Alex Mill and Palladium Designed City Winter Boots

In the winter, the forecast is almost always at odds with practical footwear. Freezing temperatures and slush-lined sidewalks are hostile toward sneakers, suede boots, and ballet flats; shoes designed explicitly for working hard in the snow don't always work—at least in a fashion sense.

Somsack Sikhounmuong, creative director at Alex Mill, knows that few city-goers want to schlep a second, "real" pair of inside shoes around in their bags from November until March. He also understands that, aesthetically, boots fit for a weekend in Hudson River Valley aren't always the same as boots that belong out to lunch in SoHo. To bridge these two sides of our closets—and keep us warm this winter—Alex Mill teamed up with Palladium for a capsule of two weatherproof, wear-absolutely-anywhere winter boots.

Alex Mill

Alex Mill

Sikhounmuong wanted to use this collaboration with Palladium to answer a broad styling question with a single shoe (well, technically, with two). "What kind of boots do I want to wear that are stylish, functional, and will help me get on the subway, take me to work, dinner, and the movies, then the weekend upstate?"

The answer materialized in two fresh renditions of previous Palladium boots, the 24H Pampa (a leather and nylon lace-up hiking boot) and the 72H Palla (a vegan lace-up boot with a cozy sock lining). Each one keeps the highly functional features Palladium is known for, like supportive EVA rubber soles and elastic laces. The aesthetic is all Alex Mill—vintage sportswear and utility, but with a sense of fun. "We looked to vintage climbing gear, camping equipment, and all-weather clothing for details and overall inspiration," Sikhounmuong said. On each pair, you'll also see a logo patch nodding to the collaboration.

Alex Mill

These boots definitely have an outdoorsy bent, but they're not just for hiking. "We wanted to design a boot that looked great with the clothes we all wear every day—something that fit right in with the rest of your closet," the creative director explained. "For us, that’s a lot of vintage jeans, jumpsuits, and painter pants."

In a footwear era when comfort and versatility reign alongside high contrast, it's not hard to imagine these boots with a frothy Sandy Liang dress and a beribboned puffer jacket. Yet they're just as good when the look stays simple. "My favorite way to wear these boots is with jeans and an oversized sweater and coat," Sikhounmuong recommends. "My second would be with a jumpsuit—both ways are meant to be easy and ready to get on with your days."

Alex Mill

Bottom line: If anyone is changing out of these boots, it's not because they're pulling on another pair.

Both boots from the Alex Mill collaboration are available to shop at Palladium.

Halie LeSavage is the fashion commerce editor at Harper's BAZAAR. Her style reporting covers everything from reviewing the best designer products to profiling emerging brands and designers. Previously, she was the founding retail writer at Morning Brew and a fashion associate at Glamour.

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