I love these shoes. Like, I'm in love! They look so cute on and my feet are warm and they are stylish but relaxed. The fur around the top isn't too much and the shoe is lined with cotton. I'm in Texas and don't need a snow boot but I believe these are water proof at least up to the first stitching. The only thing I did because I'm older and not cool enough to let the leather laces just swing. Yes, the laces are genuine leather. So, this shoe has a zipper for easy on and off but also the leather laces aren't meant to be tied and that makes it easy on and off. I tied a small knot in the leather lace right by the ring so the shoes wouldn't ride super loose. I feel like someone younger might like that kind of thing but I like my ingenuity. I also tucked in the free swinging leather pieces into the other pieces (picture below). Tying the leather laces aren't an option, that would look hideous.