Etiquette for the Rubber Boots
Manolo says, one of the Manolo’s many internet friends has asked him the question:
Dear Manolo,
You have, on a couple of occasions, provided fabulous recommendations for wet-weather boots. My question is about the etiquette of rain boots: can one wear a stylish pair of rubber boots into the office, or must one bring a change of shoes? I’m referring particularly to city rain conditions, not the sort of muddy mess of an afternoon spent slogging through the moors in search of Heathcliff.
Thank you,
Courtney
Manolo says, in this instance, the politeness and the fashion both demand that if you are wearing the rubber boots through the streets of your city you should bring the change of the shoes. The only exception to this rule is if you are the Minnie Mouse, in which case you are exempt because the streets of the Disneyland are reputed to be spotless.
Of the course, there is one other option for the non-Minnie Mouses which the Manolo has not discussed here recently: the overshoes. Sadly, in our lost era of casual excess, the overshoes have mostly gone the way of the spats and the long gloves.
Manolo asks, ubi sunt the clear plastic overshoes worn by the stylish ladies of the not-too-distant rainy past?
January 11th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
I used to have a pair of those clear plastic overshoes that buttoned across the top. I was in my early 20s and they were Mighty Handy in the Boston spring rains. They’d likely be handy in the San Francisco winter rains as well. Hm.
Whatever happened to them, I have no idea, but they should make a revival. They have a nice, retro, granny look to them which a fashionable, sprightly wearer could pull off with great panache.
If someone finds them again, please advise. I’d buy a pair…
January 11th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Can’t see the img but I sure know what you are talking about…
January 11th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
In the 80’s I had a pair of overshoes that fit over my cowboy boots - very handy. I was really bummed that I was never able to replace them after they wore out.
January 11th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Requiem for galoshes…
“Manolo asks, ubi sunt the clear plastic overshoes worn by the stylish ladies of the not-too-distant rainy past?”
I’d say I was born at the end of the era of the galosh. We wore galoshes as children and they were awful….
January 12th, 2007 at 6:29 am
Ubi sunt, indeed. We have snow here 4 or 5 months and then slush for one more. The boots get . . . old.
January 15th, 2007 at 11:09 pm
A mystery explained! My grandafather always wore overshoes, but the name he used was “rubbers.” This name made them un-web-searchable in the present day. Thanks.
January 22nd, 2007 at 10:45 pm
Glamour Geek and Phillis, I have the answer to both of your questions. Go to heelingtouch.com, they have the clear plastic lady’s and cowboy boot overshoes!
January 28th, 2008 at 6:58 am
What you need are Drizzle boots - clear plastic just like the old-fashoned ones, very cute: http://tinyurl.com/273ddd
March 25th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Love to wear galoshes
I was brought up in the days where I had to wear my red or white rubber galoshes just about every time a cloud showed up. I wish there were places that you could still buy them in red white or brown. I have several pair of the rain boots with the button and loop closure on the side. If someone knows who sells the old fashion galoshes let me know.