Of all the autumn items you have in your wardrobe, nothing sets the tone of your outfits quite like your boots, which is why it’s essential to give any boot purchase serious consideration. Not only do they need to look stylish and be versatile so that they work seamlessly with the majority of your clothing, but boots also need to be durable, as they are up against the harshest weather conditions we’ll see all year. This triad isn’t something you simply happen upon, so it certainly pays to invest in boots of a quality calibre.
Over the years, our team members have tried more boots than your average person—it’s just something that comes with the fashion-editor territory. While some have let us down, or at least didn’t live up to our expectations, others stick out in our minds that were pretty darn impressive. And when we compared notes, a pattern began to emerge—all of the best boots we’d ever worn seemed to come from a handful of brands.
To get you a little more excited about the colder weather that’s en route, we’ve combined our knowledge to bring you a definitive edit of the best boot brands our editors swear by, which we’ve charted for you below.
To make the cut, each brand had to be stylish—that’s a given—but also known for its attention to detail and high quality. You might think that you need to spend a small fortune to get boots of such ilk, and while there are certainly some designer brands that feature on our list, they’re balanced out by more affordable labels, too.
Covering every boot base, from over-the-knee to hiker, this list is sure to include something that’s perfect for you, your aesthetic and your budget. So keep scrolling to see the best boot brands our in-house experts have deemed worthy of your attention.
It’s not just Staud’s iconic arm candy that has caught the attention of fashion types; its boots have proven to be just as big of a hit thanks to their timeless but directional designs.
When it comes to the best boot brands, we would be remiss not to mention Gianvito Rossi. Handmade in Italy, they’re favourites amongst celebrities and editors alike, and although there are plenty of flat boots to choose from, Gianvito Rossi’s knee-high options always make us swoon.
While we’re on the subject of celebrity-adored boots, we need to take a moment to acknowledge Stuart Weitzman, whose over-the-knee boots are an integral part of the A-list uniform.
Our editors agree that Mango consistently creates some of, if not the, best boots on the high street. Made from premium materials and modelled in trend-ticking silhouettes, its pairs always look so much more expensive than they actually are.
Dear Frances has only been around for five years or so, but the impact it has made on the boot scene is tremendous. Beloved by the likes of Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner, its beautiful boots never stick around for long.
This season’s chunky knee-high-boot trend can be traced back to Ganni’s rubberised boots, which have taken the fashion world by storm. They’re a key buy for autumn 2021, and if you can’t get your hands on the knee grazers, rest assured Ganni has plenty of other excellent boots to choose from.
On a mission to make the boot world a more inclusive place, DuoBoots’ designs come in not one, not two, but seven calf widths, ensuring your best-ever fit. Shoe maverick Mary Alice Malone of Malone Soulier has just been announced as creative director of the brand, which has also just unveiled its most stylish collection to date.
Everything Bottega Veneta touches turns to gold, and its boots certainly live up to our now lofty expectations. The brand’s lug-sole boots put chunky styles back on the style map a few seasons ago. Right now, its square-toe platform boots are emerging as the latest must-have.
Vagabond is a brand fashion editors would love to keep a secret. However, to withhold designs so premium that come in at such reasonable prices would go against our code of honour.
Italian shoe brand Paris Texas was launched in 2015 by sisters Annamaria and Margherita Brivio, but over the past couple of years, the brand has catapulted to cult status. Its iconic boots are immediately recognisable—as such, they’re regularly spotted on the likes of Emily Ratajkowski and Gigi Hadid.
At a time when accessories were loud and bold, Amsterdam-based founder Elza Wandler set out to create quiet but impactful shoes that would transcend seasons. We think it’s safe to say she’s done just that with her latest drop of autumn-ready boots.
The epitome of classic, Church’s boots are, in the words of our shopping editor Joy Montgomery, “unfussy and straight-forward in their chicness [and feel] more premium because [they focus] on simple silhouettes and classic fits, drawing me back time and time again.”
