During the season when we tend to favor warmth and comfort over aesthetics, nothing makes us happier than when we actually don’t have to make a choice between those things at all. Like with these shoes: Part sneaker, part boot, and lined with thick, soft shearling, these are the cool-girl cold weather boots we didn’t know could exist. (Seriously—doesn’t just looking at those furry innards make your toes squidge?)
Of course, this particular winning design is just one of many recent slam dunks from Coach, which has frequently appeared on our wish lists since its revamp last year. “Stuart Vevers is doing great things as the new creative director at Coach,” notes ELLE.com fashion editor Danielle Prescod, who ID’ed the Urban Hiker as one of ELLE.com’s winter must-haves. “The first great thing he did happened last season when he designed a killer fall collection that every editor was drooling over.” One of these salivating editors happened to be ELLE.com’s Ruthie Friedlander. “I fell in love with these boots when I saw them at Coach’s runway show,” she says. “I usually hate cold weather accessories—I am still waiting to find a puffy coat I don’t hate—but these are warm and stylish.”
And then some—they also happen to be incredibly versatile, probably because their style is so hard to pigeonhole. (“It’s an updated take on a workwear shoe, but made luxe,” is how Danielle describes them.) “I love that these touch on the comfort trend while still remaining elevated,” says editorial assistant Victoria Hoff. “Little details like a very subtle wedge platform, the strap—they all add up to a shoe that feels uber-cool and special but that I also wouldn’t mind wearing while running errands around the city, which during Polar Vortex-level conditions, is no easy feat.” Not to mention that this style accomplishment comes in both camel and black.
“It’s perfect for city living, and a great opportunity for some après-ski photo opps,” agrees Danielle, and there you have it: Whether your holiday vacation calls for lounging, last minute shopping runs, or a casual-chic time in Park City, you can save some space in your suitcase, because these guys will carry you through all of the above. And oh-so-cozily, we might add.
