It’s freezing in Manhattan and when the cold winds rip through our tiny little island a much heated debate always boils to the surface in the fashion world- to Ugg or not to Ugg.

Many people have strong opinions about these furry boots. Some find them utterly offensive to the eyes, while others find them a warm haven for their pedicured toes. While Uggs may have a time and a place to be worn, their mileage runs short when attending an event that typically requires makeup and high heels.

So, in an attempt to answer the age old question ” is it truly possible to stay warm when you’re not wearing Uggs?” I have offered up a few fashionably forward alternatives to Uggs which are sure to keep you warm and have heads turning (in a good way).

These Balmain buckle-embellished suede boots have been on my wish list for some time now. Stay warm and look H-O-T.

Mou's Goatskin boots in Blonde have a rubber sole and sheepskin shearling lining. Guaranteed to keep your feet warm.

These Brian Atwood New Davis suede boots take the over-the-knee boot trend to a whole other level of uber-fashion. Loves.

Flat, furry and fashionable all in one. These Dior Black Nylon/Rabbit Boots feature lace-up fastening around the boot, black rabbit fur pom poms, rabbit fur turn-over trim and mirrored Dior logos on the side and back.

Hugs and Handbags,

Nyla Noor

With the impending launch of Nyla Noor handbags on the website, we at Nyla Noor have been up to our diamond earrings in making sure that everything is total and absolute perfection. From the meticulous designing of the handbags to the killer photo shoot, we want to make sure that you grow to love your Nyla Noor handbag as much as we have loved creating them.

We would like to take a moment to explain what exactly makes a Nyla Noor handbag distinct, as Nyla Noor represents the merging of conscious fashion and luxury in a way that has not been done previously.

There seems to be a lot of information out there when it comes to conscious fashion, but little regarding its differences, largely because there is a blurry line which separates the two. The two main approaches to conscious fashion that we want to distinguish are animal conscious and environmentally conscious.

The Difference between Animal Conscious and Environmentally Conscious (Simply Put)

Animal conscious products are those which do not inflict harm on animals. Environmentally conscious products, on the other hand, are products which have minimal or no harmul impact on the environment.

The Blurry Line

Materials such as Polyvinyl chloride (also commonly known as PVC or vinyl) is the second most common type of plastic which has become widely used within the fashion industry as a great animal conscious alternative.

PVC, however, is not considered an environmentally conscious material, as it does not biodegrade quickly and according to Greenpeace.org, “throughout its lifecycle it (PVC) requires hazardous chemicals for production, releases harmful additives and creates toxic wastes.”

The good news is efforts are being made to use recycled PVC, however this is still a small percentage and requires the use of virgin PVC mixed with the recycled in order to retain its unique properties. Hopefully great alternatives will continue to be developed.

How is Nyla Noor Conscious?

The leathers used for an authentic Nyla Noor handbag are vegetable tanned and utilize a 100% environmentally conscious method for processing. Only natural extracts are used to produce the materials necessary for tanning the leather. Moreover, an authentic Nyla Noor handbag is lined with SKAL Certified, 100% Organic cotton.

Ultimately the power is in your hands. As the consumer, it is your decision to select  which you feel support your beliefs as well as your lifestyle. While the two forms of conscious fashion have different goals, they do share in one positive idea of protecting what we have on our planet.

Here at Nyla Noor, we love our planet and our handbags.

Hugs and Handbags,

Nyla Noor