We’ve not had much of a summer, have we? Short, sharp bursts of sun and oppressive heat cut through monsoon-like stretches of rain and grey skies. It’s made dressing through the last few months a turbulent game of dice with the four seasons in one day. Denim maxis trail through puddles, summer dresses fly up around necks in the hurtling winds – precarious weather does not a chic outfit make. And as we lurch toward autumn, transitional-weather friendly footwear remains a serious question. And I have the answer.
You’ll have seen them on Dua Lipa, Rita Ora, Olivia Neill, and all your fave cool-girl influencers. They’re strong and bold, and pair as easily with a sweet little minidress as they do under a wide-leg jean or the denim look du jour, the jort... Behold, the biker boot.
It’s a nostalgic and familiar shoe for sure, but forget the steampunk aesthetics or early aughts originators for now. The celeb girls are pulling on Miu Miu’s chunky version, but that (OFC) comes with a hefty, hefty price-tag. Vagabond’s Eyra boot is a revelation that’ll last you through the seasonal switch-ups and trend cycles.
The Swedish brand’s boots have sold out several times over for a reason. They’ve got a striking square-toe perfect for stomping across the last festival of the holidays, through the changing leaves or tapping the pavement outside your local pub as the temperatures drop.
I copped them in the oily brown, which goes with all the current colour palettes I’ve been cycling through with my wardrobe: soft pinks, bright reds, cornflower blues. Vagabond's Atelier collection – a premium capsule which launches later in September – continues the biker boot style, and also includes key footwear like penny loafers, riding boots, Mary Janes and ballet flats.
And if you’re looking for alternatives, Free People, Steve Madden, and Reformation all have their own iterations of the buckled boot. Elsewhere, Depop, Vinted and eBay are abuzz with secondhand versions – try searching for Harley Davidson, Frye, and Sergio Rossi. Key search words when diving into the vintage and secondhand sites are also ‘harness boots’, ‘buckle boots’, ‘motorcycle boots’, ‘Moto boots’. Happy hunting!
Still can’t quite shake the Kate Moss and Sienna Miller at Glastonbury circa 2010 feeling? Well, I believe that a good biker boot affords a toughed up nonchalance that stands the test of time. Bring it up to 2023 sartorial speed with contrasting shades on the rest of your body: think chic tailored workwear, or the balletic tulle and feminine silks – there really is something in the wrong shoe theory TikTok is currently obsessed with. Vroom, vroom.
H&M Biker boots
Vagabond Eyra Boots
Reformation Francesca Moto Boot
Miu Miu Lifestyle Boot
Bershka Biker boots with buckles and eyelets
Paris Texas Roxy leather knee-high boots
Free People We The Free Janey Engineer Boots
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