We’re headed into some bitter weather here on the east coast—it’s going to be a mere 12 degrees on Friday—and I like to be prepared, because as you may know, I hate the cold, and I hate extreme cold extremely. That means hauling out my warmest mittens, my Patagonia long-johns, and my toastiest sneakers, which are a pair of Vans not unlike this one. (Pro tip: some of these sneakers have fleece everywhere inside the shoe except the sole, which just doesn’t make sense to me. So I add these sheepskin insoles to the equation, and all is toasty.)
You can’t go too far wrong with classic Converse high tops in suede, and these come in a few other good colors, though I’m partial to this army green.
These are a bit pricier than the others, but I think they’re a perfect grey and I dig the platform soles.
A lower-top version of Nike’s timeless Air Jordans.
And finally: a basic black pair with a nice thick platform.
I like to wear gloves ( thicker liner types ) plus thick wool mittens as a double layer and will put them plus my socks in the dryer and heat them up before walking the dog . It has been a game changer .
just a side note about insoles…if you have veiny feet––particularly on top of the arch of your foot (this is common for older females) then insoles can elevate your foot just enough to make the pressure on those veins uncomfortable. Even with lace-ups. Otherwise, fleece insoles are enormously helpful in cold weather. Cinnamon tea helps with circulation which helps in cold weather––I drink Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice on cold afternoons and it does seem to help (even if it’s just a placebo!).
Love the Converse! It has been, thus far, a chilly winter in Los Angeles. The idea that I need to have my ankles covered when heading out the door in the morning is a new one. These would do the job.
Brrrr!! If it were me, I might have to have some type of boot happening. That is a good idea to add insulation on the bottom. I hope you stay warm!
Viajera, I myself am experiencing on-the-top insulation. As you know, I take pillows with proper neck support seriously and cherish my pillow (even have a backup since it appears this brand is discontinued.) Anyway, it turns out our kitten Faye shares my opinion of my pillow, thinking it a wonderfully supportive cat-sized mattress. As a result, when I’m sleeping at night, Faye comes in and drapes her body on top of my head as we both sleep on my pillow. It was very astonishing the first time I woke very toasty, discovering I was wearing a living cat hat. My husband is much entertained observing it all. However, I realize that, although a great cold weather accessory, living cat hats may not be feasible on a mass scale. So, yeah, I think the fleecy insoles are the way to go!
That is completely adorable! And it’s an interesting cat behavior. I hadn’t heard that one before, though I have heard of cat “alarm clocks.”
I’ve never heard of Voile Blanche— super cute! Those AF1’s are calling my name…if I didn’t live in Florida. But they’d be good for winter travel, right?? Gonna go look, ack. I have Vans high tops that aren’t fleece lined and I love them, very comfy.
Oh, meant Jordans, not AF1! Holy smokes.
Thanks for the sheepskin insole link. I have several pairs of boots/shoes where I have replaced the insoles, but I haven’t found a great pair yet. Hope these are the answer. 🙂
The insoles are such a smart idea. I’m in the midwest and love wearing Converse, but the cold very efficiently comes up the bottom. I’ll have to give the insoles a try.
I have such terrible feet that sneaks have never worked for me — I need a good, firm platform above all. J/Slides are a life-changer. I have them in the Maya style in 3 colors and have pretty much abandoned my Danskos to be a full time sneaker person.
I’m intrigued – so they’re sneakers, but with a less flexible sole? I’m going to see if I can get a gander at one in person, thanks!
Yep. They’re actually quite stiff the first few wears then they mellow into a kind of squishy-but-firm sweet spot and stay that way for many, many miles.
Awesome, thanks!