Ruilian: I’m a big fan of your style and wondering what sort of shoes do you wear during winter? I’m heading to Hokkaido in Dec, curious about your footwear and this is my first time seeing snow.

Please advise.

Lauren: Hey Ruilian!

To be honest, I don’t wear “snow shoes” when I go to Hokkaido but I do always take a pair of my favourite hiking boots with me (and I make sure they are well scotch guarded before I go).

Unless you are going to be adventuring through the deep forest, waist deep in powder, snow shoes are expensive and you will only wear them the short time you spend up there.

I wear a Korean brand of suede workbooks called Dr K, but similar boots that are nicer / equally as nice + functional are Red Wings / Danner / Thoroughgood / Lone Wolf. If you have a chance to go to Tokyo, you will find a great range of workbooks over there, but if not, I think I remember Left Foot having some nice boots too!