Below are some of the hottest winter boot trends for the 2011/2012 season. When you're done checking those out, be sure to have a look at a few of the season's cutest winter and snow boots, or, my top picks in winter boots for women.
Shearling, Fur and Faux Fur Trim: If, like me, you're one of those women who loves a bit of well-placed fluff, then you'll be happy to know that winter boots with faux fur, fur, and shearling trim are ultra-hot this season -- and I'm not just referring to sporty and practical styles; I've seen loads of casual fashion boots with fluffy accents, and even lots of heeled and dressier styles as well.
Winter Boots with Heels: Of course you'd never look for snow boots with heels, but when it comes to winter fashion boots, you can get a bit of added height by looking for styles that feature low and mid-height heels. Most years, finding such boots would be a daunting task, but thanks to this year's chunky and wedge heel trends, there is an abundance of heeled winter boots to choose from. I'm especially loving 2011's selection of tall winter dress boots with wedge heels -- they're great for pairing with skirts, and when you have to do a lot of walking, they're much more comfortable than stilettos.
Lace-Up Winter Boots Front laces are always a nice feature on snow boots, because they allow you to tighten the boots, thereby providing a more customized fit. Top ties are especially nice since they can be tightened to prevent snow, moisture, and cold from entering via the top of the boots.
But this year, it's not just snow boots that are sporting lace-up fronts. Thanks to the trends toward hiking- biker- and chukka-inspired styles, plenty of 2011's winter fashion boots also feature full front lacing, and lace-up fronts are available on everything from heeled ankle booties to tall flat boots, and everything in between.
It is worth noting that in some cases, the laces are only decorative -- so, if you do plan on using the laces in a practical way, you'll want to be sure they can actually be tightened.
Puffy, Sporty, Quilted Boots for Winter: I've noticed an abundance of quilted, and otherwise puffy, sporty boots hitting the shoe store shelves, so I'm going to go ahead and call this one a mini-trend. Not sure exactly what I mean by "puffy?" Think of the footwear equivalent of down jackets.
Needless to say, this is a cute look, but also a really casual one, so if you have to dress up for work, and you're only going to have one pair of winter boots, this probably isn't your best choice.
If you're worried more about protection from the elements, and are able to dress in jeans and sweaters, then boots like these would be a trendy, and practical, choice.
More on Boots:
Cute Winter Boots and Snow BootsWinter Boots for Women
Winter Boots for Men
Winter Boots Guide
Women's Fashion Boots
Sexy Boots
Boots for Less
Designer Boots
UGG Outlet Stores
What to Look for in Snow Boots
Kids' Snow Boots
