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On a Tuesday morning in January, the projected coldest day of the year so far, the seasonal depression was hitting. It’s not ideal commuting weather, let me tell you. The last thing I wanted to do was put on the outfit I laid out the night before: a stiff blazer, jeans that feel incredibly tight this week, and pointed-toe boots that hurt my feet and aren’t very warm. So I grabbed the new Toteme boots that arrived on my doorstep a few days before instead. I wanted to put them to the test: Could they help me surviveJanuary? And are they really worth the $980 price tag?
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First off, when did I wear them?
Within a month, I reached for them with six outfits. I wore them when I needed to be warm but still wanted to look put-together. Earlier this month, I rolled down the boots about an inch and loosely tucked them into my trousers to make sure no snow got on my pants. The one thing I liked about these shoes is the almond-shaped toe; it added a sleekness to my looks that my UGGs (a chunky, round toe) don’t. This made them great for daytime work events because I could wear them like lug-sole boots, but they didn’t look bulky.
I didn’t reach for them when I went out for drinks or dinner; I usually chose black knee-high boots or kitten heels. I prefer a sleeker look for nighttime. But a few weekends ago, I paired them with my favorite Pistola straight-leg jeans to watch Sunday football at a sports bar and loved how it turned out. Rolling them down was so flattering and surprisingly didn’t look millennial-core. But had the jeans been any skinnier, it would have been a different story. (Sorry, Alix Earle, skinny jeans are not coming back for me.)
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How do the Toteme boots feel?
You know that cold-toe feeling in the winter, where no matter what shoe you put on, it persists? I didn’t have that with these Toteme boots. I’ve only ever gotten ease of comfort by wearing UGGs. And the faux-fur lining is fluffy and soft but not too hot. I appreciated the breathability when I ran errands last week and stopped at a coffee shop with the heat cranking. And I didn’t sweat in my socks like when I wear wool socks or UGGs. The boots are heavy but not uncomfortably so; the leather is stiff and holds its shape when you walk. They are easy to walk in; no blisters or foot pain. Also, they have good traction, so I didn’t have to worry about slipping on ice.
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How do they hold up?
Really well, actually, even though I put them through snow, ice, and an actual polar vortex. Not even New York City post-snow slush ruined the faux fur. I thought folding them down might crease the leather but was surprised and relieved to find I was wrong. (These are samples, after all.) They did not crease near the ball of the foot, either. I noticed some snowy residue on one boot when I got home from work a few days ago — I’m 97 percent sure someone stepped on my foot during the rush-hour commute — but it wiped right off with a wet paper towel.
I also love the thick rubber sole because it is nearly impossible to scuff the toes, even for me. My husband, parents, former roommates, and anyone I have ever lived with will tell you I’m hard on my belongings. If an item survives living with me for over a month unscathed, I know it’s made to last. And these boots passed the test.
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What did these boots replace in my wardrobe?
These served a role that combined two shoes: my UGGs and the pair of Zara lug-sole boots I’ve had for years. Still, I thought I would be wearing these all day, every day and throwing my crusty, dusty UGGs out the window once they arrived. But my UGGs are still my preferred shoe for Trader Joe’s trips, late-night bodega runs, and taking out the trash. The Toteme boots are much better looking (obviously) and equally practical, but the insole is just plain leather, which is not always what I want to slip my feet into when I’m cold and lazy. Now why would they do that?, I thought. A faux-fur insole would make these boots so much better.
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Okay, but what about the price?
If we compare apples to apples, it’s worth noting that Dior and Bottega make similar styles with shearling and calfskin lining, respectively. They do not have faux-fur insoles, but they are both significantly more expensive than Toteme’s version. Toteme’s shoes are calf leather, which still doesn’t justify the price. The lining is artificial lining, and the sole is rubber. But still, $980 is an investment.
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Would I buy them?
No. Maybe on sale. (Which, would you look at that, they are now.) These are great everyday shoes for those in-between occasions when you don’t want to wear sweats but are not going to dress up. For example, they were perfect when I wore them to that sports bar on a Sunday. I don’t have enough “in-between days” to justify the price.
