As you know, I LOVE ankle boots! As my style has evolved over the years ankle boots have remained a constant, and as a result, I’ve recently started expanding my collection. Though I could certainly maintain a functional wardrobe with a single pair of basic leather Chelsea boots, I’ve started adding different colors and silhouettes into my closet and one of the best surprises in all of it has been how much I like lace-up ankle boots!
I love the silhouette they give and how they dress up even my basic outfits and for me and my personal style, I like wearing them with everything from pants to skirts and dresses. Plus, when I did my style consultation with Rachel last year, she recommended “traditional, feminine lace up boots.”
Specifically within the category of lace-up ankle boots, I have basic black of course (since it’s one of the key colors of my wardrobe) but I’ve started adding in more rich burgundy. Since figuring out my wardrobe color palette and the colors that I feel my best in, rich burgundy blends better with my wardrobe than a traditional, warm toned brown. Plus, there’s something so unexpected and beautiful about a perfectly died burgundy shoe that I just love.
At the moment, I have one pair of burgundy brown lace-up ankle boots that I bought before I went to Ireland and they were not only perfect for my trip, but I continue to wear and love them. That said though, the silhouette I chose was purposefully rugged and I’ve decided after wearing those for a few years that a dressier, slimmer style would serve my wardrobe well. Something that sits closer to the foot and has narrower sole would be a welcome addition to my favorite outfits - especially when wearing all navy or all white/cream.
Unsurprisingly, my next step whenever I’m interested in adding something new to my wardrobe is to see what’s available. I do this before I even add something to my wish list, and I use it as a way to really narrow in on specifically what I’m interested in. This takes it from a general thought to something concrete.
To do this, I like to check the brands I already own and love and then do a quick search for new suggestions in order to gather a list of options. Once I have those options, I like to compare and contrast. I go over everything from price to the construction and of course the look. If they don’t look right then I won’t wear them - even if they’re the most beautifully constructed shoes.
So, that brings us to where I am now. Below, I’ve outlined the boots I currently have my eye on with a quick overview. This includes a comparison of the silhouette from the side and the top and of course the price.
Doing this helps me see the profile and how thick or thin they look and allows me to easily compare them to what I already own - in the burgundy box at the bottom. Also, I can easily see which pairs clearly lean more brown and which are closer to the rich burgundy I’m after. From there I like to list out the different construction points so that I have them for easy reference and figure out which will be the best for me. Since the pair I have was purchased as an introduction to this category, I didn’t mind some lower end finishings.
For example, the pair I have has basic rubber soles rather than Dainite rubber soles which are considered to be the best. That, plus considering a standard leather sole for a sleeker fit are all things I’m weighing before making a choice. Also, the leather isn’t the top of the top and as a result, they still look great but definitely have more visible creasing after wearing them for a few years.
And finally, since my objective is to add a pair to my closet that’s slightly dressier than what I already have, things like broguing are worth considering, as well as the thickness and style of the laces and grommets. Below you can see a quick overview of the 4 pairs I’m considering and I’ve linked them all under the picture if you’re interested in any yourself.
Top to bottom, left to right:
Toast x Cheaney Boots / Cheaney Olivia R Wingtip Boot / Cheaney Tarran GV Derby Boot / Crockett & Jones Olivia Boot / Crockett & Jones Jane Boots
