Yesterday I got an email from a friend of mine who recently moved to Boston after spending the past two years living in Paris. (Don't you hate her already?) She wanted to get my opinion on bad-weather footwear for the less-than-mild Boston winter. I've never been to Boston in winter, but I'd imagine, we're talking lots of snow and ice.

She asked me to find a pair of shoes that look stylish, but are not too trendy. I quickly assured her that "too trendy" was not something she needed to worry about because, by and large, the biggest problem with winter boots is the dork factor. (Think Napoleon Dynamite's moonshoes.)

One possibility would be a pair of suede Mukluks with a coat snow repellent. Mukluks have a slight Ugg feeling to them, but when you're dealing with a winter in Boston after two years in Paris, practicality and survival probably trump all else.

Another route would be a pair of Sorel boots. Sorel boots have thick rubber soles to keep you from slipping on the ice, plus fuzzy warm liners to keep your tootsies toasty. On the plus side, Sorels look sturdy enough for Iditarod, but on the negative side, they're totally lame!

Because I wouldn't want any friend of mine to have to settle for anything less than an awesome pair of kicks, I searched around some more until I found the perfect pair of bad weather shoes. I suggested she go with the Merrell Spire Peak waterproof boots from L.L. Bean. What I like the most about these boots is that they are as stylish as they are practical. The waterproof leather keeps out the snow, while the thinsulate lining keeps in the warmth. I should also add that Merrell are quite possibly the most supportive, comfortable shoes on the market.