Lindsay lohan swears by her white stretch pair with futuristic designs. Bipasha Basu loves her pair of shooties from Neiman Marcus, while Lara Dutta loves hers in soft suede. If there’s one trend that fashionistas the world over agree on, it’s that the only way to be warm and hip in winter is to get yourself a dishy pair of boots.“It’s the sexiest pair of accessory to have in your winter wardrobe—something that goes with any kind of outfit,” says Tika Shatrujit Singh, advisor to the Louis Vuitton group in India. Vuitton’s autumn-winter collection comes for anything between Rs 30,000 and a lakh and has some interesting heels to choose from, including cylindrical ones.The trend forecast for the season has already touted skinny bottoms as the next big thing. So while you stock up on those drainpipe jeans and brightly patterned leggings, you also need to go with the flow and get yourself a pair of stylish clogs. Thigh-high or knee-height boots have always been a hot favourite but you now have several other options to choose from. Lace-up boots with wedge heels have done the rounds of the catwalks of Europe and are now a must-have for those who prefer girlie chic. Aigner, for instance, has these beautiful boots in patent leather, which costs between Rs 25,000 and Rs 35,000 and has some great surface detailing.Go-go boots, as the knee-high boots with ultra-low heels are called, have always been a popular choice. This season, brands like Gucci are giving it a new spin. Their newly opened stores in Delhi and Mumbai have knee-high boots in black patent leather with bamboo detailing. But be warned, at Rs 85,000 it might burn a sizeable hole in your pocket. Giannini’s inspiration this season is Lee Miller, the 1940s model and photographer who will be commemorated next year at an exhibition in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. So the new collection from the brand focuses essentially on sharper silhouettes—particularly, sculpted toes with a metal bottom as well as shorter stilettos.When you are talking shoes, there’s no way you can leave out Jimmy Choo. The brand that is now available in India, courtesy the Murjani group, has a wide array of boots in their autumn-winter collection that are priced from Rs 35,000 onwards. Skinny heels with ingenious cutaways give a startling effect to their booties—ankle-length boots—while the colours border on metallic and have a glossy sheen. The focus is also on embellishments like oblong buckles, cigarette heels and square toes. Black is still popular, but bronze and steel have an equally strong following. “We have a quieter approach to glamour this season. Decorative elements have an arts and crafts feel and the final punch to this elegant collection is an exclusive provocative bold zip detail,” says Angelique O’Brien, business head, Murjani Group.Keeping in mind that heels are the focal point this year, Salvatore Ferragamo has come up with some great options. Their heels can go up to 13.5 inches. Some are made of wood and supported by a platform 8.5 inches high so that your feet attains the height without the discomfort of the arch. From mink embellishments to Celtic cuts to luxurious crocodile straps, the boots from Ferragamo, which start at Rs 35,000, will ensure that you stand tall and stand out in the crowd. “The thing to remember when you are buying boots is where you are going to wear it. For instance, in a weather like Mumbai’s, wearing fur boots won’t work. Shooties are something everybody can safely get for their wardrobe this season,” says a spokesperson from Ferragamo.The retro look is in, so alongside conservative colours like black and grey, bright tones like burgundy, red, moss green, gold and metallic hues are popular. And in case you are thinking of comfort, then you can take a leaf out of Karl Lagerfeld’s book. At his autumn-winter showing, Chanel’s chief designer had models take to the catwalk in gaiter boots. (Gaiters are leather or cloth coverings for the entire leg from the knee to the instep or from the ankle to the instep.) If you want to be toasty warm, then that’s an option you could explore.With so much variety to choose from, rest assured you’ll be spoilt for choice.So ladies, this winter, walk warm and walk in style.
