Fantastic Boots for Fall and Winter 2011
Written by Mindy Messenger
This season's hottest boots feature textured leather and a mix of rustic, tough-chic detailing that swings between western and military. The top styles creep away from last year's focus on low-heeled comforttoward contrasting rugged outlines with femme heels, wedges and platforms. While stiletto heels and pointed toes make an appearance, the two key themes this season are menswear-inspired and bohemian.
Get the Skinny: Patent to Suede Boots
Smooth leather gets lots of closet time this year while its edgier sisters hit the streets. Go urban jungle with knee-high and ankle boots in animal prints, reptile skin or high-gloss patents. The key to making this trend wearable (and office friendly) is to pair your daring boots with streamlined fall staples that tap this year's minimal trend. Think pencil skirts, fitted blazers and tunic blouses in dusk-hued neutrals.
Still too wild for you? Then go softer with shearling and suede. Shearling mid-calf boots are so UGG, so stick to the extremes with over-the-knee or ankle boots for this material. For suede, anything goes this year. You'll find the material on everything from knee-high stilettos to wedge-heeled desert boots. These leather styles are just begging to be paired with this year's bohemian bonanza, and can work well when you layer a wide mix of fabrics and patterns. For a more everyday look, the rule applies: Pair your shearling or suede with classic fall staples.
Go West: Riding to Cowboy Boots
While the ever-classic equestrian style returns with traditional riding and harness boots, even wilder western styles prevail this season. Ladies, welcome to the Year of the Cowboy. Platform, ankle, wedge, slouchy or suede — you'll find cowboy boots featuring those and more.
But buyers beware: Typical mid-calf styles cut women's legs in half and make most look wider (and shorter). Keep your legs visually long and lean by wearing a knee-high style over skinny jeans or leggings, or by pairing ankle cowboy boots with above-the-knee and mini skirts. Unadorned Western boots channel slick and minimal, keeping the style just right for everyday casual without looking too cowboy. But the over-the-top Western styling is what's most fun about these boots, so don't be afraid to go bold and wear them with skirts and dresses.
Oh So Boho: Fringe to Platform Boots
Of all the trends this season, bohemian styling reigns supreme. The overriding approach is to pile on the layers, textures and patterns to create an exaggerated look, and boot styles seem to follow quite happily. Faux-fur tops, patchwork leather, funkalicious patterns, vibrantly colored suede, woven leather and fringe galore are just a few gems you'll find. Many designers make hearty use of multiple '70s-esque details, though you will also find calmer styles that can punch up your workday wardrobe without screaming "disco."
Platforms and wedges make the jump from espadrilles to ankle boots, carrying this trend into a yearlong rotation. The trendiest versions feature sky-high hidden (or "covered") platforms, textured leathers and exaggerated lacing. Think boots that lend a sense of laid-back cool, especially when paired with skinny jeans, maxi dresses, and midi skirts.
Boys' Club: Combat to Oxford Boots
Last year's combat, desert and military boot trend returns, but highly feminized with heels and wedges. The contrast is striking and much friendlier to wear, adding just the right touch of tough to dresses, skirts and jeans without falling into angry punk territory. Doc Martens are everywhere, and their classic short and tall boot styles work best with flowing, femme dresses or skinny jeans and girly tunic tops. They also have an extremely popular "Diva" line that glams up their traditional desert and combat styles with sturdy heels and wedges.
A variation of this trend is outdoorsy boots that also get a lift in style with wedges, platforms and heels. Wellies return, but this time sporting lace-up detailing along the top or all the way up the backs. Duck boots and hunting style boots featuring high heelsinspire stomping through the woods, as do wedge ankle boots with ribbed knit cuffs. A quieter version of the menswear trend is the return of Oxford toe details on both tall and ankle boots. While these don't grab nearly as much attention as their sisters (or is that "brothers"?), they're rather dapper at the office.
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