Winter of discontent

Winter has definitely arrived in Halifax. Living in an eastern coastal city that is prone to snowstorms one day and rain/hail/sleet/sun the next, to dress for the weather becomes a full-time job.

In a season where your boots and coats become a uniform, putting some punch into those pieces might make venturing out into that veritable arctic tundra a little more bearable. As I've discovered, locating those perfect pieces is easier said than done. Unfortunately, Halifax is hardly Canada's fashion mecca. I've resorted to surfing the world wide web for the perfectly chic-yet-cozy-but-you-can-still-trudge-through-the-snow-and-ice boot, a staple which, in my opinion, is the most difficult to find.

One worthy contender is Sorel's Joan of Arctic boot. In three colors: oatmeal, black and hawk, it has been rated to keep your tootsies warm in up to -40 degree weather. The incredible faux-fur detail is the icing on the cake! The only problem is these boots are more suitable for Starbucks jaunts than for walking to work in a pencil skirt and black peacoat. Enter the Women's Jury Bootie by Jessica Bennett. Complete with lug sole to keep you on terra firma while navigating tricky sidewalk ice patches, this boot also has a tabbed front and clasped leather straps to alleviate sartorial winter boredom. A similar style to the Jury Bootie, is the Whit boot by Type Z. If you're a little unsteady on a heel, this boot's wedge heel is ideal. I love the plaid textile shaft and synthetic fur trim. I'm a huge fan of boots by Golden Goose. They are hand-made with beautiful worn in distressed leather with a vintage air you would be hard pressed to find even in thrift shops. This pair of riding boots is one of my favorites. There is no lining in this boot, but that's nothing a pair of thermal socks won't take care of.

Most of the boots I've been lusting after as of late are the kind that don't keep you warm:

1. Rupert Sanderson, Kit Kat shoe boots, net-a-porter.com
2. Maison Martin Margiela cut-out bootie, eluxury.com
3. Marni open toe boots, net-a-porter.com
4. Alexander McQueen leather union jack boot, farfetch.com

Especially with what seems like our six-thousandth snowstorm looming, spring seems to be eons away. In the meantime, I'll just continue to dream about these boots and mentally project myself to somewhere warm, say, the women's shoe dept. at Barneys New York!