I’m not going to claim to be the most fashionable of people. In fact, I am sure my daughter, Little Miss Indoors (she used to be Little Miss Outdoors but then she grew up…), would suggest I am ridiculously unfashionable. But there are plenty of times when living in Scotland that I need a pair of boots that can cope with our crazy winter weather but also look good enough for a trip to the pub, a meeting, or a catch-up with pals.

In times gone by, I have pulled on my hiking boots. But they don’t look too cool with smart-ish jeans, and certainly not with a skirt.

Now, though, I have discovered that there are winter boots that deal with all the practical stuff – and also look great, too.

Many more outdoors footwear companies seem to be wising up to the need for good-looking but practical winter boots, including Keen, Merrell, and Teva.

Review of good-looking winter boots

The Nature Shop kindly sent me a pair of Teva Tonalea boots to try. They are made with winter repelling fabrics, such as waterproof leather for the outers and fake fur-lined cosiness for the inners. Added to this the boots have winter battling features such as

* T.I.D.E GRIP soles, made of special rubber – basically these soles are good and grippy in the snow and ice

• T.I.D.E HYDRO – for keeping feet very dry regardless of the rain and snow
• Mush® Infused Insole – offering extra comfort inside the boot
• A zipper on the side for getting your feet easily in and out of the boot.

As I said, I’m usually a hiking boots kind of person but I love these boots. It’s the practical AND the fashionable that appeals and even Little Miss nodded with approval when she saw me wearing these.

I tested these at the tail end of last winter in very cold conditions and also in the rain and slush. The Teva Tonaleas feel extremely warm and cosy to wear and I love that Teva have paid a lot of attention to making the insole really comfy. For warmth on really cold days a pair of Merino wool walking socks added to the delights of being out and about in sub-zero conditions but still having toasty warm feet. (Anyone who knows me and my cold hands and feet problem will be amazed that I have found boots to keep my tootsies warm!).

I did slosh and splosh the boots through a few puddles and my feet didn’t feel any wet whatsoever. With care, the boots stay smart looking too because of a waterproof spray coating. Leather is an awesome waterproof material and with a water repellent spray on top, the boots stay good looking for longer because you can simply wipe off any dirt and mud after each outing.

My favourite look is to wear the boots with neat fitting jeans. The jeans fit inside the bots. But they could also be worn with jeans or trousers outside the boots. And if you’re in the mood for wearing a skirt, the boots will look smart with a skirt and woolly tights.

In conclusion, this type of winter boots are the way to go. There’s no need to compromise on how you look just because there is winter outside the door. And looking smart is possible with dry and warm feet. Result!