We can always count on New York Fashion Week to kick-start a month-long churning of new iterations of personal style and trends. From Bermuda shorts to wedged sneakers, we thought we’d seen it all—until now. As a survivor of a four-year stint at a New England boarding school, I can confidently say that L.L. Bean’s signature Bean Boot once served as fashion currency among Connecticut’s elite (in good company with Jack Rogers and Hunter rain boots). I avoided them like the plague, staunchly set on staying true to my Chicago roots with all-black ensembles and a strong aversion to the word "preppy."

Who would have thought that it would take a NYFW (and a little inclement weather) to change my mind—I spotted not one but TWO fashion week attendees nailing the perfect equation of an effortlessly chic street style look, shockingly topped off with a pair of Bean Boots. And it didn’t stop there. Many others seem to have invested in the hiking boot trend, with lug soles and rubber toes donning the feet of fashion’s most stylish friends. The looks are so good that I’ve admittedly added a pair to cart—and linked a few more options below if you’d like to follow suit.