As I sat in the Cathedral of Learning the other day, I searched for something to observe… As I sat in the Cathedral of Learning the other day, I searched for something to observe outside of the yawn-inducing text that I put off reading until the day it was due. While staring out into the cluster of female Pitt students, I noticed something the majority had in common. Almost all of these girls were not only bundled up with winter wear, but, more noticeably, a high percentage of them were wearing boots.

I realize this is not a major discovery. It is winter, and Pittsburgh winds and frost can make one’s tootsies feel as though they were just dunked in an ice bath. In this case, boots really are the most sensible accessory. As I considered this matter more intensely, though (getting farther and farther away from my homework assignment, mind you), I realized that boots really have become a staple in store windows and outfits everywhere.

For some, it’s hard to think of spring or summer without picturing flip-flops wedged between a girl’s painted toenails, but flip-flops can get old. Being that flip-flops consist solely of two straps and a bottom, the few styles to be created have already been made, and the future does not hold much more innovation for these sandals.

On the other hand, boots are made with every kind of fabric imaginable and any color to suit one’s tastes. Some are lined with buttons, while others are stitched with intricate designs. Boots with leather, heels or pointed toes will dress up any outfit. Conversely, rounded toes and soft textures are perfect for casual outfits.

Warm weather basics, such as skirts, shorts and dresses are commonly worn with boots. A few brands have even popularized “booties,” boots that cover so little they don’t even feel like boots anymore. Though these ankle-high shoes resemble elfin footwear in fairy tales, they actually look adorable with clothing meant for high temperatures.

I was recently reading a magazine insert in which the reporter goes around New York City and asks women what clothing items they cannot live without. As I read these women’s answers, I couldn’t help but ponder my own fashion “live or die” item. It didn’t take long to realize my personal answer, because all I had to do was look down and see my black suede, buckled boots smiling back at me. Truthfully, I don’t think I could ever go a whole week without a pair of boots. I’m too lazy to tie up shoelaces every day, and I’ve already ranted on the boring factor of flimsy sandals, therefore boots are just my kind of footwear.

There is one point in the road where I think boots have made a wrong turn, and that is the bulky, puffy style of the popular Ugg boots. The style was created by an Australian man (hence the brand Ugg Australia), and the company boasts that its boots are made from a mixture of sheepskin and a special kind of foam (hence the high prices). I look at these boots, see them walking everywhere I go, and I just can’t help but ask, “what’s the big deal?” OK, so they are made with sheepskin, but since we don’t live in Alaska, is it really that important that our shoes are lined with an animal’s fur?

I think we could keep our feet warm without it. And even without the bother of these excessive materials, the boots just are not flattering. A girl does not look bad when she’s wearing them, but these particular shoes just hide all bodily shape from the toes to the upper calves. The bulky material and circular-shaped toe is reminiscent of a foot cast rather than the classy boot it’s made out to be.

Beyond this specific furry trend, boots in general have become a major piece of fashion in the past few years. Designers no longer send their seasonal outfits down the runway in only stiletto heels. Instead, more recently, these outfits are matched with high-heeled boots in a variety of styles and colors. Celebrities may wear slinky Manolo Blahnik shoes to the Oscars, but many times these famous women are photographed outside of award-ceremony apparel wearing designer jeans tucked into stiff pairs of boots or summer dresses that will only show off knees because the boots cover up the rest.

Everyone owns a pair. Everyone needs a pair at some point. They come in every size, every material and just about every color. Boots really are one of the few parts of a wardrobe that a girl just cannot go without.