Must Have Winter Boots For Mom {That Aren’t UGGs}

Let’s face it…we moms can become creatures of habit.

And UGGS, well those babies, are “habit” forming. They are warm, easy to put on, waterproof, and comfortable. They can take you from coffee, to the drop off line, to the grocery store, to the dentist and back home with ease.

And they have their place in your wardrobe rotation, absolutely.

But not every place should be an UGG place. Too much UGG to often can end up looking F-UGG-LY. It’s like wearing yoga pants with a nice black jacket. Sure, you can do it, but people wonder why you didn’t try a little bit harder.

So at the beginning of the season, I made it my quest to find Must Have Winter Boots For Mom (That Isn’t Another Pair of Uggs).

One of the BEST places for finding your perfect boots is Zappos. And here is why…

• The Selection. It’s crazy. About every brand, style, size and color is available. I can’t even imagine what the warehouse is like. I’d probably just sit in a corner and try on shoes till I couldn’t stand in a stiletto again.
• The Reader’s Comments. You want to want to find if a shoe is true to size, comfortable, breaks after the third wear, etc…you’ll find out in the comments. Those comments are GOLD for helping pick out a great boot over a good boot.
• FREE shipping both ways. Order 30 pairs of boots, try them all on with various outfits and walk around the house all day. Don’t like 29 of them, ship them back for FREE.

So, here are seven types of boots that have replaced my UGGs for Must Have Winter Boots For Mom.

The Short Bootie That Goes With Everything

I’m absolutely in love with this Sam Edelman Louie Boot. For those are wondering how to wear the short-boot, these boots make it easy.

I love that it is a little rock and roll with the fringe. It’s just the right amount…that “I bet she has a good time!” look.

(Not to be confused “Should she be driving my kids in car pool?” look.)

Simply grab a pair of skinny jeans, cuff them to above the ankle, slide these boots on and then cuff them, add a slouchy sweater or jacket, and you look put together and bad-ass at the same time.

The Tall “HOLY COW IT’S COLD & SNOWY” Boot

Let’s face it, the reason we love our UGGs is they are awesome when it is COLD and SNOWY. They keep our feet dry and warm and can pound through the snow.

I wanted to find a boot that would look good with leggings, a skirt, or jeans AND be weather-proof, warm, and comfortable. That is not an easy combination, but I think I found it with the SOREL Toronto Boot.

From the VERY FIRST TIME I put these on, they were OMG comfortable.

The SOREL Toronto Boot is snug on your leg without being tight and the wedge heel provides a little height without being over the top. Plus, the fact that they pull on, are leather, and waterproof SOLD me. And that buckle in the back…it adds just the right amount of flair.

Other Honorable Mentions

The Perfect Legging Boot

Leggings. They are the new yoga pant.

And unfortunately, not every boot looks great with them. If the boot is too tall and it looks too formal. If the boot is too short, it looks like you bought the wrong size leggings. I love these Madden Girl Cullen Boots. They are a super slouchy mid-calf boot. Tall enough to hide your thick socks and leggings perfectly, but short enough to not look formal. Plus they are damn comfortable.

The Best Overall Boot for the Money

If you are looking for a great overall boot (wear with leggings, jeans, skirts or dresses), you can not go wrong with either the Naturalizer Johanna or Sam Edelman Penny Boot for the money. Both are classic in styling and 100% leather. If you take care of them and protect them, they should last you for a decade or more. I’ve owned my Naturalizer Boots for five years and they still look as great as when I bought them and they are oh.my.goodness. comfortable.

The Best Cowboy Boot for Kickin’ Arse and Taking Names

Every girl needs a cowboy boot. Because sometimes, you just need to feel like you could do some “cow-kicking” in your everyday life. These Ariat Heritage Western J Toe Boots are the perfect cowgirl boot. A classic style, that will look awesome with bootcut jeans or leggings or a skirt. I own a similar Frye Boot and get compliments every time I wear them.

The Best Snow Boot So Your Good Boots Don’t Get Wrecked

Sometimes it is snowy and melty and slushy and gross outside…and you still have to go to Costco, Target and the eye doctor. You don’t want your “good boots” to become a holy, muddy mess, but you still want to look stylish.

These Hi-Tec St. Moritz Boots are a great combination of rugged, stylish, rubber, and waterproof. You won’t have to worry about your jeans ever getting close to the slushy ground, because you will be three inches above the ground. 🙂 I own a similar pair of Khombu Boots and love wearing them when the weather gets bad.

The Best “I Can’t Believe I Just Spent That Much But I LUV Them” Boots

This was my first pair of “good boots.” And by good, I mean well-made and 100% leather. I had toyed with cheap fashion boots for most of my adult life, but after one year or wear and tear, they would look like crap.

So I saved up my Christmas money, birthday money, and sold some stuff at a garage sale and bought these FRYE Paige Boots five years ago. To this day, they are my favorite boot. They have been with me through television segments, video shoots, horse rides, all-day shopping trips, and dinners with my man. And they look better today then when I bought them. It’s an investment, no doubt about it. But one that will keep paying off for another 15 years.

So what do you think? Think I nailed the Must Have Winter Boots For Mom? Are you ready to get rid of your UGGs (or at least not wear them as much) in 2015?

Disclosure: Zappos sponsored this post, However, my love and addiction to boots, as well as the written remarks are entirely my own (much to my husband’s dismay). Want more information – check out my full disclosure statement.