One of the most popular questions I get asked by my clients as a personal stylist in London is: ‘What footwear do I need to keep me warm, dry and stylish through Autumn Winter!’ Firstly, I will always say that your footwear, especially during the colder months, should be one of your best and most likely, biggest investments. When your feet are warm, your body stays warm. When your feet are wet and cold, you feel wet and cold too! There’s nothing worse than a long commute to work and ending up with soggy socks as you make it to the office!
Your choice of footwear can make or break an outfit. For example, if you go for a light coloured outfit and then add on a dark coloured choice of footwear with nothing else dark in the outfit, it can throw the whole outfit off. Chunky footwear can also often do the same thing and make an outfit look extremely bottom heavy. For my petite girls this really doesn’t help to elongate the frame.
So below I’ve broken down 5 of my top Autumn Winter footwear choices that will complete any wardrobe!
1. The Ankle Boot
The ankle boot will tick so many boxes in your footwear selection and come in so many different styles. The beauty of an ankle boot is that it works with so many styles of bottoms. One thing to note, is that when I say ankle I mean the top of the boot should hit at the ankle. To avoid breaking your legs in half and shortening the frame, I would say avoid mid calf boots. If you are particularly tall and like a mid calf boot you could try those with a dip at the front of the leg like a cowboy boot to help soften the harsh line across the legs.
I’ve selected a few styles below along with some of my top tips on how to style them.
Chelsea Boots
The classic Chelsea boot comes in so many different styles. From chunky options to slimmer frames, choose from gum soles, suede options or leather. Why are they called a Chelsea boot? Well because of their popularity back in the ‘mod’ scene during the 50’s and 60’s in Chelsea, London.
The reason they are loved so much is because they are such a durable boot, often non-slip and with chunky soles to withstand the wet and cold weather. They often come with a low heel as well, making them suitable for long commutes and days on your feet.
When picking your Chelsea boot think about how you want to wear them. Pairing them with tights and a mini or midi skirt or dress could work well. But a chunky Chelsea boot under a slim or wide leg pair of jeans can often throw an outfit off and make the bottom half look heavy.
Heeled Ankle Boots
For a slightly smarter or dressier look you could try a heeled ankle boot. My favourite at the moment have to be a square toe giving a more on trend look. Colours such as brown and burgundy give a really chic feel. If you are more petite and want to make your legs look longer, opt for a pointed toe, or if you struggle with this, more of an almond toe. This will help to elongate the foot and legs! Paired with a wide leg pair of high rise denim and you have the perfect look.
The beauty of these ones from &Other Stories is that they act like a sock and so sit really closely to the ankle.
Lace Up Ankle Boots
For those wanting a little bit more support or a more edgy, urban or military look, a lace up boot is perfect. One of my favourite styles has to be the Dr Martens, especially the patent version giving that shiny effect with the signature yellow stitching. Lace up boots with a good sole are perfect for icier days and will keep you warm, dry and comfortable all day.
You can pair them with a more romantic dress or skirt for a more dramatic look or keep it safer with a pair of skinny jeans.
2. The Tall Boot
Tall boots give you all the warmth and protection you need. You can get them in flat or heeled options depending on your preference and they can really make a statement in an outfit. For those that find it harder to find the right calf size for longer length boots, it’s worth trying Duo Boots who offer a range of calf sizes.
Knee Length Boots
Knee length boots will sit just under the knee. They work perfectly with everything from skinny jeans to mini and midi skirts and dresses. Heeled options can really dress an outfit up and those with a pointed toe will allow the legs to go on for miles!
Flatter options give you the comfort while keeping your legs nice and dry on those rainy days.
I love those with a statement colour like this rich burgundy from Sezane which looks so beautiful with denim!
Over The Knee Boots
This style isn’t for everyone and can sometimes feel like quite a lot for an everyday look. But the over the knee boots are particularly good for my petite girls who want that bit of extra length in the legs. These sit about the knees close to the lower thigh and sometimes come with a flap detail that can be folded back. Suede is often a popular option but you can play around depending on your style personality.
3. The Loafer
Loafers really are iconic and might just give the trainer a run for its money ( if you are looking to switch up your style). They work perfectly with a tailored pair of trousers of you could try them with your favourite pair of straight or slim leg denim. They equally work well with skirts and dresses. My favourite way to style them is with a pair of colourful or metallic socks for a bit more interest in your outfit.
Penny Loafers
These are your most classic style of loafer and will have a slit on the strap that could fit a small coin in it. I had to do my research into this, but the reason for this slit and hence the name, is that years ago men and women would often place a coin in their loafers in case they ever needed to make an emergency phone call! How interesting! And now it’s an iconic fashion item.
Tassel Loafers
I love a tassel! The tassel loafer gives a bit of a preppy feel and when mixed with a metallic loafer you immediately create a bit more fun and personality in your outfit.
Tassells are a great way to add more texture to an outfit.
4. The Leather Trainer
Just because it’s wet, it doesn’t mean we can’t wear a good trainer. I would just recommend you go for a leather pair to withstand the puddles. Getting the right pair of trainers for the winter is so important. Think of a good sole, something waterproof and lightweight.
Classic White
Depending on your style a classic white pair will never do you wrong. For those to sit under jeans choose a flatter, less chunky style so as not to make the bottom part of the outfit too heavy. You can also pair these with a smart trouser too.
Colourful
If you want to have a bit more fun and brighten the darker months, a colourful pair of trainers will do just that. You can stick to trends such as reds or burgundy, try a metallic or even something with multiple colours. Choose a colour that will work with other colours in your wardrobe to ensure you get the most wear!
High Tops
If you want more of a boot style, the high top is perfect for keeping your ankles that bit warmer.
This style from All Saints has the flatform sole and beautiful black lace contrast. They could also work for party season!
5. The Flats
Apart from the loafer you can try other flats and pair them with tights or socks. We’ve seen a lot of flats around through Spring and Summer. They are the best way to make an outfit dressy without the discomfort of a high heel!
Ballet Pumps
The classic ballet pump has been everywhere. Choosing one where the vamp sits closer to the toes will elongate the legs and extra points for a pointed toe as well. Try these in a statement colour, leopard print or a classic black depending on your style.
Mary Janes
The Mary Jane has made an impressive come back with the bar style. They don’t always work so well for the petite girl as they can often break up the foot and make the legs look shorter. I’ve seen such gorgeous velvet and textured Mary Janes, just make sure to wear them on a dry day!
I get it, footwear can be difficult to get right. But over the years if you can slowly begin to build a capsule footwear collection you’ll have some great pieces to alternate between over the colder weather. The Autumn Winter season feels like it goes on for so long so it’s a worthwhile investment!
For help finding the best Autumn Winter footwear for you, why not book in for a FREE Style Call and see how I can help!
