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As the first real snowfall of the season fell in New York City last week, I was left speechless — for a second. I panicked, not knowing what the heck to wear until I remembered, “Eva! You’re from Minnesota! You’ve experienced the worst winters before, this little dusting of snow is nothing.” I think the fact that the Big Apple hasn’t experienced flakes for a bit is what stopped me in my tracks, because I don’t have all my proper winter attire here, but thanks to my trendy “snow” shoes, I was able to trudge through the sludge with incredible confidence. Meanwhile, people who opted for sneakers slid around — yes, I cringed at the sight.
“Snow” shoes might have a bad rap; you might think of duck boots that aren’t particularly sexy, or maybe the Uggs come to mind (which, hey, are super comfy but maybe not fashion-forward per se!), but I have a new pair to throw into the (snow) mix. In fact, Dakota Johnson just wore them, sans snow on the ground, but seeing her in the style reminded me how cool this pair actually looks, sludge or not.
The actress was spotted out and about in New York City looking as low-key and cool as ever. She always looks cool, that’s how she is, but she never tries too hard, because, well, that’s Johnson’s allure at work. This time, she opted for classic straight-leg jeans that were, of course, the perfect blue — and yes, I’m currently doing the legwork to find her exact pair because they’re so good. She rounded out the look with an oversized leather jacket (ugh, it’s so chic!), a bright-green scarf that she casually draped over her signature brown locks, and those chunky, front-zip Chelsea boots that are my secret weapon for combatting snow in style. Hear me out!
Thursday Boot Reign Boots
M.Gemi the Elda Boot
Three things winter boots should absolutely be? Durable, comfortable, and warm. Johnson’s (and my) go-to winter boots are absolutely all that — and more. A chunky Chelsea boot with a lugged sole is a sure-fire way to get through the sludge and ice without slipping. I wore my Thursday Boots pair last week, and felt the most secure walking the slippery sidewalks. That’s because the sole offered ample traction and non-slip support, not to mention the platform base literally lifted me up, an added security measure. The durable leather wasn’t fazed by snow or salty concrete, either, and I was able to wear my thick winter socks with them, so they checked all the boxes.
Johnson’s pair are very similar to my go-to boots, aside from the fact that hers are probably designer (I’m guessing The Row!) and featured a front-zip design that adds even more practically to an already standout winter shoe. Instead of struggling to slip your heel into a tight shaft, the zipper opens up, allowing easy in-and-out.
Get the Look:
Thursday Boots Ryder Platform
Shop now: $180; thursdayboots.com
Steve Madden Sameera Chunky Bootie
Shop now: $60 (Originally $150); nordstrom.com
Cougar Villa Lug Platform Bootie
Shop now: $180; nordstrom.com
Jeffrey Campbell Rain-Storm Platform Chelsea Boot
Shop now: $70; nordstrom.com
M.Gemi The Clara Boot
Shop now: $145 (Originally $398); mgemi.com
Vagabond Shoemakers Cosmo 2.0 Chelsea Boot
Shop now: $200; nordstrom.com