1. Previous

TAKE 5:

WINTER’S BOLDEST BOOTS

${alt}

with Selfridges Assistant Buyer

Lydia Tufnell

Welcome to our regular round-up of the five key pieces to shop now, chosen by those in the know. This time, we’ve called on Lydia Tufnell, our Assistant Buyer for jewellery, watches and shoes, to pick out the best boots of the season – the kind of hard-wearing pairs you can lace up for years to come.

This year, utilitarian styles inspired by biker and military boots have stomped into designers’ collections, hot on the heels of the hiking trend that stepped forward last winter. That’s all to say, who doesn’t love a great pair of form-meets-function boots when the weather starts to turn (and, boy, has the weather turned!)? Lydia is certainly a fan: “They’re my absolute go-to shoes for the winter; I can secretly admit one of the somewhat enjoyable parts of the colder months is getting out my biker boots.” Here, she picks out five monochrome pairs that make this time of year far less of a trudge.

Let’s start the count…

THE LOOK: HEAVY HARDWARE

VALENTINO

Logo-plaque leather ankle boots

“Just like the logo trend, heavy hardware is still a big focus this season, and I am not sad about it – quite the opposite when it comes to military boots! I love that the brand has placed its classic ‘V’ logo on a leather plaque that wraps around the ankle – this really toughens the boots up. You could easily wear them day and night: pair them with jeans during the day or with a dress for the evening. In summary, a much cooler take on classic, plain biker boots.”

Shop now

THE LOOK: CHUNKY

THE KOOPLES

Chunky-soled glossy leather lace-up boots

“What a pair of boots from The Kooples! They’re ticking a lot of the trend boxes this season. Patent body? Check. Super-chunky sole? Check. And I love a lace-up over a zip, so these boots really do it for me. Given my style, I would wear this particular pair with a mini dress – something floaty and feminine to really offset the chunky, more masculine look of these boots. Add a pair of sheer tights in the winter and I am sold!”

Shop now

THE LOOK: MOCK CROC

KG KURT GEIGER

Tilly mock-croc faux-leather ankle boots

“Aside from the chunky sole we have seen coming through this season, the real selling point of these KG Kurt Geiger boots is the mock-croc texture, which the London brand has reworked in a glossy finish. Mock croc is a great way to elevate your accessories and, with the continued focus around sustainability (as of February 2020, we no longer stock any products containing exotic animal skins), mock is the way to go.”

Shop now

THE LOOK: LACE UP

MAJE

Furry lace-up leather boots

“Lacing higher up the ankle than other boots and designed with a cool, chunky sole, these are the boots I would wear for everything from city walks to countryside retreats while still ticking all the style boxes. I’d pair them with skinny leather trousers – to really elongate the leg – and a big, chunky knit. A top tip I often do with my boots is swapping out the laces for a satin or velvet pair – it’s an instant way to elevate them. I love velvet laces in the winter and black satin laces for an evening look.”

Shop now

THE LOOK: LOGO

FENDI

FF-embossed leather ankle boots

“Logos are going nowhere, and these Fendi boots are the perfect pair – they’re going to be my daily go-to this season. They feature the classic Fendi FF logo, which was designed by Karl Lagerfeld in the 60s. That subtle pattern sets them apart from your usual plain military boots. These are ideal everyday boots for me that I could wear with anything – a mini dress (my personal preference with biker boots), maxi dress or jeans. You can’t go wrong!”

Shop now

Walk this way to explore our entire boots edit

Shop now

And for the rest of your accessories?

Peruse our pick of this season’s stand-out bags