WARM THOSE TOES
Moccasins, fleece-lined boots a hot winter look
Nothing says winter like cold feet. And nothing addresses that malaise like furry footwear. The stores are awash in fleecelined boots, moccasins and slippers, giving us the opportunity to warm our toes while keeping on top of a hot fashion trend.
You can find traditional moccasins and Australian sheepskin boots in most shoe stores this season. But the brands have also gone to town creatively, putting new flair into the classics. Take Uggs, for example. This season, they have a glammed-up fully sequined boot, a hairy yak-like boot and a boot with a cable-knit upper. They also have a simple moccasin.
Koolaburra, Uggs’s more upscale competitor, meanwhile has upped its game with stilettos, clogs, and platform wedges both lined and unlined with sheepskin. They have become the brand’s bestsellers.
It’s nice to see that some real heritage brands of moccasins have made a big splash this year, too.
Some have added crepe or rubber soles so we can wear them on pavement.
Manitobah Mukluks have a huge selection online, but they are also available in many retail outlets and they are sooo gorgeous. Made in Canada, the Metis brand has a special line called the Storyboot Project, which collaborates with aboriginal craftspeople. Manitobah Mukluks will do limitededition replicas of their designs and share the profits 50/50. If you prefer a less flashy design, they have scores of them with a simple bead design, both as slippers and street wear.
Minnetonka is another heritage brand, which interestingly is based in the U.K. More utilitarian than the Manitobahs, they are also more affordable.
Here is a selection of cosy footwear. Many items are available at local retailers; we’ve included websites for all, so that you can find them more easily.
Uggs
Uggs succeeded in appealing to the mass market of cold feet and have become ubiquitous. The sequined boot is bound with satin. All boots in their Classic Collection feature a soft foam insole covered with genuine sheepskin. The sequined style is called Sparkles. $255; uggaustralia.ca
Koolaburra
Uggs’s main competition, Koolaburra claims that its Australian sheepskin boot is the one to buy because it is water resistant. The brand has also introduced more fashionable styles that are easier on the eye than the classics. Haley Ankle: $300. Koolaburra Natalia Stiletto: $650; koolaburra.com
Punto Pigro
From the La Marche region of Italy, the Punto Pigro brand is known for its high-quality leathers and traditional craftsmanship. This moccasin is called the Eschimese and is lined with shearling. It is available at Gravity Pope and costs $295; gravitypope.com or puntopigro.com Frye Reagan Campus
Driver Founded in 1863, Frye is the oldest continuously operating shoe company in the U.S. It is known for its sturdy riding boot, but it has many variations on the design. The Frye moccasin has a rubber split sole and shearling lining. $188 at Gravity Pope; gravitypope.com or thefryecompany.com Manitobah
Mukluks This is the brand for aboriginal authenticity. Founded in 1997 and owned by Metis siblings based in Winnipeg, this brand respects the traditional designs of aboriginal moccasins.
They recently partnered with Vibram to develop a high-abrasion sole so they can last on urban surfaces.
The Traveler slipper is available at Town Shoes. $109; manitobah.ca
Rachel Comey Comey is an independent designer of men’s and women’s clothes and shoes based in New York. These “bunny slippers” are handcrafted in Peru with the alpaca fur from animals that died of natural causes. $285 at umeboshishoes.com or rachelcomey.com
Quoddy ring boot Based on the shores of Passamaquoddy Bay in Maine, Quoddy has a long history making moccasins. All its footwear is made by hand. The ring boot has a crepe sole stitched to the leather. $360 at Gravity Pope; gravitypope.com or quoddy.com