Dressing in the Dark of Winter: Finding Boots

In much of the Goth world, the number one seasonal fashion issue is how to stay dark in the intense heat of summer. Up here in the Northern Wastes (somewhere north of Edmonton, Alberta), the real problem is staying bloody warm in the near day-long dark of winter (great for vampires, not so good for mortals), never mind doing it goth-like.

However, for those of us who don't want to exchange the bat gear for hoserwear let's talk.

Unfortunately, the British, German and American design houses put out winter clothes for a chill day out on the moor. Those of us dodging ice floes rather than misty tors will have to look elsewhere.

At least the southron Goth designers have an excuse for neglecting or underestimating winter wear. But the Hyperborean couturiers are really not much better. Plastik Wrap has one woman's winter coat and Futurstate has no warm clothes to speak of. Yes, I know they design for the cybergoth crowd in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. But I've been to those cities in winter. They're bleeding cold. No excuse. No excuse.

As always, the Lady of the Manners over at the Gothic Charm School provides some excellent advice on how to dress for the dark of winter. But she doesn't give a lot of specifics. And she lives in Seattle where winter is like a lukewarm bath. (Amy over at the Ultimate Goth Guide--as always--has some excellent suggestions, too. But she lives in England where they haven't seen a real winter since the Thames last froze over in the 18th century.) So I would like to go into details here. And I will start with the gents since I am one; and Milady does seem to get the bulk of the attention in the Goth fashion world.

A word of caution. Some compromise will most likely have to be made before somebody realizes there is a market in northern climes like Canada, Russia and Scandinavia for adequate Goth winter wear. As a rule, you only want to approximate death in your look and not actually achieve it. 

To begin, let's look at footwear. Some winter items like hats and scarves are fairly easy to find. But Gothy winter boots present a few problems. Regular Goth boots do not keep the toes from turning into corpses when the temperature drops below 0. And Goth shoemakers do not appear to design winter boots. You will have to improvise. So how does one become a comfortably decked-out Abominable Snowman?

Luckily, you have a few options depending on how much you want to spend:

1. Find a pair of old-fashioned black leather commuter boots like the ones your father might have worn to work. For regular winter activity, they should be adequate. Fashion-wise, ok, they aren't fantastic but they pass. They're black. They're leather. They're relatively inexpensive. You can find them at any shoe store after September. Really, what more do you want?
2. If you look around a bit, you might be able to upgrade and find more witchy winter wear at even mainstream stores like Sears. I found the following boots on-line; and they have sufficient dark credentials to Goth up any cold, snowy day: 
  




Source: Sears Canada


3. I know. What could be less Goth than UGG? But I did warn you. Adapt or freeze. Besides there is enough dark style in these two fleece-lined boots to keep you sombre and sassy throughout the dire months.



UGG Australia



Source: Ugg Australia



Unlike most Goth footwear, all of these boots will at least trip you out for the next six months at the icebay of Forochel. If anyone out there knows of better boots, please let me know. I've been searching and searching and searching...

Until next time have a witchy winter, my dark comrades!