STYLE

14 Chic Boots and Booties That Are Worth the Investment

14 Worth-It Women’s Boots and Booties

Are you on the hunt for an “it” pair of boots or booties this fall/winter? A great pair of boots can add some glam, edge, or sophistication to your outfit—depending on the look you’re going for. Maybe you’re searching for that go-to boot that’s both fashionable and functional. OR, maybe you want something that makes more of a statement! Whatever you’re looking for…the list of 12 boots and booties below is sure to check all the boxes…

Chic Women's Boots and Booties

Are Booties Still In Style?

Since I live in a cooler climate, I have quite a collection of boots and booties. Everything from the must-have staples that are stylish and versatile to the trendy boots and booties that have only been on the scene for a season. So for me and my lifestyle, boots and booties will always be in style! If you love boots and booties as much as I do, you’re in luck because pretty much every style of boots and booties is on-trend right now. That goes for all shoe trends really. But some of the top trends right now include platform boots, boots with buckles like combat boots, architecturally detailed heels, knee-high boots, slouchy boots, western-inspired boots, and lug sole boots.

A note before we dive in…most of these booties are at a higher price point and an investment. But they are shoes you will wear for years and years. If they are out of your budget, just take them as inspiration. There are TONS of options out there that look similar and cost less.

See by Chloe Combat Boots | Womens Boots and Booties

See by Chloe Combat Boots

The first pair of booties I want to share is trendy, but still very versatile and stylish. I’ve had these See by Chloe combat boots for a few years, and I have to admit that when I first bought them, they were out of my comfort zone. But now, I wear them all. the. time. They’re such a cool way to add some edge and really elevate your look, they’re super comfortable, and had virtually no break-in time. They’re at a higher price point but worth the investment. You can wear them with jeans or leggings for a casual outfit. But I also love wearing combat boots with dresses and skirts to create that contrast between feminine and masculine styles!

Stuart Weitzman Black Sock Booties | Women's Boots and Booties

Stuart Weitzman Black Sock Booties

If you’re looking for a pair of dressy booties, these Stuart Weitzman sock booties are perfect! I’ve had these booties for years and love how comfortable and versatile they are. They’re fitted to the leg, which adds a level of sophistication, elegance, and modernity, versus an open bootie that’s less fitted to the ankle. I’ve gotten a lot of questions about how to wear the new denim trends with booties because the baggier fit can be confusing. But with these ankle booties, it takes the guesswork out of it. The answer is to simply do nothing.

If you’re looking for more tips on wearing ankle boots with jeans, make sure you check out this post.

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Isabel Marant Western Boots

Western boots and western-inspired boots are very on trend right now. You can go with a more traditional cowboy boot option, or you can find something with a little more interest. After living in Texas for so long, I wanted to find a pair of cowboy boots…but with a twist! That’s when I saw these Isabel Marant boots and fell in love. Aren’t these just the MOST gorgeous boots?! They are serious showstoppers and really make a statement. I’ve worn these with everything from jeans to leather pants, skirts, and dresses and they are absolutely more versatile than you’d think! The subtle western details are on-trend but not over the top. I’m wearing them in black leather in these photos, and they also come in other colors. Yes, they are a splurge, but if you want a killer pair of boots this fall/winter to pair with all your wardrobe basics, these foot the bill (pun intended!).

Paris Texas El Dorado Knee High Boots killer brown boots | Women's Boots and Booties

Paris Texas El Dorado Knee High Boots

If you liked the western details of the last pair of booties, then you’re going to love these! These gorgeous Paris Texas knee-high boots are such a chic (but subtle) and easy way to wear the western trend. But they’re still a great pair of basic knee-high boots. This brand has become super popular over the past 3-4 years and it’s easy to see why! All of their boots are so stylish, luxurious, and the perfect mix of classic and trendy. These beautiful camel brown boots have a pointed toe, chunky block heel that makes them easy to walk in, and subtle western-inspired stitching. I styled these boots with a pair of skinny jeans but some other outfit ideas are wearing them with a sweater dress, flowy floral dress, or pretty pleated skirt.

More boots by Paris Texas here.

Veronica Beard Brown Knee High Boots

Veronica Beard Brown Knee High Boots

Every woman needs a classic knee-high boot in their closet. These brown suede knee-high boots by Veronica Beard are fabulous! They are the perfect brown, the suede is very smooth and high-quality, and they’re very comfortable (for heels). The stiletto heels make them a bit dressier so if you prefer a more casual look, I’d go with a chunky heel like these.

Find more ways to wear these boots in this roundup of 35 Thanksgiving outfits.

Schutz Black Knee-High Boots | Womens Boots and Booties

Schutz Black Knee-High Boots

Need some black knee-high boots instead of brown? These Schutz black boots are the best! I love them so much, I bought them twice–both in black and python. They also come in a few other colors too! Schutz makes really great shoes that are stylish and comfortable…and these tall sexy boots are no exception. They look great with everything from jeans to skirts to dresses…I recently wore them with a knit sweater dress in this post but I also love how they look with jeans.

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Balmain Black & White Booties

These are a wild card but SO gorgeous! I love the black and white color combo, the gold button details, and the skinny gold stiletto heel. The pointed toe is also elongating and flattering. I’ve already styled them with this dress but I can’t wait to style them with more outfits this fall/winter! These heeled ankle boots are a great option if you already have all of your basics covered and just want to infuse some FUN into your outfits. The white leather option is currently sold out, but I linked the black leather, which will be even more versatile!

Veronica Beard Platform Booties

Veronica Beard Platform Booties

A big trend this season?? Platforms! I don’t have the best photos of them, BUT, the black suede platform booties by Veronica Beard that I’m wearing above are amazing. They look super high, but trust me…they’re really comfortable (for heels) and super easy to walk in.  (I just wore these out to dinner three times in NYC.) These booties have a dressy, slim heel (rather than chunky) but it’s not so slim that it is hard to walk in. My YouTube co-producer Denise ordered them and said she was able to walk to dinner and wear them for a few hours with no discomfort right out of the box! She said they may even be her favorite purchase of the season…which is seriously high praise! (Denise loves clothes like me.)

Steve Madden Lug Sole Booties

Steve Madden Lug Sole Booties

I recently featured these black lug-sole ankle boots and 4 chic ways to wear them in this post. If you’re an email subscriber, you’ve seen these booties before. I bought them last year and wore them so much while we lived in Spain that I decided to buy a second pair! I love the chunky platform lug sole, rounded toe, stretchy fabric around the ankle, and block heel (2.5”). Chunky soled booties are very on-trend right now and these are a great option to try the trend for under $100. They’re really comfortable and easy to walk in. (They can be trickier to get on and off. I wouldn’t recommend these for wider feet.) By the way, if you prefer a shorter shaft height on your booties, this pair is very similar, by the same brand, and will give you the same on-trend look.

Sam Edelman Brown Hilary Booties Sam Edelman Brown Booties | Women's Boots and Booties

Sam Edelman Brown Hilary Booties

This pair of brown booties is an oldie, but a goodie…especially if you’re looking for a pair of classic brown boots you can wear with everything. These Sam Edelman booties were a Busbee best seller for a few months in 2020-2021 and I am not surprised! They’re super comfortable, have a low heel, and are so versatile. And I love that they have a side zip because convenience is key. Most days I want to put something on fast and not waste time lacing or trying to cram my feet into boots.

Ecco Block Heel Ankle Boots

Ecco Block Heel Ankle Boots

Ecco is known for its comfort shoes so I wanted to share an option I’ve had for years that are the perfect basic. They have a convenient side zip, block heel, are super versatile, are the perfect black/brown, and have comfort technology the brand is well-known for. Since they’re so old, the exact pair is sold out. But the updated pair is linked here. And if you want more color options, in the updated version, check out this pair.

Dolce Vita Brown Booties

Dolce Vita Brown Booties

Next up is a pair of brown suede western-inspired booties by Dolce Vita that are very on-trend right now and are perfect for fall. I’ve already worn them a TON with jeans, dresses, and skirts. They’re super comfortable, have a manageable block heel (2.75”) that makes them easy to walk in, and elongating pointed toe. Sizes are selling out fast so if you don’t see your size, check out this pair that’s very similar.

Chic Womens Boots and Booties

Dolce Vita Off-White Huey Chelsea Boots

For a fresh and light take on the lug sole Chelsea boot, I’m loving this white pair! I bought these while we were living in Spain last year and wore them with everything from white jeans to a skirt AND a dress on a trip to Barcelona. These are unexpected, run true to size and there was no breaking-in period which is always a bonus. They come in a bunch of different color options too.

Jenni Kayne Black Booties | Women's Boots and Booties

Jenni Kayne Black Booties

If you’re looking for a classic pair of black booties that you can wear with everything, this pair by Jenni Kayne is a great option! They’re currently sold out in the black but I still wanted to share them as an option in case they come back in stock. They’re super comfortable, don’t have a heel (which is often requested by our wonderful community), and are very versatile. They run true to size and also come in taupe, brown, green, and gray.

Which pair is your favorite? Do you have questions on how to style your boots and booties? Let us know how we can help in the comments below.

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Thank you SO much for stopping by!

erin busbee

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