In the dog days of summer, when my sandals are worn out and my feet sweat in sneakers, I dream of boots. Ankle boots, over the knee boots, slouchy boots, cowboy boots. The list goes on. This year, I added a new type of boot to the list: lace up boots. They’re witchy, they’re Victorian, and they’re not just for Stevie Nicks anymore.
There’s something very prim and proper about this silhouette – the formality of the boots means the shoes work with pretty much any outfit you have in your closet and for any occasion you can think of. If they’re suede, they’re ladylike. In a snakeskin or croc, they add rock star edge to anything. You can use them to dress up a pair of jeans and t-shirt, or give some edge to a knee-length skirt. And if you don’t feel like a heel? Then the sleek patent leather combat boot is here to rescue you from your Doc Marten PTSD episodes.