The Winter Boot Edit

One of the questions I have been asked a lot recently, is where to find a good pair of winter boots. It’s a question I find hard to answer, because there are so many options out there and our feet and personal styles are so different. But here are a few tips to help you navigate your way through the choices…

Think about styles that you feel comfortable in

It’s no good following the trends if you don’t feel comfortable when you wear them. I thought I needed a pair of red boots in my life. I tried a few pairs on and each time I felt a little self-conscious. Now that may be that the boots I was trying on weren’t the right style for me, but I also think that if something doesn’t feel quite right on me, I shouldn’t push it and I should just love and admire them on others. I came to that conclusion about metallic silver boots last year. I was like a magpie every time I saw someone wearing a pair, but when I eventually bought a pair myself, I didn’t have the confidence to leave the house in them.

The comfort test

Are the boots comfortable the minute you put them on? If they are leather, there might be a few hours of stretching to mould to the shape of your foot and that’s ok… But if they are at all uncomfortable, then it’s likely they will stay that way. No-one should wear crippling boots, life is too short…

Think about how you will wear them

Are you going to wear them with trousers/jeans, dresses or skirts? It’s a good idea to try on a few different outfits with your boots to see if they slot into your wardrobe with ease. I have  boots that I can wear with jeans but not with dresses and vice versa. If you are wearing them with trousers/jeans, where do you like the boot to finish? Do you want a little bit of ankle showing or are you someone that doesn’t like showing their ankles and would prefer for the boot to meet the bottom of your trousers? Are you a ‘boots with dresses’ person ? I’m still not entirely confident wearing boots with dresses. If it’s a long dress, I am usually ok, but if it’s midi, knee length or shorter, I struggle. I think it’s something to do with being short that makes getting the proportions right quite tricky. It’s important to find a style that works with your body. I often put boots on and think, oooh they’d be perfect if there were a couple of centimetres shorter at the ankle.

Are the boots you’re in a reflection of you ?

Are you a biker boot person? I can’t tell you how much I want to be this person, rocking a pair of these Givenchy studded boots. But who am I kidding? They’re just not me. *Another style to add to my ‘admire on others’ list!*

Does your lifestyle suit the boots you love?  As beautiful as these stiletto boots are, I know that my lifestyle, on the whole, doesn’t lend itself to  a heel like this. And it’s no good having a wardrobe full of things you love but never wear.

After a really good shop around, here is my Winter Boot edit with my picks in each category…

Biker Boots

Classic Ankle Boots

Statement Boots

School Run Boots

Sock Boots

Studded Boots

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I realise that there are quite a few pairs of boots to choose from here, but hopefully the categories will make it easier for you to rule out certain styles and think about your wardrobe, your style (and your lifestyle!) and determine what you need. You can’t go wrong with the classic ankle boot if you’re looking for comfort and style in one, just make sure that the heel height is right for you. The Isabel Marant Dicker boots look great with jeans and dresses, as do the studded Chloe Susanna style boots. (My Susannas were the best investment purchase I have ever made)

Happy Shopping!

Love

Chloe x