Now, I don’t want to brag, but when it comes to ankle boots, you’ll find very few people with a more impressive collection than mine. The beauty of ankle boots is that they’re actually wearable year-round — no strappy sandal, sky-high stiletto or clammy knee-high boot can ever compete. Yet the key to curating the best ankle boot collection doesn’t come from quantity of pairs; instead, it’s all about investing wisely in styles in each category.
Within the ankle-length winter boots genre, you’ll find everything from the practical to the polished. For the office? A Chelsea boot, pointed-toe ankle boot or classic kitten heel are three strong styles to have on rotation. For the weekend? All of the above plus the more casual connotations: a biker boot, chunky lace-up shape, and a higher heel if you’re after an extra inch or two in height. As someone who only seems to own jeans two inches too long, trust me when I say they’re more than helpful to have on hand.
And, because it pays to be practical, a waterproof ankle boot is a rather boring but essential option. Suede may be chic, but wet weather is its kryptonite. While a snuggly shearling pair only adds to the winter-ready off-piste look, even if you couldn’t really be further from a mountain.
But really, the key pull of an ankle boot comes from its easy styling versatility. Street style snaps, social media and even a stroll down your local high street will prove there are a huge number of ways to wear a great pair of women’s ankle boots. A leather mini skirt and jacket co-ord, straight-leg jeans and thin jumper (I like to colour co-ordinate my knitwear and boots for a more impactful look), and a maxi dress and cosy coat are just a handful of elevated options that the same pair of ankle boots can seamlessly slot into.
The only tricky decision you’ll have when it comes to ankle boots is working out which ones to invest in, as almost every store from the high street to the high-end has endless options. So, a word of advice: start with the basics — a classic black ankle boot, a suede style or a comfortable flat shape can form the foundation of many a great outfit. The more trend-led styles — a statement snake print, high heel or even a cream colour (another one of my personal favourites) can come later.