7 fun and quirky winter style breakthroughs

Imagine an umbrella built for two or socks that will warm your feet without ruining a pedicure. Style expert Jenn Falik highlights the latest products you may not have heard of, but might want to pick up to stay dry this season.

Surviving the unpredictable winter weather in both style and comfort can be a daunting task. It always seems like the more practical an item is to help us brave the elements, the more silly it makes us look. These all-season essentials ensure that we bear the brunt of winter weather — ice, rain, snow, sleet and cold — beautifully:

YakTrax; $19.95 at www.SportsAuthority.com
Breakthrough: These turn any shoe into a snowshoe of sorts — just strap onto the soles of your favorite flats and voila — you can walk in even the iciest conditions with confidence. 

Celebs swear by these at Sundance because the sidewalks get slippery and they don’t want to fall and cause a paparazzi-moment.  Just hook these on to the bottom of your favorite flat shoe and you have an instant snow boot of sorts.

Double Umbrella

Double Umbrella; $44.50 at www.umbrellastand.com
Breakthrough: Sharing umbrellas may be romantic, but the rain protection is anything but. Someone always ends up getting soaked from the rain pouring off the side of the too small umbrella. This has one handle, but rain protection for two people. Genius.

Snoozer Pet Umbrella; $16.99 at CSNStores.com
Breakthrough: For dogs that won’t dare wear a rainjacket, this keeps them dry and warm so they don’t get sick and/or matted in wet snow and rain.  This umbrella works like a leash and clips to collar — bendable handle adjusts to your height.

Heattech at Uniqlo

Heattech at Uniqlo; $10.50 and up at www.uniqlo.com
Breakthrough: These fashion staples have built in warming abilities. Made from a blend of high-tech fibers that include milk proteins to moisturize the skin, HEATTECH converts body moisture into heat, warming and insulating your body without adding unwanted bulk.  HEATTECH is available in five styles and 10-18 colors for women, including camisoles, long sleeve and short sleeve T-shirts, turtlenecks, leggings, socks and tights.

Peekytoes

Peekytoes; $60 at www.peekytoes.com
Breakthrough: Finally, a sensible way for women to stay warm and still stay polished — literally.

Winter is very rough on the feet, making pedicures even more of a necessity for many than in the summer time.  But the pedicures don’t last because cold makes polish extra prone to chips — while also making it impossible to leave the salon in anything but closed toe shoes, which damage polish even more. These super warm socks have open toes, with just enough exposed not to tarnish polish, so you can wear flip flops without freezing. Pedicure lasts longer, and you don’t end up with a cold.

GEOX

GEOX Pump; $140 at www.geox.com
Breakthrough: A rain boot disguised as a stylish stiletto? Genius.

In a variety of on-trend colors and shapes, this is the most perfect shoe. It is super comfy, with a rubber sole that provides cushioning but is breathable so feet don’t sweat. The micro-holes are strategically positioned to correspond with the sweat glands in the foot. The shoe itself looks like a sleek and shiny patent leather pump, but it is actually a waterproof rubber rain shoe.

Wallaroo York Hat

Wallaroo York Hat; $40 at www.wallaroo.com
Breakthrough: Waterproof, made out of nylon, has warm fleece inside, looks good on any and every face shape and has an angled brim to keep the rain off your face.

The two-and-a-half inch brim is the key to its success!  It also has a cozy fleece lining, so it keeps the damp chill out. And, the drawstring inside the hat lets you customize the fit to wrap your head tightly so no moisture gets in and frizzes your hair. The brim also protects the face and neck from the sun, which can do just as much damage to the skin in the winter as it does in the summer.  This hat has a protection level of UPF50.

For more of Jenn Falik’s style and beauty favorites, check out www.jennfalik.com.

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