So after months of cold and snow, spring is finally here. The birds are chirping, the grass is green…and it’s raining. And raining and raining. While the weather outside may be frightful, luckily April showers mean more than just the promise of May flowers. All you have to do to brighten up a rainy day is brighten up your feet! That’s right, ladies — it’s rain boot season. In the last few years, waterproof Wellies have gone from functional but frumpy to fashion-forward. This spring, designers are producing more rain boot styles than ever before, and they’re flying off store shelves like baby-blue Uggs back in 2004. Now is a better time than ever to make sure you get your hands on a pair — after all, you have to protect your feet from the rain somehow, and you may as well look fashionable while you do it! With so many varieties to choose from, there’s a rain boot for to fit every style. Whether your look is classic, funky, rocker or preppy, Her Campus is here to help you find the best rain boots for you! Classic
The most ubiquitous — and one of the longest-standing — rain boot designers is Hunter [Hunter], which makes basic heavy-duty rain boots in a wide variety of cute colors (classic tall boots are $115). You can get Hunter boots in almost every imaginable length or shade, including high-gloss, fleece-lined, and even croc-embossed styles. These useful, comfortable, match-with-everything boots are poised to be the new Uggs, and they’re not going away anytime soon!
While less well-known than Hunters, Sorel rain boots, $78, [Sorel] are famous for their incredible warmth, comfort, and ability to keep out rain. Unlike regular Wellingtons, Sorel rain boots (Sorellingtons, as the company calls them — get it?) have extra felt lining and increased traction, making them perfect for students at colder schools, where April can mean sleet and slush more than rain. Sorel somehow manages to successfully mix maximum functionality with a cute, streamlined design in a variety of colors, making them a must-have for anyone in need of some serious protection against the elements. Funky
Rain boots are an excellent way to express your wild side and push the envelope fashion-wise without breaking the bank. Even if you already have a pair of classic rain boots, try a funky or splashy pair, like these leopard-print boots from Target, $20 [Target]. You may not go to school in a tropical jungle, but you can pretend — or at least your feet can!
While it may be hard to remember in the gray April weather, when all the rain washes away we’ll be surrounded by May flowers. To remind yourself of spring’s beauty, why not wear flowers on your feet? These funky floral rain boots from Target [Target] match with everything and draw all eyes to you. The splashy blossoms will brighten up even the most dismal rainy day. Rocker
Think a leather jacket or ripped skinny jeans adds edge to your outfit? Try adding a pair of rocker rain boots! This season, rain boots are edgier than ever, sporting military details, studs, rhinestones, chains, and buckle details. This lace-up pair from Tretorn, $125 [Tretorn], reflects the military-inspired style flooding the runways this season. The versatile gray shade matches with everything, and the dramatic lace-up details are sure to sharpen up your look.
If you’re looking for edgy, moto-inspired touches in your rain-gear, look no further than Chooka. These boots, $80, [Chooka] feature tough biker details, including pyramid studs, chunky shapes, and lots of buckles. They protect just as well as does any other Wellington, but no one will be able to tell you’re wearing rain boots — with tons of biker-inspired touches and a shorter, chunky shape, these boots look so much like fashion-forward biker gear that your friends will never be able to tell they’re made of rubber! Preppy
Nothing screams classic prep like Burberry plaid, and, luckily for all us prepsters out there, the British design house has transferred its world-famous check pattern onto rain boots! These classic Wellies, $225 [Burberry] add a classy touch to any outfit, and match with absolutely everything — fashionable, functional, and timeless, they’re definitely a worthwhile investment.
Several years ago, the preppy powerhouse J.Crew swept the nation with its new line of “Critter Wellies”, or rain boots with little frogs, dogs, ducks, and fish marching across them. This year, the famous rain boots have already been out of stock for months, but fortunately for the rest of us the critter trend has caught on, prep-ifying rainboots from scores of different designers. These Chooka boots, $60 [Chooka] feature a motif of adorable whales on a navy blue background — could you get any cuter? Rain boots are a perfect spring staple for every girl, no matter your style. Whether you want your Wellies to be a fashion statement, a wet-feet force field, or both, these slick shoes will doubtless go into heavy rotation this season. So go ahead, splash in every puddle you see — your feet will thank you!
