[The following is a guest post from our gal pals at CollegeFashion.net. They're like the college Rachel Zoe (sans baby bump). Have you checked them out yet?!]

For girls who live or go to school in snowy states, winter provides some unique fashion challenges. One of the biggest dilemmas we face has got to be finding fashionable footwear that keeps us toasty, dry, and slip-free.

Leather and suede styles require some extra TLC for winter conditions and aren’t as durable or practical as other styles. Rain boots and wellingtons are adorable and help to keep you from falling, but generally aren’t particularly warm, even with a thick sock. And, while the fashion-vs-function debate on Ugg boots rages on, even Ugg lovers have to admit that few things are worse than dealing with soggy sheepskin lining on an especially snowy or slushy day.

So what’s a college girl to do?!

Thank god we’ve got our friends at CollegeFashion. Click here to see their top picks for the best, cutest, warmest, toastiest, chicest winter boots around!

Whether you’re buying yourself a post-exam present or looking to put something on your list for Santa (with exact color, size and style….you don’t want him to get it wrong, do you?) boots should be high on your list. Temperatures are dropping, the snow is starting to fall and your toes are starting to get cold. Really, boots are a present for your feet, and after a semester of torturing them in communal showers and dancing the night away in high heels, it’s really the least you can do.

If you don’t already have a pair of boots – or yours are long overdue for a replacement – you should look at investing in a pair this season. And yes, I said investing. These babies aren’t always cheap, but can you really put a price on having 10 fully functional toes? Well, as functional as toes really are….

There are boots for all purposes and whether you’re trekking through snow to get to class, looking for something a little warmer than flats for a night out, or some combination of the two, there’s a pair out there for you. They’re great to slip on with a pair of jeans for class (duh), they’re great with a pair of leg warmers for a little extra toastiness on a busy day, and they look HOT with everything from the skinniest jeans to the miniest of skirts (yes, even rain boots!).

Here are 15 pairs I’m totally digging right now to get you started on your shopping.

This must be the first winter boot I’ve seen that doesn’t look like the offspring of the Ugg, not even it’s second cousin twice removed. The Women’s Bayshore Tall Boot from Sperry Top-Sider is from another family entirely.  (Yup! Sperry’s aren’t just for East Coast LAX boys anymore!) If you don’t want to keep confusing your boots with your roommate’s on the way out the door, you definitely need these.

The genius behind these boots is that THEY LACE UP. Who would have thought that not every person’s calf is one-size fits all when it comes to boots? Well Sperry Top-Sider thought of it. Nothing is worse then buying a pair of boots just to realize you have to buy a bunch of new skinny-leg jeans just to fit them in your boots, and the only thing worse than that is soaking-wet jeans because your campus refuses to shovel properly. And when you see that set of stairs that’s still caked with snow 3 days after a snowstorm, you can skip down them confidently with the awesome tracking on these bad boys. These will save you a lot of butt-bruises, broken laptops and humiliation- trust me.

The black is definitely my favorite, and the trimming of fur on the top is a nice touch instead of knowing you have a bunch hidden inside your boot that no one can actually see. And no worries, animal lovers – the genuine shearling is made from pelt, which means the fur is simply shaved from the sheep. No harm done!

All around, we have the ideal winter boot here. It’s different, fashionable, warm and animal friendly. Grab a pair and save your toes and jeans from the inadequacies of winter campus clean up. Prove to those science kids that just because you can clone the sheep to make the boots doesn’t mean they all have to look the same!

Likey? Want a pair? You’re in luck because we’re giving away one pair of Bayshore boots to one frozen-toed CollegeCandy reader! Tell us in the comments section below why you need, need, need some new boots and they could be yours. The catch: entries must be in Haiku format. Why? Because they’re fun. And we value creativity. And we want to see if you remember anything from Language Arts in elementary school.

We’ll randomly draw a winner on Monday, December 13th, 2010, and announce it on Facebook at 4pm EST. Good luck and may be the warm feet be with you!

Open to U.S. residents only.

10 party necklaces that make a statement

How to rock the polka dots trend this winter

Awesome alternatives to chapstick

How to mix gold and silver jewelry

Super cute Michael Kors Winter Boots Knockoffs for only $30

The perfect makeup kit for quick touch-ups

The best brow shape for your face

Win a Marc Jacobs bag!

Sensational gift ideas for the skincare fanatic

10 Cheap Womens Winter Boots to stay warm in

Spring trends as discussed by Redken Creative Consultant Guido

Add sparkle to your holiday outfits

When I underestimated the size of a puddle and then spent the rest of the afternoon squishing through my errands last week, I reached my breaking point.

As much as I love my cozy Uggs during the cold winter months, the truth is, they just aren’t doing the trick during this extremely harsh visit from Mother Nature. That being said, I have added a new item to my wish list (and I am kicking myself over the fact that I couldn’t have come to this realization a month ago when I could have added it to my Christmas list instead).

I’ve seen a ton of people wearing them around campus and I too need to get myself a pair of Sorel Caribous boots.

They are warm, they are comfortable, and best of all they are waterproof, AKA no more freakin’ puddles and mounds of slush leaving me soaked down to my socks.

The more I look into them, the more practical they seem, which almost makes them a justifiable purchase. The inner lining is removable so it can be washed (unlike your Uggs that you have to keep Febreezing when they get that you’ve-worn-me-without-socks-one-too-many-times odor).

This inner lining also traps heat to your foot, and I can use any extra warmth I can get at this point. Plus, they aren’t that bad looking for snow boots, and we all know finding a winter boot that is durable and not hideous is like finding a college student who hasn’t heard of pong.

The black on black tone is streamlined enough that they don’t immediately draw everyone’s attention to your feet. And the tan with the black rubber sole has a sort of ski-lodge-meets-urban-dweller feel that actually may even venture into the realm of cute over a pair of black leggings and a plaid button down.

My Uggs are just going to have to hibernate until March, because I am in need of some heavy duty protection, and now that I’ve found a pair of boots that are cute and comfortable and actually keep my feet dry (gasp! Can you believe it?), I simply cannot suffer through another day of walking on my toes to prevent any drop of wetness from staining my shoes.

Puddles beware: armed with my new Sorel boots, I’ll be plowing right through.

When winter finally arrives, I’m happy as a clam. I’m looking forward to a solid three months of bundling up, celebrating holidays and the crisp winter air that comes with the drop in temperature.

But when we actually find ourselves knee deep in freezing temperatures (aka now), I find myself less than enthused at certain things that the season brings with it.

Don’t get me wrong – winter is still one of my favorite seasons and I’m enjoying everything it has to offer, but I always seem to forget the little annoyances that come along with the great stuff. While I love it more than anything, there are some things I’d be crazy to not be hatin’ right about now.

Love: Being able to wear my adorable plaid pea coat and leather motorcycle gloves.

Hate: Wearing said coat to run errands and coming back with huge pit stains from sweating my ass off in every store I enter.

Love: All the cute winter activities: ice skating, drinking hot chocolate, holiday themed shows, window shopping the Christmas displays…I can go on and on.

Hate: That I can’t get from activity to activity without my nose turning bright red and my entire face going numb so that I can’t feel the snot dripping down my cheek.

Love: Boots! I can finally bring them all out of storage! My leather motorcycle boots with the chain-linked ankles; the suede above-the-knees flats; my ankle booties; my super comfy, broken-in UGGS…

Hate: That every pair of boots gets encrusted with that salt and slush mixture no matter how careful I am to avoid puddles and snow piles.

Love: Coming in from a chilly day to a toasty room, a comfy pair of sweats, and a warm cup of coffee.

Hate: The fact that the chilly air dries my face out and leaves my skin blotchy and flaking.

Love: Everything about the season is romantic: the holiday lights, snuggling up on the couch, sharing lattes at a café, going Christmas shopping and wrapping presents…

Hate: That the romance in the air suddenly sets off the PDA impulse of all couples and I find myself dodging games of tonsil hockey and hand-holding roadblocks at every turn.

Love: The cute winter accessories that have us all looking like snow bunnies – the puffy earmuffs, cable knit scarves and slouchy berets.

Hate: That the winter accessories make my hair frizzy, static-y and full of tangles and breakage. By the time I get to my destination and take off my winter get-up I look like I stuck my finger in a socket… and used my upper lip as a tissue.

Love: That I can grow my leg hair out 3 inches and no on ever has to know.

Hate: That if I happen to secure a booty call I have to go “freshen up” and try and shave those bad boys off ASAP before he realizes that under my jeans I look like a gorilla.

What else do you guys love or loathe about the season?

There are many styles of boots in fashion this season, from shooties (shoe booties) all the way on up to the hottest style of ’09, the over-the-knee boot. It’s super sexy and a great way to add some va-va-va voom to your basic jeans and t-shirt combo. Yes, without looking trashy.

Boots aren’t cheap, but they’re a versatile addition to any college girl’s wardrobe. The perfect riding boot can be worn with jeans tucked in, or even with leggings or a dress – meaning they can dress up or dress down any outfit.

Boots are so popular right now that even the ugly Sorels of our childhood days are getting in on the action.  These super-functional boots have gotten a makeover so they will not only keep your feet dry in snowbanks, but they’ll look pretty damn adorable in the process.

You want to be warm, dry and totally hot? It’s time to get thee some boots. Tall, short, ankle or knee-high – there is literally something for everyone. Here are a few to drool over inspire you.

Before temperatures get too low, wear a cute pair of flats with jeans or a skirt to school. If your flats give you blisters on the back of your heel, try inserting Foot Petals Heavenly Heelz, which keep your feet from slipping in and out of shoes. A single pack costs $6.95. Here are some fashionable flats that will get you out of that UGG rut this school year:

Another option is boots. Leather boots are stylish and comfortable for fall, but when it starts to rain or snow, you’ll need something waterproof (UGGs are not waterproof!). You can buy a leather protecting spray for your leather boots, or you could buy some cute snow boots!

For more style expertise, visit the ladies of StyleBakery!

There are so many difficult choices in life (do we love or hate tequila??), so we thought we'd sort through 'em right here. Every week we will discuss another issue we are torn up about. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section!]

You’ve heard it all before…

“Uggs are so cute and comfy!” Girl with Uggs on.

“Uggs put the ‘ug’ in ugly.” Guy giving the girl a strange look.

I can see both sides and I’m completely torn:

Love Em:

Uggs are definitely one of the most comfortable types of shoes out there. And unlike the apparantly comfy-but-ugly Crocs (gag!), they actually match your outfit, and can be a cute addition to your winter wardrobe. Uggs come in lots of different colors and patterns, and although they’re a little on the expensive side, they last FOR.E.VER. (OK, maybe not forever, but I’ve had mine for 3 years and they’re as ridiculously soft as ever.)

Loathe Em?

They are a bit clunky and awkwardly-shaped. (But it’s all for good reason, right? Why so chunky, my dear Uggs? To hold all the warm and fuzzy fur inside, of course!) They also look eerily similar to the bedroom-slipper your mom might wear, due to the sheepskin outer layer. (But that’s what makes them warm!) And, obviously, they add quite a bit of unflattering mass to the calves, making even the skinniest leg look a little chunky.

It’s a love/hate relationship between me and my (4 pairs of) Uggs, but that doesn’t seem to stop me from buying and wearing them 6 months out of the year. Still, I have to wonder if the warmth and comfiness is really worth it all….and why on earth girls wear them with mini skirts.

How to avoid the party foul.

Who is performing at Obama-rama (A.K.A. Inauaguration)?

Stilla creates new Barbie (inspired) makeup line.

The student debt dilemma.

Did you know you can rent your textbooks?!

Who wants some free Soft Lips?

We wish we were invited to the Golden Globe after-parties.

Awesome winter boots that don’t rhyme with “Chug”

Name jewelry: everyone loves it (especially us).

Kelly Clarkson’s new single is here!

Googling is bad for the planet!

Food to perk your mood.