Boots for autumn, winter and beyond

Heels have gone the same way as hemlines in the past few seasons: higher and higher. When it comes to shoes, we can thank the 00s comeback for the dizzying heights that platforms are at. Valentino Garavanis’ Tan-Go boots were a frequent spot at the September fashion weeks. The glossy leather and golden anklet logo make them perfect for the evening.

We’re in a Barbie world. Quicker than you could say “Greta Gerwig”, designers covered the AW22 catwalks in the boldest shades of bubblegum, fuchsia and baby pink (the same goes for the recent SS23 runways, too). Christian Louboutin’s take on the Y2K shade is to combine it with another Noughties classic: knee-high boots. Let’s go party.

Spend any time in Copenhagen and you’ll spot the Ganni girls. Everyone cycles everywhere, so there’s often a practical, unfussy element to the way these Danish women dress. Ganni’s Creative Director, Ditte Refstrup, captures that same mood with her shoe designs. This pair is your answer to which boots are most versatile; classic but for a square toe, these Chelsea boots work just as easily with jeans or dresses.

Boots season can still be as playful as summer – once you’ve tackled chilly toes and torrential downpours. Chloé’s Betty boots prove as much. The bestselling sock boots balance a sleek fitted silhouette and slight heel with rainproof rubber and a lug sole. They have one foot in form and the other firmly in function.

Leather – and its faux friends – has taken over recent runways, spanning full The Matrix looks, trompe-l’oeil leather ‘jeans’ and, of course, boots. For a pair that goes all-in on the leather look, pull on Jimmy Choo’s updated Biker ii. An exaggerated take on moto style, they sit over the knee and double up on buckles.

Bottega Veneta’s craftsmanship, coupled with Matthieu Blazy’s creative brilliance, makes for pieces that go straight on our wish lists. The playful curved heels that appeared in various guises throughout the brand’s AW22 show are a case in point. Round off your winter outfits with this over-the-knee iteration – they’ll make an impact with jumper dresses, trench coats and partywear alike.

Sculpted leather is a core part of Creative Director Sarah Burton’s Alexander McQueen collections, for shoes as much as for clothes. Case in point, these metal-capped ankle boots featured throughout the AW22 show, worn alongside strong-shouldered suits, evening dresses and more casual trench coats. Take those as your starting points for endless outfits, all season long.

At its Paris runway show last month, Balenciaga sent models stomping through piles of wet mud in a set scented with petrichor to mimic a recent rain shower. Hopefully, the British winter won’t be as apocalyptic, but for any inevitable downpours, the brand has prepped us with its Strike boots. Based on rugged hiking styles, the leather is already distressed to mimic a well-worn patina, daring you to get out there and get dirty.

Grenson’s Nanette boots are the can’t-go-wrong pair on this list. The brand has been in the boots business since 1866, making everything on this pair, from the sturdy soles to the brush of suede and silver eyelets, in its Northamptonshire factory. It’s those details that push these boots beyond pure practicality.

Puffy, fluffy, cosy moon boots and snow shoes made their comeback last winter, followed this season by softer suede versions to keep us snug. One designer you may not expect to have ventured into such practical territory is Queen of Sculpted Heels, Amina Muaddi. And yet! Here are her shearling Heidi boots – a playful rethink on early-Noughties ankle boots that will be exactly what your party feet need the morning after winter nights out.