Aquatalias come through!

I bought the Aquatalia Taylor bootie at the NAS and after an incident the other night, I am doubly, triply, quadruply glad I did. I don't know if these are still available anywhere, but if they are and you live in a rainy climate and do a fair bit of walking, I would HIGHLY recommend them. 

I was en route home from a rural New Brunswick retreat with a writing friend. I flew into Montreal and trained from Montreal to Kingston. The weather in Montreal was glorious -- warm and sunny. By the time we got to Kingston I noticed a bit of rain, and thought I was very clever to switch out my leather jacket for my rain slicker before disembarking. :) 

What I couldn't know what that this was the worst storm I'd ever seen! Lashings of rain (not to mention lightning, thunder, and high winds) and the rain coming down so fast that drainage systems could not handle it and the puddles were at least six inches deep. Even with 2 inch heels, I was walking in water up to my ankle bone and there was simply no way around it. You had to go through. And I did. 

I couldn't sit in the station and wait before going to the car because just as I was getting on the train I'd had a text from my DD and a call from the school -- she was in a bit of an emergency situation -- and I needed to get home to her ASAP. (Things worked out okay; it was not a health related concern but an emotionally draining situation for her.) 

Guess what? I was wearing the Taylors -- and they kept my feet completely dry!!! 

I would not recommend that treatment, of course, but they seemed to recover just fine and were great yesterday in yet another downpour. Here's how they looked even though I was carrying an umbrella. 

This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

39 Comments

  • replied 7 years ago

    Good to know they passed the extreme weather test!

  • RobinF replied 7 years ago

    That sounds crazy! Good thing you were prepared! Glad everything is Ok with DD.

  • Sisi replied 7 years ago

    I'm glad for you! It's nice when things do their duty, right? These booties must be made really well. And they are also pretty!

  • bj1111 replied 7 years ago

    what an endorsement!

  • Angie replied 7 years ago

    Aquatalias are PUDDLE PROOF. They look great, Suz. 

    Glad you were able to weather the storm outside and at home. Extra cuppa and slice of cake for you. And love from me too. 

  • Jenn replied 7 years ago

    Trial by fire...er...water! You must love them even more now. Beautiful AND functional.

  • JAileen replied 7 years ago

    That is quite an endorsement. And beautiful boots at that!

    Glad your daughter is fine. I got a text at 2:30 this morning from a friend cancelling our lunch date - her daughter is in the hospital.

  • Suz replied 7 years ago

    Yikes! JAileen, I hope your friend's daughter is okay. 

    Thanks for the sympathies re mine -- she is doing better. 

    And yes, Jenn and Sisi and Angie. It's great when beautiful things do what they advertise! I honestly wouldn't expect these to come through water like that and I am sure they weren't intended to, but the fact they did it makes them even more valuable in my closet. Worth every penny. 

  • Vix replied 7 years ago

    Hi Suz --

    Definitely a good use case for the claim! And so pretty, too. Glad they bounced back -- and of course hope your daughter is feeling much better too.

    I really need to make my next boot purchase from that brand instead of just looking at the sale models in summer and avoiding trying them. What you went through is pretty common weather around my parts. Ah, the joy of stepping in puddle 4" deeper than anticipated.

  • Suz replied 7 years ago

    Oh, and I almost forgot. My Eccos Softs got completely soaked on the trip! I stepped on what looked like a dry pile of seaweed and sunk into water! 

    But they also survived, even though they are not technically waterproof. 

    Of course my feet got wet. But it was a warm and windy day and the sun and wind seemed to dry them out. I had sprayed them with protective spray ahead of time. 

  • Diana replied 7 years ago

    Wow, what an endorsement!

    Hope your daughter is feeling better now.

  • Greenjeans replied 7 years ago

    Great story, Suz.  I love it when clothes function.  I've thought of Aquatalia as out of my budget but if they work like this they are worth another look.  

  • AviaMariah replied 7 years ago

    Mine from a few years ago are still going strong.  They've never been put to that kind of test but it's good to know that they should hold up.

  • Jules replied 7 years ago

    These are the types of situations that lead me to have an emotional attachment and gratitude associated with certain articles of clothing.

  • Chris987 replied 7 years ago

    Quite an endorsement. It's amazing how important it is to have happy feet even it rough weather conditions, it makes "getting through it" so much easier. Love the story about the Eccos - as you say sometimes you can't avoid wet feet, but feet will always dry out, where shoes may not.

  • Ginger replied 7 years ago

    Wow, that is wonderful! It's not so regularly wet here, but when it does get wet it tends to be violently windy and just pouring. I did successfully get some tall Aquatalias on ebay. They're so soft that it was hard to believe they'd be so waterproof! But I guess it's really true! :D

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 7 years ago

    That's a great endorsement, Suz.
    Here in Seattle we've had record amounts of rain this month, and often it is coming down hard--not the typical Seattle drizzle. I've found my Blondos earning their keep lately!

  • Alexandra replied 7 years ago

    Aquatalia rocks! I don't know what they use but their boots stand up to all kinds of crazy weather. I love my Rhumbas and now that I've seen your booties, I'm putting them on my list.
    I'm glad your feet stayed dry in that awful weather.

  • Sara L. replied 7 years ago

    Wow, great story and recommendation!

  • Ledonna N. replied 7 years ago

    Love the story.

    Sorry about DD hope everything is okay

    Boots that are stylish and protective very nice. 

  • Elizabeth P replied 7 years ago

    I invested in some Aquatalia's last year and had a similar experience... they are definitely the brand to reach for when you're expecting miserable weather AND want to look good. There are too many days like that around here, and in the past I've just put up with looking gearish (cuz keeping my shoes/boots looking good for the long run is worth more to me than looking funny for two blocks).  Well worth it.

    FYI, Valdini is another brand that does weatherproof... and I can vouch for them too.

  • replied 7 years ago

    Sweet! Helpful to hear about your experience. This is definitely a brand I will consider in the future.
    I had not thought to weatherproof my Ecco softs. I should.

  • L'Abeille replied 7 years ago

    Wow that kind of endorsement sounds like the boots I should own. Do they go up to 11W by any chance?

    LOL about your "dry" seaweed--that happens a lot around here! Where in NB were you?

  • Elizabeth P replied 7 years ago

    L'Abeille, the Bay stocks some Aquatalia's, if you are interested in trying them.

  • Joy replied 7 years ago

    What a great endorsement for your boots, Suz. I have an older pair of LaCanadiennes that have been through similar tests and passed the dry feet test.

  • CocoLion replied 7 years ago

    Passed the field test with high marks!  I will purchase Aquatalias if ever in the need for foul weather booties.  If only we are so lucky to have that "problem" in California this year.

  • Joyce B replied 7 years ago

    Wow, that's great, especially for suede booties. Do you need to re-spray for waterproofing now?

  • Banoffi replied 7 years ago

    Wonderful!  I'm so glad they survived the huge puddles.  I have worn my Aquatalia's in slush and snow, and walked through very shallow puddles with no leaking, but have never tested them like you did!

  • Suz replied 7 years ago

    Well, I didn't intend either of these tests! I don't think I have to respray the Aquatalias but I might just write a letter to the company asking them. 

    L'Abeille, I was in Cap Péle. It was wonderful. Empty beach (uh, except for seaweed and water birds) and a fabulous place to reflect and write. 

    Elizabeth P is right -- they sell Aquatalia at the Bay (online) and you can sometimes get amazing deals at the end of a season. Nobody knows they have them so the prices plummet. 

  • L'Abeille replied 7 years ago

    That's my beach! Seriously, I live 10 minutes from there. I didn't ask where you were going to be, I just assumed Nova Scotia because they get all the artsy things.

    I'm glad to hear the Bay has them online. Our Moncton store closed -- 5-10 years ago? and before that they were of no help in finding shoes my size. And the Halifax store isn't much better. At least online if I click on the shoe I'm interested in, I can see right away if it comes in my size range.

    Meanwhile I have my new blue paisley Wellies for walking on the beach and the seaweed.

  • Karie replied 7 years ago

    It sounds like those boots and sneakers are worth their weight in gold! Your pictures are gorgeous too. Glad to hear everything is OK with your daughter.

  • Suz replied 7 years ago

    L'Abeille, You're kidding!!! That's incredible!! Maybe we passed each other walking? 

    As a matter of fact, my friend and I are planning to try to make this an annual thing, so perhaps we could meet next year. I try really hard to make it a true retreat, but a walk on the beach or a cup of tea would not interrupt that too much and I would love to say hello in person to a Gentlewoman!! 

    This is actually the part of the world my dad comes from so I am familiar with the climate and landscape from childhood. 

  • unfrumped replied 7 years ago

    Great story! Good wishes for DD.

  • Gigi replied 7 years ago

    Wow, Suz! I'm glad you're OK. That sounds like a dangerous storm.

    Thanks for the endorsement of the Aquatalias. I have some boots from them and am always afraid to wear them in inclement weather. They have a heel that is easily damaged (it's very thin leather wrapped around the heel), and my cobbler told me never to wear them in wet weather. But maybe if I use leather conditioner after a wet day I'll be OK.

  • Style Fan replied 7 years ago

    Great endorsement Suz.  I will check The Bay online for Aquatalias to see what they have.

    Glad to hear your DD is okay.

    Your retreat sounds wonderful.  Lovely pics.

  • approprio replied 7 years ago

    That's quite the endorsement. Must have been nerve-wracking to be out in torrential rain in a new pair of boots, but it's good to know you can trust them. Clearly worth the investment!

    The retreat pics are amazing. I'm not surprised you're going back next year.

  • Beth Ann replied 7 years ago

    Holy Cannoli, now that's a rainstorm!  We've had a few of those this year too, and my car almost drowned in Kohl's parking lot.  Thank heaven's I didn't go into the fitting room that day!

    I do love those boots.  So glad they did their duty in such style, and happy to hear that DD's day got better when her stalwart mother showed up!

  • Eliza replied 7 years ago

    What a storm. I am glad the Aquatalias came through for you. They are amazingly good with waterproofing, comfort and style.

  • Elizabeth P replied 7 years ago

    I spray mine, Suz... figure it can't hurt.  And it may help.

    If you are making this an annual thing, let me know too!  You never know....

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