Jonesy Gilbert

Fur-trimmed boots are no longer just for the ski slopes. Chattanooga women are discovering that they are versatile enough for trips to the supermarket or nights out on the town.

“They’re hot,” said Jonesy Gilbert, owner of Jonesy’s Upstairs, a women’s fashion boutique in East Brainerd. “I’ve got women coming in every day with some buying as many as two or three pairs at once. And they don’t even blink at the price tags that range from $199 to $599 a pair.”

Ms. Gilbert credits the popularity of fur-trimmed boots to the still-trendy shearling Ugg boot that hit the American market in 2003.

“My dad (Steve Gilbert, owner of Dodge City Ski Shop in East Brainerd) actually sold Uggs 25 years ago to skiers. He couldn’t believe they became popular with non-skiers,” Ms. Gilbert said. “But it was when celebrities like Britney Spears started wearing them that they became a hot item.

Koolaburra is a particularly popular boot brand today, she said.

In September, Koolaburra had a backstage display at the 60th Annual Emmy Awards Gift Lounge at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, according to the company. Key styles featured were fringe boots, the crystallized Tribal Heart from the Kettle Black collection, and the Flash Peace sign featuring Swarovski crystals.

“The shearling boot is being updated with faux and real fur,” said Lori Boyd, owner of Shoe Candy, an upscale shoe boutique on Gunbarrel Road. “And some (manufacturers), including the Aquatalia by Marrin K boot, are making them waterproof. You can find them in leather, suede, microfiber and patent leather lined and trimmed with faux fur.”

The comfortable fur-lined and fur-trimmed boots are versatile, Ms. Gilbert said. “They’re ideal for the fashionable woman on the go. They were popular 15 years ago, and they’ll be popular for years to come.”