Fashionable Boots for Winter

Posted in Seasonal Styles on 06. Nov, 2011

Winter is a great time to break out the boots. Boots as footwear have been consistently popular in fall fashion for absolutely years – They combine practicality, warmth, and comfort with a fashionable winter look. Whether you prefer cute ankle boots, calf-highs or the daring look of knee-high boots, this time of year there are lots of different styles to choose from out there on the market. When choosing a pair (or pairs) of winter boots to see you through the harsher months, these are some of the important decisions that you should consider.

Boot Length

As mentioned above, boots come in many different sizes, and I don’t just mean shoe size – the length to which the boot extends up your leg is one of the first things you must think about. Although with all kinds of shoes you have to carefully consider whether they will match the outfit you are wearing, with boots it is even more important – for example, if you try to wear high boots under a pair of trousers or jeans, you may find that they create lumps and bumps that look totally out of place. The reverse situation, of course, is trying to wear a pair of boots over trousers (a continuing fashion for ankle and calf-highs, at least) and finding that the fit of the boots isn’t loose enough. One of the favourite ways to wear boots in winter is with a mid-length skirt – almost any height of boot will look great this way.

Ankle boots have been very popular in fashion throughout the entirety of 2011. These are perhaps the least daring of the available options – most ankle boots on the market at the moment have quite a loose fit around the ankle itself, and so can be worn over the cuff of jeans or trousers, comfortably paired with a skirt, or even a pair of shorts. Higher boots are less suitable for wearing with trousers, so if you’re looking for the kind of boots that are most flexible, ankle boots are probably your best bet. Higher boots, however, have become very popular this season because of the striking look they create when paired with an oversized winter coat, another of 2011′s biggest fashions.

Boots and coat together make a great, dramatic silhouette as well as keeping you cosy and warm this winter.

Type of Heel

As with any style of shoes, when buying a pair of boots you need to also think about the type of heel you want your boot to have. The first stage is height – if these are boots you’re going to be wearing everyday to work or to walk around town, you might want to opt for comfortable, flat soles. On the other hand, if these are going to be boots for nights out on the town or other glamorous affairs, high heels might do the trick. Or maybe you want something in between – slight, professional heels for looking smart in a meeting or at interview. Context is extremely important when choosing any kind of clothing, so think carefully about where and when you intend to wear your boots.

A slow and careful decision is even more essential if you’re looking to spend a substantial amount of money. If you want to buy several pairs of boots for different situations, you don’t want to shell out a fortune for each pair. Alternatively, if you’re looking for one reliable pair of steadfast boots to see you through the season, you may want to invest more cash so that you get high quality boots that will last. Although kitten heels may look fantastic, will you only end up wearing them once or twice? Or if you prefer heels for everyday wear, buying a pair of flats, no matter how practical you convince yourself they are, you may find that you constantly opt for less appropriate footwear just because you can’t resist the added height.

Colour and Material

The most common colours that you will find on a pair of winter boots are black, grey, or brown. Of course there are some brighter options out there, and if you feel you can pull it off then you should definitely consider that option, but these are the staple shades of footwear this season primarily because they can be paired with so many different outfits. Black boots can literally be worn with anything. If that kind of flexibility is what you’re after, go for a neutral shade. However, if you want a good pair of quite stunning winter boots, consider a design that incorporates buckles, studs, or even chains. Material wise, leather is the obvious choice. Suede boots may be an option, but remember that this material is particularly susceptible to water damage, and in the UK in winter there’s almost a 100% chance that you’ll be exposed to some pretty damp weather.

The neutral tone of these boots mean that they would look great with almost any winter outfit.

These tan leather boots are a great example of the perfect combination of style and substance.

Top Three Styles

To get you started thinking about what kind of winter boots you might like, here’s a reminder of three of the most popular styles currently trending both with celebrities and on the street.