the staff of the funeral home. She had invented her own “uniform” (equivalent to the mens’ dark suit, hat and heavy dark coat) for winter interments. She was an accomplished seamstress and had designed and made an outfit that made her look like a temperance crusader from the 1880s – big black skirt, two-layer cape, and a black bonnet that tied under the chin. She looked distinctly weird but she was certainly warm. Between her in that getup and me in the cassock, surplice and stole (with as many clothes as possible underneath, and black gloves!) we made quite the pair. [That’s eccentric! I think the bonnet was going too far from warm and anachronistic to just plain costumey. – PB]

    But I still need the boots.

Comments are closed.