Trend Lowdown
While Western boots and dad sneakers may be two of the buzziest footwear trends for fall ’18, the combat boot is poised to be one of the biggest, most wearable shoes of the season. Styles from Christian Louboutin, March Fisher, Philip Lam and more will be a hit.
What You Need to Know
The combat-hiker hybrid has slowly gained traction (pun intended) since pre-fall, when Gucci began to show a modified hiker boot complete with bejeweled accents. Since then, the boot has made its way to just about every collection in some form.
Function and Fashion
The boot is a technical shoe that was originally designed to be worn during combat or combat training, and it gives a good grip, ankle stability and foot protection for rugged environments.
Though there are different versions of the boot designed for different conditions, most have a similar silhouette that is instantly recognizable. And while the boot has punk, grunge and goth associations, it’s gone mainstream in the past 10 years, and with the rise of the hiking boot, more designers are experimenting with its shapes.
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Inspiration
This season, every company from Gucci to Kendall + Kylie has the boot in its collection, and they range from truly spartan, with hardened black leather and nothing else, to pink-hued, metallic — and even accented with pearls and jewels.
How to Wear It
The easiest way to wear them for fall is with a loose, feminine dress or skirt with a knee-length or midi hemline, a silhouette with accents that will balance out the toughness of the boot (keep the hemline up above the floor to both show off the boot and avoid a monster-foot outline under fabric).
