Styled after the clunky boots Neil Armstrong wore as he kicked up lunar dust in 1969, the moon boot is making a comeback. Once the sole province of snow bunnies who never actually got near snow, the boots can't be stocked fast enough these days at high-end stores like Saks and Neiman Marcus. Tecnica originated the goofy, padded footwear in 1971, with its most memorable variation sporting long, shaggy fur. Now priced at up to $200, the retro shoe is taking its place in fashionable metropolitan closets between Prada pumps and Manolo Blahnik spikes. Let's hope neon jackets and rear-entry ski boots aren't next in line.

JANUARY 2005