IT’S SNOW BOOT SZN

Another brand leaning into the snowy proceedings is Louis Vuitton, who’s ‘pillow boots’ have been keeping toes toasty since last year. Debuted on the brand’s spring/summer 2021 runway in Paris, the Louis Vuitton take on a snow boot – which comes in both khaki and black – might be best described as a puffer jacket for your feet. While that may not initially sound like something you’ve been waiting the whole of lockdown for, they’ve proved popular and saw an array of brands follow suit, including Prada and The North Face for a plainer snow boot statement.

We can’t talk about snow boots without mentioning the Moon Boot. Founded in 1969 by the Italian entrepreneur Giancarlo Zanatta, Moon Boots is a unique snow boot brand which began its ascent as a practical and stylish ski-resort product. First produced in the same year as the moon landing, their design was inspired by the shape and tech of astronauts’ antigravity boots, hence the brand name.

Fast forward to the 2000s, and Moon Boots became a kitsch fashion symbol of the 20th century, revived as part of the ongoing retro-futurism trend that tapped into the previous centuries’ nostalgia. To date, over 25 million pairs have sold, and their numerous collaborations and variations have kept them at the forefront of the skiwear scene and beyond.

Talking of collaborations and in testament to their iconic status, Moon Boots have collabed with most high-fashion brands at some point. Both Fendi and Louis Vuitton gave us a monogrammed leather for their collaborative release with Moon Boots, whilst Chanel added quilting, fur lining and gold chain embellishments for those wanting to hit the slopes in true Chanel style.

Elsewhere, Chloé have collabed with Moon Boots on multiple occasions, first releasing an entirely furry boot, and more recently a brown leather-knit hybrid boot to get us through the frosty season. What’s more, these latest boots are sustainable too, utilising recycled laces, low-impact leather, and biodegradable materials. Another major player in the snow-wear arena, Moncler chose to go simple for its Moon Boots collab, with a grey and black industrial-style offering, contrasting with Dior’s cream pair, complete with matching fur and pom-poms. All of these projects worked in Moon Boots’ letter-block logo and iconic chunky silhouette.

It seems that the boots that started as skiwear’s response to the space age are still as prevalent today as they were in the 60s, with major labels and designers calling on them to create collaborative pairs. With a hello-kitty pair spotted on Dua Lipa recently, there’s still enough of winter to get out and stomp around in a pair of Moon Boots, snow not required.