For Christmas, my husband surprised me with a pair of Alaskan sneakers, aka, Xtratuf boots. It’s not often my husband surprises me, but he accomplished it this Christmas.

Now, I look and feel like a true Alaskan.

If you are looking for fashion, Alaska is not the place you find it. Alaskans dress for the weather, not for looks. We also realize the need for quality footwear and clothing in this harsh climate. We can pick a tourist out a mile away by their boots.

In the l960’s, Xtratuf began producing their rugged waterproof boots. Xtratuf’s ad campaign says it all, “We come from Alaska, where nothing is forgiven and no compromise goes unpunished.”

In Alaska, your feet will be punished if you compromise on boots. Severely.

Many years ago, I remember occasionally seeing Xtratufs around the docks and on the feet of fishermen. But now, everyone is wearing them. The feet of hunters, fishermen, urban women grocery shopping at Costco, and weekend warriors from Anchorage tramping along beaches on the Kenai peninsula, are all clad in Xtratufs.

When I travel to Southeast Alaska, where rain is a constant companion, I see Xtratufs everywhere. All the locals on the plane are wearing them. Xtratufs work with jeans, Carhartt pants, leggings, and dresses. Multi-purpose!

In warmer weather, people often wear their Xtratufs with the top 1/3 of the boot folded over. When cuffed, women’s Xtratufs often have a colorful lining that brightens up the iconic brown boots.

Remarkably, Xtratufs work year-round in Alaska. Alaska basically has three seasons; winter, summer, and breakup. Breakup is that time of year when the snow melts, and our state turns into a slushy muddy mess. The ground resembles a spilled root beer float. Xtratufs are a necessity during breakup, yet, they are also warm enough for winter if you add a pair of wool socks.

So, If you are planning to visit Alaska, and prefer not to look like a tourist, consider investing in a pair of Xtratufs. After all, it is the Alaska state boot, an icon representing the Alaskan spirit.

Also, do you know Sandra Bullock wore Xtratufs in the movie, “The Proposal?” Sandra pulled on a pair of Xtratufs along with a bathrobe to run outside and save a small dog from an eagle. (Spoiler alert: The movie was filmed in Massachusetts, not Alaska.)

I don’t consider myself a fashion icon. Recently, I spent a week in Charleston with some lovely southern ladies. I love them! But I could never figure out the dress code. When I thought casual dress would work, they were dressed to the nines. But when I dressed up, they went casual. For once, I was able to achieve the “big hair” look but that was due to my naturally curly hair’s reaction to the humidity. Yep, imagine a gray brillo pad. My hair shrunk by two inches due to the swampy weather. That’s one reason I live in Alaska where flannel shirts and Xtratufs are the standard dress code. And there’s no humidity.

However, it appears Sandra Bullock and I share a kindred fashion spirit.

Who knew?