It's time to start thinking about Wintertime survival in Cleveland / Northeast Ohio. I understand that fashion takes a back seat when there's multiple inches of snow on the ground. That's when we put our normal trendy fashion boots to the side and break out some bad boys that can handle the job. Here are my top 3 picks for the most fashionable & functional snow boots out this season. Here are questions I asked myself & how I based my selections:

Functionality

Traction: type of sole & heel height. Will I be able to easily trample around town?...without falling?
Shaft Height & Warmth: are they tall enough to keep out snow? Will my feet freeze off?

Aesthetic

Style: Do these match my style & wardrobe? Will I put my city to shame by wearing these? (i.e. people who wear Ugs)
Quality: What type of material are they? How will they wear in snow and salt? Can they be easily cared for / cleaned?

Here are the links to check out these styles further!
Top: Dollhouse, Defend  ///  Middle: Zara, Leather Wedge Mountain Bootie  ///  Bottom: Topshop, Ava Faux Fur Lined Boots

NEW STYLES! More of my upcycled vintage boots are in the shop! Throw on a pair with some jeans and a sweater. Each unique pair turns a ho-hum cowboy boot into a modern and trendy statement piece. Current sizes available range from 6-8. www.acdesignshop.com

Original, outdated boots...ready for an update!

adding belts for detail...buckles are a fun element to add

There's nothing better than taking something you already have (something you are contemplating tossing to the trash) and giving it new life. These were boots I bought back in 2006 while in NY.  Being a bit out of date now, they haven't been worn in years. 

Last year I stumbled upon Luxury Jones boots (peep this awesome: 1 // 2 // 3 )...drooling ever since! I've had my mind set on searching for the perfect vintage boot to experiment with and make a similar look. Little did I know, I had a great pair to use already in my closet!

I was about to throw them out... (trying to make room for these amazing new gold boots from Zara) I luckily got curious to what the inside leather color looked like and what they would look like folded over. Hello beautiful chestnut leather! Folded over, they made the most perfect new and stylish ankle boot. I grabbed some old belts out of my closet and started experimenting to add some detail. I ended up just running to target to pick up some new belts which perfectly wrapped around 3 times. 

Talk about from trash to treasure, these are now one of my fav boots again!

There are a lot of expensive versions of glitter backed boots out there...luckily, I found these great Steve Madden wedge (with fringe!) boots at a great price...prefect to add a little personal style! For glitter I used a medium glitter in gunmetal and a course glitter in black. To start, I masked off the section I wanted to glitter, brushed on Jewel It Glue and poured the glitter on top. After pressing the glitter down, I applied Mod Podge with a sponge brush. This acts as a sealer coat, keeping all the glittery goodness where it should be. Love the contrast of colors and materials on this boot!

My spring must haves: lace up boots and bright denim. Boots by Sam Edelman

These Quoddy (for sale at Jcrew) hand sewn moccasins look beautiful and perfectly comfortable.
(My northeast Ohio Fall/Winter survival mode has kicked in)

Gushing over these boots by MIA! I love boots…and right now I’m all about leopard…and fringe. I’m about to rock these animal inspired feisty kicks.