I was inspired to purchase myself some wellington boots for the first time since childhood in the most recent snowy spell. Some friends of mine had purchased some, so I was reassured that they were vaguely back in fashion (well, at least that I wouldn't feel completely out of place wearing them!). Plus my footwear wasn't particularly suitable for the icy conditions and I had found myself sliding all over the place.

After quite a bit of searching online (they didn't seem to be stocked in fashion stores and I didn't want to spend a fortune in a specialist retailer), I found that there was a surprising amount of choice when it came to welly boots!

THE BOOTS

I fancied something a bit different from the usual plain green or black boots that you see, but nothing too outlandish that was going to really stand out. So, the brief was plain-ish with a twist. I found the boots that met this criteria most closely on the Barratts website (which had a lovely selection of welly boots on offer!). The boots are women's boots, black in colour with large white stars of varying patterns printed all over. I felt that this gave the boots a bit of uniqueness, but that I would still feel comfortable, rather than self conscious, wearing them.

The boots are flat but have a slightly built up rubber sole and heel. This has a great grip on the bottom - perfect for the snowy weather. There is a buckle on the side at the top of the boots so that they can be tightened - for example once you tuck your trousers in to hold them in place. The boots are available in sizes 3-8 and cost £20 (plus delivery if you are ordering online).

COMFORT & PERFORMANCE

The boots fitted perfectly. Although a bit tough to get on initially - as with all shoes, they tend to give a little over time - once on they were really comfortable on my feet. I have quite wide feet but they weren't tight at all, so I would suggest thick socks for people with slightly narrower feet (not usually a problem in winter when you are likely to be wearing these). The boots were also flexible and comfortable when walking, with a lot of 'give' in the material as you walk. They did not rub at all and didn't cause any blisters or discomfort.

What I love most about the boots is that they do the job that you would expect them to. I've worn them in heavy rain and they've kept my feet completely dry. I've also worn them in snow and ice and they have kept my feet not only dry, but warm as well which is a quality that I wasn't necessarily expecting. The grip on the boots is fantastic and I felt really secure walking in the ice, with no slipping or sliding at all.

MY OPINION

For a relatively low price these boots are great value. They perform all necessary functions and look good too. The one disappointment for me was with the star pattern on the back of the wellies, down the seam. The seam is made really obvious as the star patterns do not match up here, so you have a series of part stars. This aside, the pattern is really effective and, although the stars are just printed on, they still remain as bright as when I purchased the boots. I had been worried that they would fade or even scratch off but happily this doesn't seem to be the case.

These boots are perfect for all women who want something just a little different, but traditional too - I didn't think I'd be purchasing welly boots again but I'm converted. They would also be excellent for muddy festivals as they provide such good grip and keep your feet so warm and dry. I'd just remove one star from my rating due to the seam issue, but otherwise a super boot!