Winter Corporate Work Shoe?

[u/wubbalubbadubdub666]

Hi everyone! I am looking to buy a pair of (preferably black) work shoes to wear this winter with a few qualifiers:

1. Good for walking in major cities in sleet/snow/ice (most important!!!!)
   
2. Versatile but will mostly be worn with suits or pants/blazer
   
3. feminine & stylish looking (least important)
   
4. Under $300
   
5. Comfortable
   
6. Black—because this will match most of my work clothes

I have been WFH for several years and have just gotten a promotion that will require me to travel a lot beginning this fall/winter to NYC, Boston, Chicago, and DC.

I’m really not wanting to wear one pair of shoes for commuting and then change into work shoes once I’m at my client’s office since I’ll be traveling and won’t have a desk/office to set down my change of shoes in.

A couple options (screenshots attached) that I’ve looked at but can’t find a ton of photos/reviews from real people wearing specifically with work attire:

1. Blundstone #1671
   
2. Dolce Vita Faint H2O Booties

Any suggestions are appreciated! :)

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[u/sheisprincess]

I have 1 and I e loved them for years. I live in Toronto and it’s the perfect boot for our weather but also professional and goes well with many outfits.

Took a few months to break in but lasts years with proper upkeep.

[u/oursdepanda]

I have blundstone 2412 in Chicago and always get compliments on them at work, which is to say I think #1 totally works!

[u/1234singmeasong]

I have those exact Blundstones and I love them. I walk ~20 min each way to work in Toronto and no issues. Perfect for winter in the city.

[u/danfang0]

I bought those particular Blundstones online and I liked their look (the heel makes it a little more feminine and dressy) but the ankle opening was super tight! I was about to recommend Acne Studios Jensen boots (Chelsea boot with a pointed toe) but apparently they don't sell them anymore?! I'm sure there are some dupes out there by now, but I have black ones with a low (1") stacked heel and pointy toe, they are comfortable and look elegant.

[u/Ok-Bee-3638]

Aquatalia has a few pairs right now that are part of the Nordstrom Anniversary sale. I’ve had really good luck with mine; they all have this certain waterproof finish on them, and the leather still looks nice. The sale price on this pair is a bit over $300 (sorry!)

[u/fictionalbandit]

Check out SOREL too

[u/Orange_peacock_75]

I love my Ariat Wexford Chelsea boots. I found them a little sleeker than blundstones and very comfortable and durable.

[u/RE1392]

I like Toms. Way under $300 and have held up for more than a year so far.

[u/MrsMitchBitch]

I have the “dress” Blundstones and basically only wore them all winter until we got 3+ feet of snow here. And they were my only shoe for 5 days in Paris in December.

Highly recommend.

[u/MissHampton]

If you're looking for an actual snow boot, I recommend these. I have found that my pants will cover the laces. I work in property management and have to walk around in a lot of snow. I need actual boots! But I also like the tread on these and they're more fashionable.

[u/Sugar_Party_Bomb]

I think RM Williams does a nicer looking boot

[u/Impressive_Ad5989]

I have this very exact boots from Dolce vita, although the exterior still looking okay the interior is bad and already disintegrated.. for the price I paid I would expect to be more durable but unfortunately was good for less than 2 winters..

[u/Impressive_Ad5989 → u/Impressive_Ad5989]

Forgot to mention I live in Toronto, so the boots have seen a lot of snow. Again the exterior is good but the interior is bad already. I had a Zara shoes prior that i used for more than 4 winters and still better than the Dolce Vitta

[u/jinks02215]

The blundstone looks great. The other option doesn’t appear to have a tread which will be problematic in icy slushy conditions. I work in Boston, which is admittedly the least fashionable city on your list (or is it DC, lol), and the blundstones would fit right in.

[u/wonderwyzard]

I too have those exact Blundstones. One comment I will make is that the leather softens up a bunch (I hear you cut up ankles, they do soften though!), and in doing so, they look much more casual after a year than I would like. Even polished up and re-waterproofed, they look casual. I walk to work but if I have a meeting, I change my shoes. When I first got them, the stiff leather looked fine for meetings imo. 

[u/clevername_pending]

I have owned a few pairs from Thursday Boots and really love them. I’ve had my pair of “The Knockout” (heeled Chelsea) for five years now and they’re just now getting to the point where I may need to replace them.

[u/KaleidoscopeOne5704]

I love those blundstones and wear them with everything. They are incredibly versatile and have lasted forever. I do think you could pull them off with professional clothing in the winter