If you’ve ever stepped out in inclement weather wearing the wrong footwear — and walked around with soaked feet for the rest of the day — you know just how important a pair of waterproof shoes is. Tall rubber wellies, or galoshes as your grandma may have called them, have been the rainwear standard since seemingly forever. But what if there was a more stylish option available? Spoiler alert: There is. Well, several actually. These days you have your pick of sleek, non-bulky ankle booties in a variety of colors, waterproof sneakers, and even rubber loafers. Ahead, nine alternatives to the classic boot, guaranteed not to rain on your style parade.
We've been loving all the cute winter outfits we've seen this year and can't wait to see how others express their personal style in 2025. We're sure some people will continue going for the 'quiet luxury' look while others may prefer to re-vamp the mob wife trend. Whatever works for you is A-okay with us — except if you plan to wear outdated shoe trends.
There are just some pieces of fashion that should remain in the land of nostalgia instead of forcing them to be trendy again — and we know just what they are.
Find out which outdated shoe trends to stay away from in 2025
There aren't any rules stopping you from wearing these shoes, but they may raise an eyebrow or two. This is one of those times where we're not pretending we'll listen without judging.
1. Wedge Styles
As popular as these shoes were, it’s time to officially retire them. They have a way of reverting an outfit back to the early to mid-2000s and we’d love to not be reminded of our nights spent walking on sticky floors in a dark, sweaty club.
2. Shoes Without Heels
We still can’t believe this was once a coveted trend, but we’re not afraid to admit we bought into it. Though we haven’t seen anyone wear heelless shoes in a while, we sincerely pray no one thinks about revamping them in 2025. They deserve to remain a nostalgic piece of fashion we hardly ever talk about.
3. Excessively Chunky Heels
There’s a chunky heel and then there’s something that looks like a walking cinder block. In a perfect world, we’d abolish the latter so they never see the light of day again. But, we know someone is still making heels that can cause serious damage if someone steps the wrong way so we’ll say this: try not to bring them into 2025.
4. Sequin + Glitter Shoes
These were once one of the ultimate party girl shoes, but nothing says outdated quite like all-over sequin shoes. It doesn’t matter if it’s your birthday or not, wearing them is a style faux pas in 2025. The only time they’d be acceptable is if you’re going to an 80s-themed party.
5. Patent Leather Boots
It almost pains us to say this but patent boots are officially on the outdated list. They were once considered the ‘cool girl’ shoe to wear. Now they unfortunately scream, “I’m stuck in my late teens to early twenties and I’m not ready to let go.”
6. Dominatrix Style Boots
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wearing knee or thigh high boots. However, we’d love to see less of the dominatrix style. Unless you’re headed to fashion week and are working with a stylist to convey a certain look, please skip this outdated trend in 2025. We'd hate to see you appear on someone's 'worst-dressed' list.
Want to know what's okay to wear? Scroll through our style trends to see what we're loving!
You won’t be able to find the latest and greatest Trader Joe’s product on the bakery table or in the frozens aisle – instead, make a beeline to their beauty section.
That’s right – Trader Joe’s has a beauty section that hosts everything from toothpaste to hair oil. Whether you’re an avid Trader Joe’s beauty shopper or tend to glaze over their personal care goodies in favor of their epic desserts, you’re definitely going to be excited about this brand-new find.
To make things even more exciting, the find in question is an utter dupe of one of Summer Fridays’ most famous lip products.
@traderjoesobsessed / Summer Fridays
Behold the Trader Joe’s Lip Butter Balm Duo! Trader Joe’s fan account @traderjoesobsessed recently surfaced the amazing lip care find on their Instagram page, and I, too, am obsessed.
The duo consists of a Vanilla Mint flavor and a Brown Sugar flavor, both of which are packaged in tubes that look super similar to the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balms.
Each squeezable tube is also fitted with a clear applicator tip with almost the exact same divot.
While a single tube of the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm goes for $24, the Trader Joe’s Lip Butter Balm Duo is shoppable for just $7. Shoppers are saying it makes a great stocking stuffer for the holiday season!
“Yes I’m obsessed!!!” one commenter wrote.
“Here for the packaging 😍,” another said.
“I love these! (And Summer Fridays!),” someone else commented.
Sephora
Some Trader Joe’s beauty fans did note that the TJ’s Lip Butter Balms boast a few differences from the famed Summer Fridays ones. A few shoppers highlighted the fact that the TJ’s balms aren’t as thick in consistency and don’t have a tint to them.
Nevertheless, several Trader Joe’s fans say that the formula of the new Lip Butter Balm Duo is “not sticky at all.”
One shopper said that it “makes my lips look so juicy.”
“These do actually hydrate/heal lips,” someone else noted.
Another said it “definitely leaves a nice glow and smells so good.”
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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
The average calf circumference for women is 15 inches – a fact that a lot of brands making trendy tall boots completely ignore.
My calves measure 16 inches around, meaning fitting comfortably into the boots I would give an arm and leg for (ahem, the famed Frye Campus boots and these sleek Sam Edelman steppers, 14 and 15 inches, respectively) will never be a reality.
Meredith Holser
As a gal with a little more meat and muscle on her bones, this has always been a problem for me. It’s infuriating, but it feels even more isolating. I can’t always wear the same styles that smaller women do, and even if I do find similar boot designs fashioned for wide calves, they look noticeably cheap or simply don’t check all the boxes in terms of my desired look.
I grew tired of saving all the “perfect” tall boot outfit inspo pics to my Pinterest board only to find that the boots in question had way too small of calf sizes, so I did what I always do when I shop for size-specific pieces: I took to Reddit.
Meredith Holser
I primarily consulted r/femalefashionadvice, r/plussize, and r/ausfemalefashion to see what people like me are saying about wide calf boots. The frustrations with finding good-looking, comfy tall boots was pretty similar across all three subreddits. As one passionate user put it:
“Even at a size 6, I have never been able to just buy any old pair of boots and have them fit. It is interesting to me how we've made great progress the past several years in regards to body inclusivity, yet somehow there seems to be a huge lack of sizing in regards to tall boots… It makes me so sad to see these beautiful boots everyone else gets to wear, slouchy, over the knee, western inspired, leopard/snake print, etc. Nothing like that comes in wide calf.”
Luckily, Redditors across all three threads suggested a handful of brands that actually offer cute wide calf boots with extended sizing. I had never heard of a few of them, but after scrolling through their sites, it felt like I struck gold.
The top-recommended brands for wide calf boots:
- Penningtons
- Børn
- DuoBoots
- Franco Sarto
- Sam Edelman
- Billini
Franco Sarto
Franco Sarto Bowman Wide Calf Knee High Boots
You're meaning to tell me these chic boots can really accomodate my calves?! The deep red color already had me sold, but that 15.75-inch calf circumference made this style so much better. They also come in a smooth brown color and a foxy faux-snake pattern, if those speak to your personal style more.
Børn
Børn Hayden Extended Calf Boots
The suede leather construction of these boots honestly rivals that of the beloved Campus boot, but their fit is much more roomy, boasting a 16.5-inch calf circumference. These zippered boots also have a playful lace-up detail on the back that's utterly unique.
Penningtons
Penningtons Extra Wide Width Black Tall Heeled Boots with Harness Straps
The calf circumference on these bad boys starts at around 17 inches for shoe size 6, and tops out around 19 inches for shoe size 12. I can't get enough of these moto-style boots and I love that they have the signature harness with silver hardware around the base that other similar boots do.
DuoBoots
DuoBoots Saffron Knee High Boots
The fact that you can choose the calf sizing yourself when purchasing these Western-esque boots is ahh-mazing. The options start at 13 inches and go up to 20 inches to hold your beautiful legs without any fuss.
Billini
Billini Granger Extended Curve Boots
From all the wide calf boot brands suggested on the Reddit threads I scrolled through, Billini has to be my favorite. They state that these adorable camel-colored boots can fit calf sizes from about 18.11 to 21.42 inches, and while they do have an elastic panel on the sides to stretch even further, I think it's discreet enough that it doesn't distract from the overall look. Score!
DSW
Baretraps Thalia Wide Calf Boots
A very similar style to my wishlist Sam Edelman boots, this black pair actually has a 16.5-inch calf circumference that'll fit my legs to a tee. The block heel is the perfect shape and height, plus the toe isn't overly pointed (I don't necessarily care for pointy toes).
Sam Edelman
Sam Edelman James Wide Calf Western Boots
Finding cowboy boots with wide calves can be a big challenge – but no more! These reddish-brown boots have a 16-inch calf circumference so you can confidently rock any and all Western looks.
Billini
Billini Oshea Curve Boots
Immediately yes. These broader-fit boots are everything you need to make a statement with your shoes. They're definitely going on my wishlist! The calf circumferences for this style start at 16 inches and go up to 19 inches based on your shoe size.
DSW
Vince Camuto Seshon Extra Wide Calf Boots
With a 18-inch calf circumference, you won't have to worry about squeezing into these tall boots. I adore the timeless squared toe and wide block heel on these!
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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
Disney's new Snow White live-actionmovie is no stranger to controversy — or very, very passionate fan responses. The movie (which stars Rachel Zegler and is set to premiere in theaters March 21, 2025) is an updated take on the classic 1937 film, and it's those very updates that people have a lot of opinions on. And when the official Snow White trailer dropped on December 3, hundreds of thousands of people disliked the video...and they didn't hold back in the comments.
Here's what the internet is saying about the Snow White trailer. (Spoiler alert: it's not good).
The 'Snow White' trailer has more dislikes than likes on YouTube.
Like any Disney movie, Snow White 2025 created an internet frenzy in its first five days on YouTube: the trailer already has 5.7 million views! But even though it has 28K likes, according to people in the comments, there are reportedly over 700Kdislikes (which you can see if you have a browser extension). "At this point, the monetization of this video is gonna earn Disney more revenue than the movie itself will," one YouTube user says in the comments.
"She doesn’t need the poisoned apple. She’s toxic enough by herself," another comment says, while a third reads, "I want the queen to win in this version."
Now, while YouTube comments can be fairly harmless (if incredibly rude and annoying), some people have taken it WAY too far. An insane since-deleted tweet from a user named Lee read, "Someone should kill you," to which Rachel responded, "fun fact i will be dying eight times a week on broadway this fall!!!!!" she says referencing her stint in Romeo and Juliet with Kit Connor. "get your tickets, lee! also @fbi."
Disney's 'Snow White' live-action movie isn't the remake to get backlash.
Now, backlash to Snow White isn't necessarily a surprise (even when it's VERY unwarranted) given how upset people were over Halle Bailey as Ariel in The Little Mermaid (even though it was a PERFECT casting choice!!) and rumors that Avantika Vandanapu would star as Rapunzel in a live-action Tangled (which, hello, would be another incredible casting choice).
Both of these women dealt with horrible, racist reactions, but like IRL Disney Princesses, chose to respond with strength and love. “Seeing the world’s reaction to it was definitely a shock," Halle told Edition. "But seeing all the babies’ reactions, all the brown and Black young girls, really tore me up emotionally."
THAT's what Disney movies are about; leaving the theater feeling more empowered and encouraged than you were before is why Disney princesses are so inspiring. I'm actually so excited to see Rachel Zegler as Snow White, not just because I've always been fascinated by the artistic challenge of adapting scenes and costumes into a totally different context, but also because how how Rachel will bring life to a role that literally only has 29 minutes and 19 seconds of screentime in the original movie.
In short: people are just haters and I think the Snow White trailer looks amazing! Check it out in theaters March 21.
What do you think about the new Snow White trailer? Are you excited for the movie or are you siding more with the Evil Queen? Let us know in the comments and check out our Weekend Send for more pop culture updates & exclusives.
After all this time, the ever-iconic Gilmore Girls is still front and center in pop culture and is THE show to binge every fall. There's still a lot of debate surrounding who is the *best* of Rory Gilmore’s BFs (it’s Logan, BTW), but few people are discussing how truly insufferable the main character is.
The pride and joy of Stars Hollow fades as Rory transitions into college and becomes selfish, dull, and someone who I think isn’t a great writer…like at all. And I'm not the only one who thinks so — The Tabreported that Rory's unequivocally the worst character. So without further ado, let me present Gilmore Girls 101, with lesson plans in all things Rory Gilmore and her many, many faults based on overwhelming evidence from The Taband my own revelations.
She misses her mother’s graduation to hang out with Jess.
Image via Saeed Adyani/Netflix
Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore, Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
All Rory had to do was attend this one event for Lorelai — the single mom who raised her and aside her pride to get her the best education — and she failed to show up when it mattered most. Did she really need to see Jess in New York that day? I don’t think so.
She's not a very good friend to Lane.
Rory treats Lane as dispensable, like a side character in her life who's sole job is to support her through each up and down of life. Even when Lane mentions that she doesn't like feeling second to Rory's latest BF, not much changes — even well into the reboot.
She doesn't seem to respect other people's relationships, including those who are literal married.
Obviously, it takes two to tango — but that doesn’t excuse Rory's role in sleeping with Dean, a married man. Said affair is certainly the start to her downward spiral, one that unfortunately takes many others down the hole with her. It's bad enough that she's complicit in the affair with her high school ex, Dean, but it's her attitude after that that really solidifies her skewed moral compass.
Post-sex, Rory claims Dean was “hers," despite the fact that he is quite literally...not.Thought that was enough adultery? Not for Rory — she sleeps with the soon-to-be-married Logan!
Image via Saeed Adyani/Netflix
Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore, Matt Czuchry as Logan Huntzberger in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
Rory clearly has a thing for taken men — especially ones she used to be in a relationship with. Forgetting your current BF is bad enough, but cheating on him with the man whose proposal you turned down is a new low. We'll never forget you, Paul!
She literally stole a yacht just because someone said something she didn't like.
OK — it makes sense to be angry if someone (especially your boyfriend's dad) tells you that you're not cut out for your life's goal in a professional setting. But dang! You don't have to steal a yacht! Come on, Rory.
She straight up fat-shamed a dancer in a newspaper article.
Do we even need to say more? Do better, dude.
Her white privilege reaaaaaally jumped out in the later seasons.
Yale got a little hard, and boom! She moved into the pool house at her grandparents' house and joins the DAR. And when Paris shows up after finding out all her parents' money is gone, Rory just sheds a tear for her own misfortune. First Lane, now Paris? This girl really needs to learn how to be a friend.
Her professionalism and overall perspective on work is..............questionable.
WARNER BROS TELEVISION
Remember that white privilege we mentioned? Instead of accepting a job that would pay for her needs and support her, Rory decides she'd rather take a chance on a fellowship at the New York Times. Rory does not receive the fellowship, and returns to the original offer to see if the old job is available. It's not.
Her career-based self-entitlement in the reboot.
It’s shocking that this woman has had a decade-long career in journalism, and still doesn’t know how it works. Not only does Rory compromise her integrity by sleeping with a source, but she (somehow) believes she’s entitled to a job after writing one article, arrives at a job interview completely unprepared, freaks out when she doesn’t get the job she wants, and for some reason thinks Condé Nast should seek her out for a job? It's delusion at it's finest.
OK — time for the key takeaways. 1) Rory’s questionable internal ethical code of conduct needs some editing and 2) We'll still be watching Gilmore Girls this fall. No matter how insufferable she may be, Rory's life in Stars Hollow still makes for pleasant, wholesome TV — and we need some of that in our lives.
At the end of the day, despite her flaws, Rory does care deeply for her Stars Hollow community. She’s always willing to lend a helping hand when needed, or listen to the many fantastical ideas of Kirk and tirades of Luke. And for that, she’s still loved by many.
Do you have any hot takes on Rory Gilmore? Let us know in the comments and stay updated on all things pop culture with Brit + Co.
Lead image courtesy of Saeed Adyani/Netflix.
This post has been updated.