Moms. Two words. School drop-off. Mehhhhhh. Ours is early and comes in like a freight train every morning. This is definitely the toughest part of transitioning from preschool to kindergarten — for me at least. Whew. I really just want to roll out of bed and wear my PJ’s to drop off….BUT, since we actually have to park and walk our cute little offspring into the classroom, I just can’t. I vowed to myself a few years back that I would never wear PJ’s in public.
But here’s the thing…I still want to wear things that feel like I’m wearing my PJ’s, because even this denim lover can’t be bothered to put on jeans that early in the morning. NO. BUT, my criteria does include a fully lined shoe, because who has time for socks that early? Not this mama. Although I’m not here to hate on the UGG lovers at all (because UGGs are so freaking comfy), I wanted to find a cozy shoe that doesn’t scream “I’m wearing my slippers to drop-off!” So, my search for a cozy, lined shoe began.
Cozy Sneaker Options
At first I thought I’d really love to find a lined sneaker I can just slip on and wear out the door. I’m a sneaker gal for sure. Here are the options I tried out…
Tretorn
Tretorn Cams – These. I LOVE these. Look how pretty they are. But, they are so impractical for a muddy, rainy climate like Portland’s. Sadness. However, if you’re in a drier climate, please do me a favor and get this perfect combination of cloudy softness and sneaker. You won’t be disappointed. Oh, and they do come in black, too. I forgot. But I think for rainy, I need a full shoe instead of a mule. TTS.
Vans
Vans SK8 Hi Reissue Laceless – These are just well…I mean, I LOVE Vans…but no. They’re too wide and give you duck feet, and aren’t flattering on my short legs at all. The bottom sole also wasn’t fleece-lined. While the lining at the ankle was comfy, I was looking for even comfier.
Blondo
Blondo Glade Waterproof – These are waterproof (awesome) and that top lining and the wedge were great…but they were overall just kinda weird. The footbed was also unlined, so that would require me to find socks to be super cozy. Nope. TTS.
Toms
Toms Suede Paxton – These looked amazing online. I like Toms as a company and that they give back, so I was really hoping these would work, but sadly, they’re an unflattering flat sneaker-boot shape like the Vans above. They’re better than the Vans for sure, and if you’ve got longer legs or thinner legs they might be just fine on you. PS – the lining is super cozy. TTS. *Well, dang. It’s clear some people liked these because the gray is going quick. They come in an pretty light taupe, too though, that is well-stocked. And they’re here in even more colors, but still low on the gray.
Cozy Boot Options
UGGs
UGG Mini Waterproof version – So, yeah, I know, but I had to try out a pair of UGGs for comparison. I thought I’d try a black waterproof pair that were very different from my tan, broken-in UGG minis I wear around the house. But alas, these still felt too slipper-like to me, and that’s just not what I’m going for. These are super-cozy of course, and I like that they’re waterproof. Shana made a good point that the black show salt all winter though, so if you’re somewhere snowy or icy, something to consider. That wouldn’t be much of an issue here, for the most part. I like to size down in my original UGGs because they stretch a lot. I’m not sure with the waterproof pair whether that is the case. I would say TTS.
UGG Palomar – This is a newer style from UGG and they’re pretty rad. They came in as a solid second choice for me. They’re a little moonboot-esque, but I like them. I love the color (they also come in a few other shades (tan, gray and black)). They have a soft interior, not like the UGG slippers, but still cozy, and a great, bouncy sole. TTS. These are a great choice.
Sorel
Sorel Kinetic Short – These are quite similar to the UGGs above, but have a bit smaller profile overall. They feel a little less moonboot-like, and the ankle bit is a little narrower. They are super-cozy inside. I’d say if you really love the look of your classic UGG minis then you’ll like these. They have a similar vibe and the same great tan color, but with a sneaker sole that proves to be a nice update. That little tag there says “impermeable,” so they should be great in winter weather.
Sorel Kinetic Short Lace-Up Booties – These were the winners for me. They are so cute in a mountaineer sort of way — I‘ll admit I’m a sucker for mountaineer-chic, always — and they are so so comfy. The sole is cushiony and the lining is nice and soft. It’s not the sherpa of the UGGs, but one can easily put these on without socks, and that was my goal. They’re the perfect combo between slipper and shoe, and I love them. I did have to size up to an 8.5 (typically I wear an 8) but my toes came right to the end without socks on. Again, these have the “impermeable” tag, so I’m gonna go out on a limb and say they’ll be good for winter, too.
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Shop More Cozy Drop-Off Shoes
Have you run across any favorites shoes that would fit the bill here? There seem to be so many options, but it’s tough to find something fashionable AND cozy, it seems. Here’s a fist bump to get ya through the next cold, early drop-off. We got this.
xo
L
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