A Truly Remarkable Boot Edit for Fall

(If I do say so myself.)

This week: Boot weather is here, and I’ve done the hard work for you — a tight, deliberate edit of pairs worth your time (and closet space). From sculptural heels to walkable wonders, these are the boots that actually make sense for women with LIVES to LEAD. p.s. If you enjoy this post, don’t forget to ❤️ it!

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don’t know about you but I would commit crimes for these

Boots are having a moment in my apartment—or more accurately, in my coat closet. A quick scan reveals seventeen pairs. Seventeen. That feels… excessive, right? But after a lifetime in and around the fashion industry (and a few too many hours on Substack this week), my sense of what’s “a lot” may be permanently warped.

My most-worn pairs? Easy. For me, an ankle boot almost always works best (though knee-high and OTK have their place). Long-gone, pearl-embellished Nicholas Kirkwoods (I found a pair on Poshmark for the 7.5s among us) and Christian Louboutin’s Horse Guarda combat-style boots in a runway-only blue/black colorway that never made it to stores (here’s an all-black pair on The RealReal for the 8.5s) are the pairs I reach for most. They’re impossible to replace, so naturally I wear them constantly.

That said, even with seventeen pairs, I still feel a few gaps in my boot wardrobe. First of all, it skews heavily black—lots of leather, hardware galore. (What can I say? I like what I like.) A dose of bold color and rich fall textures would add the diversity I’m craving. So I took a long browse and pulled what I consider the best boots on the market at the moment—boots with longevity, versatility, and luxe details.

Boots require serious consideration, after all. There’s simply more surface area to get wrong. The toe shape, the heel height, the shaft width—each one can ruin an otherwise perfect design. And walkability is non-negotiable. Once upon a time, I lived in 100mm heels; now a single glance at Aquazzura’s 105mm velvet knee-highs could bring me to my knees—and possibly to tears. Living in New York, being in your 40s and feeling constantly on the edge of emotional collapse will do that to a person.

Still, there’s no shortage of boots on the market. MyTheresa alone lists 1,382 SKUs. Which is precisely why I’ve done the hard work for you—paring it down to a tight, deliberate, deeply considered edit that prioritizes silhouette, specialness, walkability, and closet longevity.

Behold: boots worth your time, your budget:

is it wrong to want them all?

From top right:

• A hint of Western, per usual, from Isabel Marant

• Seventies glam from Loeffler Randall (these too are so good)

• A deceptively simple riding boot from Gucci

• A super soft velvet OTK from Aquazzura

• Tory Burch keeps nailing the hardware (I’m still coveting these…)

• Super luxe texture and a sophisticated silhouette from Toteme

• A maximalist snakeskin pair by Freda Salvador

• The perfect OTK silhouette from Nomasei

And, when you see a price tag that makes you cringe, remember:

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• It’s still light jacket season, and I love the vibrancy and shine of this 60’s-inspired silhouette from Imogene & Willie.

• It’s a little early for my tastes to talk holiday, but I will say that the New York City Ballet partnered with Anthropologie on a sweet and festive little collaboration.

• I swirled some Bonne Maman Pumpkin Spice spread into this Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffin recipe last weekend and have no regrets.

• The trailer for Emily in Paris Rome? Season 5 has been released!

• And last but not least, the pod is back after a two-month hiatus. Last week’s episode featured best-selling romance author, onetime beauty blogger, and generally hilarious person Tia Williams. Tune in here on Substack, Apple Podcasts or Spotify:

  Tia Williams on Blogging, Beauty, and Becoming a Bestselling Author

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Chat soon,
Dina

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