Boots
Oct 7, 2022

Honestly, These Boot Trends Feel a Little Dated—4 That Are So Much Fresher

by Maxine Eggenberger

Is there anything as gratifying as treating yourself to a new pair of boots come fall? Opening up the box, pulling out the stuffing, and getting a whiff of that fresh-boot smell? Just me? Moving swiftly on… Still, there's no denying that boots form a pretty integral part of our aesthetics in the colder months. Over the past few years, I've made a point of making sound boot investments, choosing styles that prioritize timelessness over anything too trendy. But that doesn't mean that some boots don't start to feel dated after time—even pairs I know are pretty classic can lose their appeal after a couple of years in the midst of a flurry of new styles to choose from.

This got me thinking—I know which boot trends I think are a little dated, but which boot trends do my fellow editors think are dated? Would we pick the same styles? Or would we disagree entirely? There's only one way to find out. Scroll on the see the four dated boot trends our editors are passing on this year, balanced out with the boot trends they're looking forward to wearing in 2022.

Photo:

COURTESY OF NANUSHKA

Dated: Shoe Boots
They had their moment in the 2010s, but now the hoof-like shoe boots feel really outmoded. Also, did we not notice how unflattering they were at the time?

Fresh: Classic Knee Boots
Timeless and elegant, there are lots around right now thanks to them experiencing a bit of a renaissance. But they won't ever be a bad purchase, and you can pull them out decade after decade.

Photo:

@femmeblk

Now, shop Hannah's edit of the best knee-high boots.

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COURTESY OF STELLA MCCARTNEY

Dated: Round Toes
Although I would never tell anyone to get rid of or avoid buying round-toe shoes (they are pretty classic after all), do I think they're the coolest boots on the block? Not by a long shot. Which style is then? Read on…

Fresh: Square Toes
They've been around for a while, but I'm still an ardent fan of square-toe boots. There's just something about them that feels so high-end; they're directional without being over-the-top or daunting to try. Yep, any boot you find on my feet this season will come squared off as standard.

Photo:

@champagnemani

Now, shop Emily's edit of the best square-toe boots.

Photo:

COURRÈGES VIA GETTY IMAGES

Dated: Rubberized Boots
I get it—no one likes to get their feet wet, but just sort yourself out with a pair of welly boots, and be done with it. I don't understand the appeal of Bottega Veneta's rubberized boots and never will.

Fresh: Silver Boots
This week, I find myself consistently daydreaming about Arket's pair of silver knee-high boots. They're fun and undisputedly fabulous—what more could you ask for in a pair of boots? I'll wait.

Photo:

@styleidealist

Now, shop Remy's edit of the best silver boots.

Photo:

COURTESY OF SAINT LAURENT

Dated: Hiker Boots
I'll admit I've never been that sold on the hiker-boot trend. I own hiking boots, and that's precisely what I use them for—hiking. But there's something about seeing people wearing hiking boots to hit the shops that resonates the same as seeing someone pop to the Tesco down the road in their Range Rover—it's just a little unnecessary. But hey, that's just me!

Fresh: Pointed Boots
Moving away from the practicality of the boots mentioned above, this season I'm leaning towards the super-high stiletto styles that the likes of Saint Laurent went big on for 2022. Okay, so these likely won’t be the most comfortable boots I’ll ever own, but who cares when they look so fabulous?