by When my editor asked me to comb through the latest dispatch of street style images in the pursuit of boot styling ideas for spring, I was struck by the sheer lack of variety of footwear on display. After a stream of ugly shoes, “wrong” shoes and toe-curlingly strange viral shoes, there is something refreshingly effortless about a beautifully constructed black ankle-grazing or knee-high boot. As we have said before, sometimes boring street style is the best street style, and this season that mantra has finally travelled down to our feet.
In the past couple of seasons, Vogue editors have pavement-tested a number of rather strange boots, from Alexander McQueen’s Hoof style (complete with a horseshoe sole and flowing mane swishing from the heel), and “finger feet” boots that look like flippers with four exaggerated toes, but this fashion month there was a return to sensible boots that don’t threaten your ability to walk into a show space without a TikTok-worthy tumble. I could barely find any images of a tan or a brown boot, let alone anything freakish, which demonstrates just how classic things have gotten.
But combing through these images has made me excited to re-style the Arket knee-highs and ATP Atelier pointed ankle boots I already have in my wardrobe, through a new spring lens. Small styling tweaks can make a big difference to an overall look, as shown by the return of the Noughties boot tuck, which has made a triumphant return this show season. Instead of Princess Diana traversing a polo field, the inspiration here is more Kate Moss with her signature drainpipes (that are as skinny as leggings), tucked into a pair of heeled knee-high boots.
If this week’s “fake spring” has you in an outfit planning mood, keep scrolling for eight stylish ways to style your boots this spring.
Slip dress + riding boots
This winter, a Jilly Cooper mood swept the collections, as the likes of Gucci, Toteme and Hermès had the fashion crowd jumping for riding boots. It was a focal point of Sabato de Sarno’s final spring/summer 2025 show for Gucci, as 32 looks were grounded with a pair of glossy knee-highs emblazoned with equestrian hardware. While we’ve seen a lot of Sloane Ranger styling of late, with knee-highs tucked into leggings or paired with a rugby shirt, there is something effortless about stepping away from the tweed and pairing these boots with a wisp-of-a-thing slip dress.
SIMONE ROCHA
Lace-Trimmed Slip Dress
TOTÊME
Black ‘The Riding Boot’ Tall Boots
“One-and-done dress” + ankle boots
This fashion month, Vogue’s Emily Chan has embraced the “one and done” dress, wearing a statement midi by the likes of Chopova Lowena or Simone Rocha, with a Worn Vintage leather coat and a pair of black leather ATP Atelier boots. “There’s something I find refreshingly easy about the one-and-done dress – I look like I’ve made an effort without really trying,” she previously wrote about her spring 2025 mood.
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CHOPOVA LOWENA
Afly Deco Carabiner Dress
VAGABOND
Nour Boots
Cream summer skirt + chunky boots
This fashion month we saw a lot of summery white or cream looks grounded with chunky black boots, which make these high-summer pieces feel more seasonally appropriate. For spring days, when it’s a little too risky to ditch the layers, double up on knitwear and leave your coat at home.
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ARKET
Drape Maxi Skirt
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JIMMY CHOO
Youth II Buckled Leather Ankle Boots
Skinny jeans + knee-high boots
Earlier this fashion month, we declared that the Noughties boot tuck was a key styling trick that emerged from New York Fashion Week. “I’m living by my own mantra that skinny jeans walked so jeans in boots could run,” Vogue’s Julia Hobbs previously said of this look. “My barrel-leg denim and slouchy oversized cuts are in storage – right now, I’m pretty much glued into a pair of narrow vintage Levi’s tucked into knee-highs. What started as a tongue-in-cheek take on 2010s ‘date-night dressing’ has become my everyday uniform.”
FRAME
Pencil Super Stretch Mid-Rise Skinny Jeans
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ARKET
Knee-High Leather Boots
Check skirt + square-toe boots
A ’90s grunge mood has swept the spring collections, with the likes of Acne Studios, Bottega Veneta and Burberry swerving delicate florals for moody plaid prints that have a Kurt Cobain energy to them. The easiest way to tap into this look is with a punky, flowing skirt worn with leather boots — the square-toe detail here gives the outfit an extra edge.
ZARA
Checked Midi-Skirt
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COS
Square-Toe Leather Knee-High Boots
Straight-leg jeans + ankle boots
This is a classic pairing that will always be popular each spring, as a pair of light wash, straight-leg denim goes perfectly with black heeled ankle boots. Add a T-shirt or a leather jacket, and you have a chic, timeless weekend outfit.
GOOD AMERICAN
Good ’90s Carpenter Jeans
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TOTÊME
Leather Ankle Boots
Shrunken trench + pointed boots
This outfit is completely making me rethink leggings, as the skin-tight bottom half only further emphasises the dramatic proportions of this souped-up trench coat, which has a shrunken length, but plenty of volume. Ballet pumps or trainers could easily throw off this outfit, but the pointed ankle boot and statement gold jewellery makes it clear you’re not travelling to or back from Pilates.
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MARKS & SPENCER
Cotton Rich Short Trench Coat
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KHAITE
Nevada Leather Ankle Boots
Camel skirt + block heel boots
A friend messaged me the other day to ask “what shoes should I wear now with midi-dresses and skirts?”, explaining that she is getting tired of the trainers and pretty dress combo, as she always feels a little scruffy. The answer is a pair of glossy ankle boots that sit just below the hem – for inspiration, look no further than this camel denim skirt that is styled with a 10k-a-day chunky heel.
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MAX MARA
Pleated Water-Repellent Taffeta Skirt
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& OTHER STORIES
Leather Sock Boots
