From The Sophian

I promised clips from the Sophian. This is one of the clips from my days at writing my column for my college paper. Photos from the articles when I resuscitate my other PC.

Enjoy <3!
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It's that time of year again: what well-seasoned New Englanders refer to as "mud season." Overcast mornings give way to afternoon showers, letting brown grass peek from under the melting snow and making sludge of the soft earth. Mud season relegates spring sandals and open toed shoes to the back of the closet, except on those rare warm and sunny days.

So what are your shoe options when Mother Nature says nay to spring footwear? Wellingtons, gumboots, rain shoes, there are as many names for this functional boot as there are opinions of them. The debate continues on whether rain boots are a functional fashion or a faux pas. But the flat rubber sole with plenty of grooves and ridges, the bulbous round toe and the necessary tall shaft are definitely the most practical spring weather shoes for spring in the Northeast. You'll stay dry and the walk to class will be much faster when you're not dodging puddles.

Classic Wellingtons come in all colors, prints, and lacquers. Target offers an affordable option for under $20. The ever-practical New England staple, LL Bean offers its classic "duck boot" in a variety of colors and shaft heights. These boots usually run from $60 to $160.

There are, however, options if you don't want to sacrifice style for substance. Rubber flats or galoshes, like those from Marc Jacobs' diffusion line Marc by Marc Jacobs, offer protection from the elements and a little panache. Gucci's spring/summer line 2008 offers a heavily branded pair of rubber flats in red, blush-pink and navy. J. Crew's relatively affordable jelly ballet flats are available in glossy yellow, red, green and black.

A white wedge from Tretorn, a Swedish company that specializes in well-designed rubber shoes, will also keep you dry. Reminiscent of Christian Lacroix spring 2008 tights, Chooka's red ombre gumboots are both on trend and very functional.

If rubber or vinyl is not your thing, consider weather-proofing your favorite leather boots, sneakers or flats; but watch out for those puddles!