10th Commandment: October 7
Oct 7, 2010
If you’re going to live in DC, you need rain boots or rain shoes. I prefer the boot because I can wear them with thick socks in the wintertime and stay warm on my commute.
Word to the wise though, plastic footwear becomes dangerous at temperatures below 32 degrees. One head first fall down a Metro escalator during Snowpocalypse Round II taught me that lesson.
Elected Official
Hunter Regent Savoy Boot (Nordstrom, $175)
Hill Staffer
English Quilted Champagne Boot (Dav, $85)
Unpaid Intern
I have worked and walked in DC off and on for almost a decade and have done just fine without rainboots. I use a waterproofing product on all my leather boots so they will work if a bit of splashing happens, and I look where I walk so I don't step in any puddles. People in DC will jump at any occasion (hello partially cloudy) to wear hideous Wellies, especially ones with childish patterns on them.
I respect a woman who buys a pair of rainboots in a very classic style and color and removes them once she has arrived at her office, but that is rarely the case in this city.
No amount of water proofing would make me feel comfortable wearing one of my $300 pair of heels in the rain. Maybe if I'm buying my shoes at Nine West I wouldn't care much about ruining them but at this point in my career a good work shoe is an investment.
I don't even wear my Nine West heels in the rain. They may not cost $300, but $80 is still $80 I'd rather not waste. Unfortunately, as an intern I can't afford shoe investments. = That is, until Rue LALA has a great shoe sale 😀
I love these boots. It is very hard to be chic in inclement weather, but these do the trick. I personally have a childishly patterned polka dotted pair of rainboots that I happen to also love!
Wonderful options!
I've never bought rain boots but I think those $30 ones from Kmart look pretty good.
I'd have to try them on to see how they feel inside. A good-looking hat/glove/scarf combo will keep all eyes on your upper end.
There are too many puddles with ugly dirty water, deeper than they look on the route from Metro to my office to be wearing anything that isn't rubbery.