Torrential rain has arrived and is here to stay until at least April, so I’m always lookin’ up new ways to make venturing out into the rain a little less painful and a little more fashionable. This Vivienne Westwood + Melissa collaboration is one of the very best galoshes I’ve seen in a hot minute.

Westwood, one of Britain’s most influencial designers, introduced her avant-garde, Euro punk style to Australian footwear line, Melissa, best known for their grown-up jelly shoes, starting in 2008. Today, their partnership is still going strong, and this lilac colored, bow bootie is straight from their Spring/Summer 10 collection. The boot is made of 100% PVC, features an almond toe and slight heel, and hits just above the ankle. The black PVC bow on front definitely adds a cartoon-ish, feminine twist to your basic rain boot.

The boots are for cool and quirky ladies who aren’t afraid to  turn heads while they slosh through rain puddles. Liven up a pair of dark denim skinnies or basic leggings and an oversized, nubbly sweater for a causal, cozy weekend look. Don’t be afraid to rock these during business hours either. Where them over opaque black nylons and a short skirt or dress when walking around outside and save your precious pumps for the office.

The boots retail for approximately $125 and are sold HERE.

Carin Wester is all about smart, architectural design. The Swedish designer creates both mens and womens collections that are playful yet sharp. This season’s must-have footwear, the Klea Ankle Boot, is perhaps the epitome of her design aesthetic.

After graduating from Beckman’s School of Design in 1998, Wester designed for Paul & Friends for eight seasons before dropping her eponymous collection in 2003. Since then, Carin Wester won Elle magazine’s Newcomer of the Year award in 2004 and was nominated for Designer of the Year just one year later. Today, Wester runs both the womens line (Carin Wester), the mens line (Wester) and a limited and handmade line (W). Her designers are sold all over the world, including France, Japan, Canada and the U.S.

I am enamored with the Klea Ankle Boot. The buttery soft leather is molded to a sharp point and the 4″ platform heel gives the boots a decidedly retro and modern feel. To top it off, the ankles are cinched with not one, but two sturdy, motorcycle buckles topped with shiny silver hardwear. However, for ultra comfort, the boots are lined throughout with soft shearling.

These boots are the perfect footwear for fall/winter as they can be paired up with just about anything and can be worn at any occasion. Toughen up a feminine dress with a pair of black or colorful opaque tights, leather bomber jacket and Klea Ankle Boot. Or, keep things casual and play up your tomboy side by slipping into a pair of acid-wash denim, chunky boyfriend sweater and these boots, once again.

While dropping approximately $450 on a pair of ankle boots may seem like a steep price to pay, these Klea Ankle Boots will have you towering above the rest throughout the season.

Buy it HERE.

This Swedish brand has been around since 1997, starting out as a denim brand. Soon after it branched out into women’s and men’s apparel along with accessories. Acne has always had a very clean and yet interesting style. The five looks below are perfect for the summer time and can be worn day or night.

Get it here

Get it here

Get it here

Get it here

Get it here

Check out Acne’s official website

Last week on Too Hot Not to Cop, we brought you one of summer’s freshest pieces of footwear, the UO Leather Snake Skimmer. This week, we’re serving up yet another covet-worthy summer shoe: the I Kamara Quartet Sandal.

While I usually try to mix up what’s featured each week for you guys, this shoe was just too hot to pass up. Like the Leather Snake Skimmer, the Quartet Sandal is heavy on the ankle strap while letting you show off freshly-painted toes. The shoe is 100 percent leather and made of multiple, black leather straps – two around the foot and one around the ankle. A black zipper opening in the back make the shoes a cinch to put on.

What I’m loving about this shoe is definitely the solid black lines and the heavy ankle strap. That added touch, combined with the zipper up back give the shoe an almost utilitarian feel. The sandals add a touch of architechtural intrigue to your floaty summer dresses, dress up a pair of denim cutoffs, and – dare I say – look damn sexy with a barely-there bikini on the boardwalk? Definitely pare this sandal with a fiery bright nail polish, and you’re good to go.

Buy it HERE.

Introducing the perfect spring/summer shoe. If you’re looking for something a little edgier than the ever-predictable gladiator sandal this summer, look no further than the Leather Snake Skimmer made exclusively for Urban Outfitters.

What I like about the shoe is that it looks interesting from every angle. The front features a criss-cross strap, open-toe in a white/grey snakeskin print. Next up, just above the ankle is a thick elastic band wrap, which is also criss-crossed. The back features a leather, ankle boot zipper, which makes putting on the shoes a cinch. The skimmer is finished off with a comfortable rubber sole.

The Leather Snake Skimmer would look great with skirts and dresses. Kick your shorts and skinny jeans up a notch by trading in your summer flip-flops and ballet flats for this shoe. The shoe easily transfers from daytime into evening, and the dark colors will definitely work nicely into dry-fall footwear.

At just $48, the Leather Snake Skimmer won’t be kickin’ around for long. So hit up UrbanOutfitters.com (as they are online only), and cop yourself a pair!

Buy it HERE.

Melody Eshani’s latest shoe collection is in one word: fierce.

With bold and sexy street wise styles and stand out colors at an affordable price, all eyes will be on your hot toes.

Eshani is making her way to the top with fashionistas like Rihanna giving her the nod…and the opportunity to help dress her for the Grammys.  As stated on her website, Eshani designs to “upset the equilibrium.”  In the Persian culture she was raised,  says Eshani, “women’s value and status is determined by marriage.”  And she’s determined to bring power to women through their personal expression.  I know that if I was rocking the Mariel Studded Wedge in gold, I’d be strutting down the street like the world was my catwalk.

The collection designs were a collaboration with Heatherette’s Richie Rich, whose penchant for combining dramatic yet very feminine and fun looks can be seen in these shoes, which are now available at Karmaloop.

My only concern is that it’s getting warm out there on the streets and I’m not looking for boots in April.  But the Melina wedges are caliente enough to snag them now and put them in your closet to have something to look forward to pulling out next Fall.

Vancouver boutique One of a Few recently picked up Rachel Comey’s coveted footwear line.

The up-and-coming New York designer launched her eponymous label as a menswear line in 2001. Since then, Comey launched a womenswear line (now the brand’s focus) in 2003 and a footwear line as well. Comey’s collections strike a balance between vintage whimsy, rock n roll inspiration, all with a modern twist. Her admirers include the likes of Kirsten Dunst, Maggy Gyllenhaal, Beck, and even David Bowie.

As for Comey’s footwear collections, her designs are effortlessly chic. A combination of solid architecture, carefully-selected materials, and wild imagination make her shoes absolutely to-die-for!

One of a Few and Two of a Few (owned by Michelle Rizzardo) is one of Vancouver’s premier destinations for fabulous footwear. The stores have also received spring/summer arrivals from Grey Ant, Sunshine and Shadow, Wood Wood, Won Hundred, Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair, and Rodebjer!

With a few pairs of Jeffrey Campbells stashed in my own wardrobe, I can definitely attest to the greatness of these shoes. Based in L.A., the shoe guru has spent the past nine years pushing out quality shoes. Luckily, for all fashionista shoe junkies out there, Jeffery Campbell shoes just look high-end and high-fashion, but they’re actually quite reasonably priced. That’s why this week’s Too Hot Not to Cop is the Jeffrey Campbell Lattice Heel.

The obvious reason that this shoe caught my eye was because of its fire-engine red color. Any girl bustin’ out a hot red shoe deserves to get some attention! Made of soft, supple leather, the cutouts on these shoes will stretch to size, not dig in. And the fully lined and padded footbed makes these heels feel just as comfortable as your favorite pair of kicks.

Finally, what I love about this pair of heels is its sensible but stylish choice in heel. Elevating you two inches off the ground, this shoe gives you a subtle lift while the triangle shaped heel gives you maximum support and comfort.

The Lattice Heel would be a perfect choice to tote along on a spring or summer vacation. The vibrancy of the shoe definitely screams fun while the heel and padded sole won’t leave your feet in blisters the next day. Pair these heels with a flirty dress, or for day time, match these ultra-feminine heels with a pair of relaxed and cuffed boyfriend jeans. Whatever you choose to pair these puppies with, they’re sure to get the compliments flyin’.

At just $128 at Urban Outfitters, these heels will have you looking like a million bucks without breaking the bank!

Buy it HERE.

One thing that gets me excited for winter is the chance to don some of my favorite pairs of boots. Whether it be suede or leather, ankle or thigh-high, fringed, studded or clean-cut, I love them all.

This pair by Hits combines three of my favorite trends: metallic, ankle and fringe. And at just $122, these boots will have you rockin’ it out on the dance floor with change still left for the bar.

Made of metallic, gun-metal shade leather, these boots feature a cowboy-style wooden stacked heel and a slightly pointed toe. The boots fall just below the ankle bone with the front rising up a little higher. One level of fringe covers the entire ankle – consider these boots “moccasins meet disco”!

Try these boots on with a pair of skinny jeans or a pair of black high-waisted shorts with black opaque tights underneath. Wear them into spring by pairing the boots with your favorite pair of worn-in denim shorts or a vintage mini dress to keep the boho feel alive.

Available in US sizes 6-9 at Pixie Market.

Buy it HERE.

I am loving lace up boots right now, in fact I’ve been in love with them for the past couple of months. I still need to buy a pair for myself, just not sure which ones I adore the most. This style of boot can be worn with almost anything and instantly gives your outfit some edge. Here are my top 5 favorites…

Jeffrey Campbell, $150 at Urban Outfitters

Forever21, $28.80

Repetto, on sale for $188 at Oak

Urban Outfitters, $88

Frye, on sale for $249.99 at Urban Outfitters

When it’s constantly cold and wet outside and your flats have been through some serious wear and tear – not to mention your feet – it’s time to pack away those cute spring/summer flats and invest in a sturdy pair of boots. A pair of boots that will keep your feet cozy and dry. A pair that will go well with almost any outfit. And most importantly, a pair that will last you the entire season. So with that in mind, I present you this week’s Too Hot Not to Cop item: the equestrian leather boot.

Once belonging only to girls that rode ponies, the equestrian leather boot has made its way onto city sidewalks as a sensible yet stylish staple in every fashionista’s shoes closet. The no-nonsense black leather and low, sturdy heel is not only a perfect match to your worn-in pair of jeans and fall jacket but also just as cute with a pair of tights and a ruffly dress. Without a doubt, the equestrian leather boot is the go-to shoe for most occasions, especially those on rainy days.

This particular equestrian leather boot comes out tops on my list because not only is it a smart-looking shoe, but it also comes with a rather smart price tag as well. At a sale price of only $99.99 (original $125) at Urban Outfitters, the leather is surprisingly buttery soft and the stitching is detailed and authentic. Reinforcements at both the toe and the heel keep this shoe from falling apart before March rolls along. So hurry over to UO before these boots sell out and you’re left out in the cold, looking ridiculous in a pair of white canvas flats.

Buy it HERE.

What makes an outfit just right? Nowadays it’s all about what bag you’re carrying around, or what sunglasses you have on, but there’s still that one element that can make or break your outfit, and its shoes. With fall right around the corner, there are so many shoes to choose from. Here are a few that I’m lusting after…

Dolce Vita $188

Loeffler Randall $425

Jeffrey Campbell $125

Frye $428

I do like Marc Jacobs and his funky, fun, and fabulous footwear. Here’s a perfect example of why. Fresh, saucy colours (check out shoes in orange and yellow after the jump) and patent, always my favourite. Note the thicker heel on the shoes above, which admittedly, is more stable then those thin, delicate stilettos. Heel thickness, however, comes and goes. At least with stilettos, you know they’ll be back. However, I’m still loving these babies for summer.

Image source: www.barneys.com

These Valentino boots and shoes are inspired a century ago, but perfect for today. The button up tall boots are perfect for fall. I love the toe shape and the button details. After the jump, check out a peep toe ankle boot with laser cut detailing. Hot. Both made in Italy.

Image source: www.neimanmarcus.com