A Guide to Your Perfect Autumn Boots

While we may be sad to leave behind the warmth of summer, it is difficult not to look forward to the perks of autumn. Cosy chunky knits, weekend escapes to stone cottages heated with log fires, and the rich, changing colours of nature make autumn a particularly favourite month. What’s more, autumn is also the perfect opportunity (or an excuse…) to invest in the new pair of boots you need to see you through the season. Your autumn boots should be sturdy enough to take you on your morning walks across morning dew-kissed fields but also versatile enough to be slipped on with all of your autumn and winter looks; with this in mind, we’ve selected the best of the year’s styles to guide you through the best autumn boots for Autumn/Winter ‘16.

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Chelsea Boots

A unisex boot dating back to the Victorian era, Chelsea boots rose to popularity in the 1960s when they were the Beatles go-to boot at the height of Beatlemania before later becoming key look for British Mod culture. Chelsea boots were picked up again by nostalgic indie fans in the ‘00s but have surged back to popularity over the past five years when they have become a staple autumn boot.

The Best of AW16

Chukka Boots

Recognised by the Design Museum as one of the 50 shoes that changed the world, the Chukka is an enduring British style that traces its origins back to the military. It is widely accepted that Nathan Clark, the grandson of Clarks Originals’ original founder, brought the Chukka boot to the UK after military service in Cairo in the late 1940s, and Clarks continue to produce some of the finest Chukka boots available until this day. Whether styled casually with relaxed-fit jeans or more formally with a suit, Chukkas are able to lend a laid-back yet always stylish aesthetic to almost any outfit.

The Best of AW16

Work/Utility Boots

Traditionally worn to support and comfort the feet of workers down mines or in other industrial environments, work or utility boots have long been loved for their hardwearing profile but have now emerged as a key style for AW16. Today adapted for office spaces where the harshest task your feet might face is the morning coffee run, work and utility boots have taken on a fashion-forward aesthetic in recent years while retaining the enduring quality for which they are famous.

The Best of AW16

Brogue Boots

Originally designed for the marshes of Ireland with perforations that allowed the shoes to dry off naturally, brogues were popularised as a more casual option to Oxfords or Derbies in the 20^th century. Today brogues are a staple in every man’s and woman’s wardrobe, and the evolution into brogue boots is one of the few footwear combinations that isn’t something of an abomination.

The Best of AW16

Military

From the MA-1 bomber jacket to cargo pants, so many of the 21^st century’s biggest fashion trends have been inspired by iconic military pieces. The same is true for military boots, whose durable construction and heavy tread have made them a go-to style for bracing the autumn and winter months. Generally slimmed down with a sleek profile and often made lighter for greater comfort, military boots continue to be made with the same enduring quality and build as the originals.