Splash through fall in style

Rainy season is once again upon us, and so, thankfully, is boot season. This year, cute rain boots have returned to Seattle stores and boutiques, in both traditional puddle-stomper styles and more contemporary looks. Read on for a few of our favorites.

Melissa plastic boot
Eco-friendly Brazilian brand Melissa -- makers of recyclable plastic shoes that smell like jellybeans or gumballs -- puts its sweet-smelling materials to work in a dainty rain boot. The pointed toe and wedge heel give the boot an urban edge, and two designs let you choose your mood, either punk rock (black matte rubber with a safety pin silkscreen) or city chic (a shiny caramel hue that's reminiscent of patent leather). $98 at Clementine in West Seattle.

Kamik "Atrium"
A relatively sleek shape with a contoured foot bed, Kamik's lightweight rain boots fit more like shoes than galoshes. Designs run to hearts and geometric patterns in a variety of fall and feminine hues. $36 at Market Street Shoes in Ballard.

Miss L Fire "Splash"
Another ladylike option, these midcalf wedge-heel boots are made of coated plastic rather than rubber and have a slightly pointed toe. They come in red and blue Asian-inflected prints and a classic black boot with white dots. $89 at Shoefly in Belltown and Bellevue.

Hunter Wellington boots
Classic knee-high wellies with a high-fashion following (picture Kate Moss mucking about at the Glastonbury Festival), these boots have been handmade in Scotland since 1856 and come in straightforward colors such as navy, green, yellow and black. New this year: black flecked with subtle iridescent sparkles. $98-$110 at Lambs Ear Shoes in Fremont.

Chooka rain boots
No-nonsense design and chunky treads make these calf-high boots a great fall standby. They're available in an array of bold patterns, ranging from sky blue with a tattoo motif to black with candy-colored polka dots. $56 at The Sneakery in Ballard.

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