Just learned about these little plastic caps you put on your heels and I’m not sure what I think of them. SoleMates are either completely idiotic or they’re brilliant and I’m just jealous I didn’t think of them first.

When I think of “shoe accessories” I tend to visualize shoe clips—some kind of gawdy fake flowers or giant rhinestones, like non-pierced earrings for your feet—and it makes me throw up in my mouth a little. Thankfully, the market has evolved. For starters, there’s the comeback of spats, which I’ve mentioned previously and find terribly charming.

I have to confess: I have a fierce hatred for “duck boots.” But until recently I made the mistake of lumping any kind of waterproof footwear into the same category. That said, with two dogs and all this rain we’re having, they’re quickly becoming a need. Whether you call them galoshes, overshoes, gum boots, rubbers, or Wellies, here are a few I have my eyes on.