Advertisement

How to shop for wear-everywhere winter boots on a budget

Leather boots, £79.99, Zara 
Leather boots, £79.99, Zara

I’ll champion ballet flats until the end, but even I have to admit that bare-ankle season is officially over. The temperature has dipped to single figures so reinforcements (read: boots) are needed, and the high street is full to the brim.

Depending on your requirements, you’ll likely only need one or two pairs to see you through. As I flit between jeans, silky skirts and smart trousers, over the last few years I’ve curated a ‘boot-drobe’ with a warm footwear option for every winter outfit.

For the most part, I toe the smart/casual line at work in dark denim and checked blazers, and I’ve found a Victoriana lace-up boot with a small heel suits this nicely. My pair is a year old from Office, but Whistles has a pointed toe version with a kitten heel that I’ve got my eye on. At £225 they’re more than I’d like (and can currently afford) to spend, but I know I’d wear them to death so I’m considering saving up.

best boots on a budget 
best boots on a budget

Burgundy block heel knee-high, £139, Office ; Dr Martens faux fur lined Chelsea boots, £140, Schuh; Lace-up leather boots, £59.99, Zara; Croc effect ankle boots, £39, Topshop;  Chunky hiking boot, £139, & Other Stories

This type of boot is also great with tailored trousers, like the black cropped H&M pair from its premium quality line that I wear weekly - but equally stylish is the contrast between said favourite smart trousers and hiking boots. I didn’t think I needed a chunky hiking style for city-wear until I fell for a sturdy Grenson pair with sleek silver hardware that smartens them up a bit - and come inevitable snow and black ice, I’ll be pleased not to be ice-skating to the tube in the morning (I imagine they’ll be even more indispensable if you live in the country). I went half a size up so as to be able to wear chunkier socks underneath.

Next to a dressier option. Once I put my suede knee-high boots on for the first time each winter, it’s hard to get me out of them. I feel so put together when I wear them with a navy bias-cut silk skirt and a matching slim-fit polo neck. Mine fit like a glove as they’re from Duo Boots, a site that offers different calf-width sizing, which is so rare at an affordable price point. I’ve tried tons since getting these around six years ago, and the only pair that has come close to them is this burgundy style by Office which has a comfy heel and a leg-elongating pointed toe.

Finally, while they divide opinion as much as the Pantone tea chart, I’ve found a statement boot quite handy in my arsenal. I love my white ankle boots; they’re a subtler off-white shade, rather than a blingy optic white, and they have a block heel and flattering slightly-higher-than-ankle height. If you’re still firmly in the ‘hate’ camp when it comes to the Marmite of the boot world, an animal print is also a good statement to consider. Though they cost £139, I’ve worn my Massimo Dutti snake print pair so often that they’ve got to be down to at least 50p cost-per-wear by now - and since they’re well made, I should make it back through to bare-ankle weather before they fall to pieces.