OK, so today the sun was shining, the temperature got to above 5 degrees, and it's supposed to be Spring. So why am I still looking at and shopping boots? That's an easy one, because its still bloody freezing, and lets be honest, do we ever really put our ankle boots away? Ankle boots have migrated from a winter staple, to a year round wardrobe essential, and you'll find many women with more than just the trusty black pair. Out of all the shoes I own, and I am quite the proud collector (read addictive hoarder), I would say that my ankle boot collection is by far the most diverse and vast.
This season, the Ankle boot has taken on all sorts of appearances, be it in colour, material, heel shape, toe shape, embellishment, or simply style. A popular colour choice which has carried over from Winter is white, but pastels are also very much on the scene. Patent leather is another point of difference, and mixed with a kitten or flared heel, it is a very trend driven update on the ankle boot.
With the ankle boot being such a wardrobe staple, it can be a good idea to invest in a higher end option, as with a higher price tag usually comes better quality and durability - something you definitely want if you are going to be wearing your shoes to death. While that is the ideal, it is not often real life, as not many of us have £500 plus to spend on a designer shoe. Luckily for us, the high street is our saviour, as you can find so many designer 'inspired' styles in the usual high street shops. Scroll down below to see some of the dupes I've found recently - trust me, you could be saving hundreds and hundreds.
Acne Jensen Boots vs & Other Stories Chelsea Boot
Right, can anyone tell the difference? The two on the left are Acne, and the two on the right are & Other Stories. Noticeable differences are the metal toe point on the Acne boots, the slightly higher heel. & Other Stories also offer the boots in the same colourways, tan, black leather and black suede. I've tried these on and they are super comfy, and really good quality as well. Something which I have come to expect with & Other Stories. If you asked me, I would much rather save 300 quid and get the & Other Stories boots.
Isabel Marant Dicker Boots vs Topshop Betty Boots
OK, these are not stitch for stitch replicas, but I would say they come pretty close. If what you're after is a comfy boot with a stacked 2.5 - 3 inch heel, in a western style, then these are for you. The western trend is huge this Spring/Summer, and you'll be able to wear these with a printed dress, denim skirt (leave the cowboy hat at home), or a off the shoulder bardot style number. While the Isabel Marant boots are a fashionista's must have, I don't see what's wrong with the Topshop ones. Both real leather, both have western detailing. With over 300 quid difference in price, the Topshop Betty boot looks a lot healthier for your bank balance!
Givenchy Elegant Studded Boots vs Office Amsterdam Boots
These studded buckled boots have been all over the high street, and has been a recurring style for the past few winters. Naively, I didn't realise the original inspiration for these boots were from Givenchy. Some might remember that Topshop did a dupe of these a few years ago, and they were instant sell outs. Like Givenchy, they came in many different colours and types of leathers (suede, calfskin). This year, Office did a brilliant dupe, in the form of the Amsterdam boot. The studding along the side of the sole is there, the four buckle straps across the foot, and it comes in suede, leather, animal print, and grey. The main difference is that the studs are gold on the Office boot, and the Givenchy is silver. If you go for one of the other colours, they have silver hardware. While this style has been around for a few years now, its always a good sign that the trend isn't going anywhere soon. So if you were to take the plunge and invest, you'll definitely get a lot of use out of it and you will look bloody awesome - but it is nearly 1000 quid. With that sort of money, you could probably get 15 really amazing things that will make you look equally awesome! If you're looking to save your pennies, the Office ones are on sale for £63 at the moment!
Chloe Rylee Cutout Boot vs Office Ambassador Lace Up Boots
Could the Chloe Rylee boot be the boot of the season? First seen on the catwalk at the Chloe SS18 show in Paris, it's part of the first hotly anticipated collection by Natacha Ramsay-Levi. Fast forward to AW18 fashion week, and the Rylee has been seen on the feet of many a fashion editor, celebrity and influencer, worn with midi's, midaxis, skirts, suits, denim - you name it. If you like these boots, and are desperate to get your hands on a pair, Net-a-Porter has them for a cool grand. If you, like me, think that is an obscene amount of money, perhaps take a look at the Ambassador Boots from Office. While they don't have the cut outs, they are a very convincing dupe, and at a fraction of the price, you can actually justify the purchase.
Gianvito Rossi Levy vs Topshop Hoochie
One of the best ways to add a pop of colour to your outfit is by adding a red accessory. I wear a ton of black and navy, and red is always the perfect accent to add in the shape of a shoe or bag. Cue, the red stiletto ankle boot. Gianvito Rossi have these pointed leather boots with a 3.5 inch heel, which also come in white. Topshop have done a super similar one, with a slightly higher 4 inch heel, which also come in blush pink and black. With a simple boot like this in a statement colour, I wouldn't usually choose to pay designer prices, and almost always opt for Topshop's options. More often than not, their boots are great quality and last for years. In the past year or so, they have added substantial padding to the sole, making their shoes some of the most comfortable on the high street. If you're in the market for a pair of statement boots, check out these Topshop ones, you won't be disappointed.
Maison Margiela Patent Boots vs Topshop Blossom Boots
If you haven't seen the takeover of white boots this past year then where have you been? White boots have been the hero piece of the winter wardrobe, and it looks like they have migrated over to spring/summer. That's good news for those that invested in a pair, as you'll be able to make the most of them as who knows if the trend will survive another winter. While they were mostly worn with jeans and suits last season, this season you can pair yours with a midi or midaxi skirt/dress, and light washed denim. These flared heel boots from Maison Margiela come in patent leather, which is one of the key materials this season, as shiny fabrics like vinyl are here to stay. But, lets be honest, I don't think this will be a trend that will turn into a wardrobe staple, so spending £635 on these boots is not advised. Instead, spend £36 with Topshop, so you can hop on the trend, but still afford food for the rest of the month. PS. they also come in lilac - super on trend for SS18.
Balenciaga Leather Ankle Boot vs Office Alibi Kitten Heel Boot
Seeing as we're talking about white boots, the cousin of the patent leather white boot is the kitten heel white boot. Again, if you haven't seen this on the foot of a fashion editor, influencer or all over Instagram, where were you? Love it or hate it, the kitten heel is still here for another season, and so is the pointed toe. If you don't have a version of these already, you can get the designer version from Balenciaga for just under 700 quid. However, as we've already discussed, it's probably best to stick with a high street option for the slightly tricky, very much trend driven white boot. You can get them from Topshop, Zara and H&M, but my dupe in the photo is from Office. Judging from online shopping, these boots seem to be on quite a few peoples shopping lists, as sizes are dwindling and selling out as we speak. If you fancy a pair, check them out quickly!
Ganni Callie Boots vs Ace Western Boots
One of the biggest trends for SS18 is the Western trend. We can see elements of it all over the high street, whether its the ditsy floral midi dresses, rodeo themed embellishments, fringing on blouses, denim jackets and skirts making a comeback, and of course in the cowboy inspired boots. Ganni's Callie boots were a firm fixture on the feet of the fashionistas that attended the AW18 fashion season, and no surprise the high street is starting to churn out its inspired dupes. Ganni's Callie boot has the square toe, cowboy leather details, and is in silver, where the Topshop Ace boot is in gold, and has a more refined, less obvious western feel. This is what he high street is so good at, and that is filtering down a theme, so that when the trend is over, you're not stuck with a pair of boots that screams SS18 cowboy. If anything, I actually prefer the Topshop pair, as the toe is much more flattering on the leg, and Gold is great for bare legs with a tan.
Proenza Schouler Ribbed Knit Sock Boot vs Zara Fabric High Heel Ankle Boot
The sock boot was a huge trend for AW17, and its still here to stay for the foreseeable future. While Balenciaga made the fashion crowd go crazy with its colourful Knife boot, there were other forms of the sock boot that made waves in the industry. Cue the ribbed knit sock boot, which has a top cuff, that yep, has a ribbed edge which mimics the look of an actual sock. One of the designers that did it best was Proenza Schouler, and matched it with a metallic curved heel. This made the trend not only highly wearable, but put a welcomed spin on the wardrobe staple that is the black ankle boot. Zara being Zara offered their version which is so chic, it is almost better than than the Proenza version. Having a pair of the Zara ones myself, I can vouch for their comfort factor. The heel high is a comfy 2.5 inch, and the pointed toe does wonders for elongating even the shortest of legs (hello i'm 5ft 2!). When paired with black trousers or jeans, your legs have a real lengthening illusion. If your shoe collection is in need of a sock boot, and a black ankle boot, look no further than these from Zara!