If there’s one good thing about the weather turning colder, it’s the chance to wear stylish winter boots. In this article, you’ll find the best winter boots for women in stores now.
A great pair of boots can not only keep you warm and dry, but can give an outfit real impact.
We show you the best winter boots for women that you won’t be able to resist.
Why a pair of women’s winter boots can elevate your style
A great pair of boots can make a huge difference to the overall look of your outfit.
Just think about the difference a pair of knee-length boots can make to even the simplest of outfits.
A pair of boots added to a classic outfit of jeans and a sweater will make it instantly special.
You will wear your boots many times over the winter season, so it’s definitely worth investing in a pair of the best winter boots for women that you love.
What are the essential boots for your closet?
Of course, you can just choose one pair of boots for winter, but ideally, you will have different boots to take you through different occasions, and different weather. Below are the boot styles you might like to choose when looking for the best winter boots for women:
1. best winter boots for women – A pair of knee-high riding boots
You could opt for a heel, but riding boots are traditionally flat, making them a versatile option for casual days.
Susan @susanjakovina above wears knee high boots with her leather pants.
Recreate her outfit with this similar blouse, leather pants, knee high boots and earrings.
DREAM PAIRS Knee High Stretchy Boots
Take a look at the shoe trends for fall and winter 2022 and you’ll see that equestrian-inspired boots are particularly on-trend right now.
2. A pair of take-you-anywhere ankle booties
Such a great transitional investment, ankle booties can take your summer dresses into fall. Just add a pair of tights or leggings and a moto jacket and you’re good to go.
Franco Sarto Waxton Ankle Boot
Amazon / Zappos / Nordstrom
3. A pair of dress boots
You might want a dressier pair of boots that you can wear to the office, or for dinner, or with your little black dress. These could be heeled or flat.
CAVERLEY Pollie Boots
4. A pair of snow boots or wellingtons
Boots don’t just have to look great. They also have to be functional in cold and wet weather. If you live or are visiting somewhere where you may get rain, slush and snow, you may also want a pair of snow boots.
DREAM PAIRS Mid Calf Winter Snow Boot
How to choose a pair of stylish winter boots
But, first, how to choose a pair of winter boots? Here are some questions to ask yourself.
Do I want a timeless pair or a trendy option?
If you are looking to build up a capsule wardrobe that you can wear year after year, you will want a timeless pair (or pairs) of boots like a classic pair of Chelsea ankle booties or a pair of knee-high riding boots.
The best winter boots for women will be different for everyone depending on your style.
But, if you already have those things in your closet, you might choose to add a pair of boots in a style that is bang-on trend for this season.
Yvonne @funkyforty above (read her style interview here) opts for a pair of black lace up boots that will go with countless outfits.
Check out this printed skirt (plain option here) that you can wear with this similar sweater, boots, belt, tote (another option here), beanie and sunglasses.
What weather will my boots have to withstand?
Obviously, you are looking for boots which are both practical AND stylish. But which is most important to you?
If your boots need to withstand wet or snowy outdoor weather, you will need to make sure that they are functional as well as choosing a style you love.
What do I want to wear underneath?
If you are choosing your boots for walking through snow or rain, you may wish to make sure that you can fit a pair of thick socks on with them.
Or, if you are wearing just with a pair of opaque tights and a dress, you can look for a pair of boots with a snugger fit.
What will I be using them for?
Are your boots for casual walks, for example? Or will you be wearing them to work? Or for a night out to wear with a dress?
Diana @dianagabrielnyc above (read her style interview here) opts for low-heeled ankle booties.
Check out this printed jacket that you can wear with this similar pair of pants, boots, tassel earrings and sunglasses.
How much are you prepared to maintain them?
For instance, if you choose a pair of suede boots, you will have to make sure you use a protective spray and try to avoid wet weather if you can.
A leather pair will be easier to clean.
What heel height am I happy with?
This will partly come down to how happy you are in heels on a day-to-day basis, but also what you are using your boots for.
If you are just heading to dinner and sitting down, a three-inch heel is fine, for example, but you don’t want to be tottering around in the snow in heels.
Do I want a comfort option?
If you have plantar fasciitis, for example, or need arch support, you may prefer to choose a comfort brand of boots.
What is my style personality?
A pair of boots can express your style personality like no other item in your closet.
Sharryn @thestylishwoman above (read her style interview here) wears her tan booties with animal print.
Steal her look with this similar top, leopard printed pants, booties, earrings and headband.
If you aren’t sure what your style personality is, you can take this fun quiz to find out.
The best winter boots for women this season
So, having thought about what boots you already have in your closet, and where the gaps in your wardrobe are, which are the best boots to buy this season? Below you’ll find some of my favorites in stores now:
long boots
A classic pair of knee-high boots will never go out of style.
If you have a classic style personality, these are the perfect addition to your closet.
Natalia @nodin.stylish.me above opts for a pair of high boots in cream.
Check out this similar turtleneck top, skirt, coat, boots, scarf, beret and sunglasses.
naturalizer
The Naturalizer booties below have a riding-boot style, and would be ideal to wear over skinny jeans or leggings. Reviewers say they are comfortable, well-fitting and have plenty of room in the calves.
Naturalizer Jessie Knee High Boot
Amazon / Zappos / Nordstrom
dream pair boot
If you’re looking for an inexpensive option to add to your boot collection, the Dream Pairs riding boots from Amazon are well reviewed and come in a good choice of colors. Reviewers say they are comfortable and soft as well as being a good options for wide calves.
DREAM PAIRS Wide Calf Winter Knee High Boots
boden boots
If you like a dark color but want something different to black, navy could be the perfect option. The Boden navy boots (below) are a classic that you will usually find in stock each winter season. As these are a dressy option, you could wear with your jeans or under your dresses and skirts.
Boden Round Toe Stretch Boots
SAm edelman
Or, you could, of course, add a lighter color to your outfit with your boots. The Sam Edelman boots (below) come in a good choice of neutrals. The paler shade (below) could be a good transitional choice. You could wear over your white jeans, or under your summer dresses.
Sam Edelman Annabel Knee High Boot
Zappos / Nordstrom
frye boots
Frye’s knee-high boots have a comfortable low heel. They come in a good choice of black, brown and burgundy neutral shades, and reviewers say they look classy and fit like a glove.
Frye Melissa Button 2 Riding Boot
over the knee
A pair of over-the-knee boots can add real impact to your outfit.
If you still like to keep your look fairly low-key, you could wear with a simple pair of skinny jeans and a sweater, along with your winter coat.
dream pairs
I think the pale gray shade of the DREAM PAIRS thigh high boots (below) would look good worn with either your blue jeans, black leggings or with a pair of white skinny jeans. They have more than 7,000 largely good reviews with women saying they stay up your legs and have a comfortable heel height. If gray isn’t your color, you’ll find they come in a huge choice of shades.
DREAM PAIRS Thigh High Chunky Heel Boots
kenneth cole reaction
Of course, a pair of black boots is always a classic. You’ll be able to wear Kenneth Cole REACTION boots (below) year-after-year. I like the fact they have stretch fabric at the back to create a better fit and make them easier to get on.
Kenneth Cole REACTION Wind-y Boot
Amazon / Zappos
cordani
Cordani’s boots (below) are made in Italy and they feature a stretchy side panel for a better fit.
Cordani Bethany Over the Knee Boot
Amazon / Nordstrom
ankle boots
Another great boot style to choose is a pair of ankle boots that you can wear when the weather starts to cool down.
Judith @stylecrone above (read her style interview here) opts for a pair of dressy kitten heel boots that would be perfect for dinner or evening events.
Get her look with this similar turtleneck top, coat, pants, booties, necklace and hat.
lucky brand boots
The Lucky Brand boots (below) would look good with your jeans and sweaters for everyday wear. They come in a huge range of colors, and have more than 10,000 reviews from women who say they are comfortable and chic.
Lucky Brand Basel Ankle Bootie
Amazon / Zappos / Nordstrom
allegra k
For a dressy option to go with your dinner outfits or for work, you could try a pair of kitten-heeled booties. The booties below come in a choice of shades, including the emerald green (below).
Allegra K Zip Kitten Heel Ankle Bootie
coutgo
The heeled booties (below) have a Western look that would look good with your jeans. You can choose everything from white, through beige, browns and black. Reviewers say the height falls at the right place to give a slimming look to your ankles.
Coutgo Pointed Toe Elastic Panel Booties
LifeStride Bootie
The braided details on the LifeStride booties (below) adds interest. One reviewer described them as the most comfortable shoes ever.
LifeStride Adriana Booties
Amazon / Zappos
paul green
Paul Green’s booties (below) stand out because of the textured stripe detailing across the front.
Paul Green Malibu Sliced Zip Bootie
Zappos / Nordstrom
animal print
Of course, you don’t have to opt for plain shades when it comes to your booties. If you want a print, animal print will always be on-trend.
Kenneth Cole REACTION Side Way Ankle Boot
silver booties
One of my favorite pairs of boots that I’ve spotted in stores this season, the Unity in Diversity silver booties tie in perfectly with the metallic boot trend for fall. I also like the unusual zip detailing at the sides. I think you could easily wear with pants or dresses.
Unity in Diversity Panache Bootie
lug boots
Lug soles are another big trend this year.
Claudia @glamupyourlifestyle above (read her style interview here) wears her lug sole boots with her slim jeans. Note she opts for a pair of crop jeans to show off her booties.
Steal her look with this similar long sleeve top, vest, jeans, lug sole boots and handbag.
Fly london lug sole boot
In a choice of green, blue, gray and black, the Fly London Bagu boots (below) feature a platform lug sole.
Fly London Fly Long Bagu Wedge Chelsea Boot
Amazon / Zappos / Nordstrom
steve madden
You could choose black, or a paler shade in the Steve Madden boots (below). The lug sole gives a comfortable way to add a little height.
Steve Madden Howler Boot
Amazon / Zappos / Nordstrom
Black boots
The Sam Edelman boots (below) come in on-trend white or pale beige, or classic black. Reviewers say they’ve had lots of compliments when they wear them. Some say they run a little small so you may want to think about sizing up. The brown that runs around the sole adds a point of difference.
Sam Edelman Laguna Waterproof Lug Sole Chelsea Boot
Amazon / Zappos / Nordstrom
paul green
The buckle around the Paul Green boot (below) adds a flattering effect around the ankle. Reviewers say they are particularly suited to narrow feet.
Paul Green Halo Bootie
juliet holy
The lug sole boots (below) are easy to slip on, thanks to the elastic sides.
Juliet Holy Lug Sole Platform Ankle Boot
DREAM PAIRS
The DREAM PAIRS boots (below) are a very classic style that reviewers say are great value for money, and are a good dupe for more expensive options.
DREAM PAIRS Chelsea Boots
waterproof boots
The Blondo waterproof boots (below) come in a good choice of neutrals and reptile print. They would look good worn with your summer dresses for transitional weather.
Blondo Villa Waterproof Bootie
Another Blondo option for you that is very on-trend currently are the lug sole boots with buckles (below).
Blondo Dagger Waterproof Boot
rain boots
A pair of wellington boots is always a practical option when it’s raining. Or you could choose a lower style of waterproof snow boot.
Joules Molly Welly Rain Boot
Amazon / Zappos / Nordstrom
snow boots
If you are looking for a pair of boots to really keep your feet warm and cozy, it’s worth investing in a stylish pair of snow boots.
Columbia Ice Maiden II Snow Boot
Amazon / Zappos
lace-up boots
A key trend for 2022 is the lace-up boot, whether you choose a casual hiking style boot or a dressier option.
Catherine @notlamb above (read her style interview here) chooses lace-up boots with her midi skirt.
Check out this similar turtleneck top, dress, cardigan, tights, boots, bag, necklace and sunglasses (another option here).
tory burch
The Tory Burch boots (below) manage to look casual and dressy at the same time, thanks to the logo and gold hardware.
Tory Burch Miller Mixed Materials Lug Sole Boot
Tory Burch / Zappos / Nordstrom
allsaints
You could opt for a pair of white or cream boots for winter and fall. Tuck in your blue, black or white jeans.
AllSaints Dusty Cap Toe Combat Boot
vestase
The chunky sole boot (below) comes in a good choice of colors, including this eye-catching red. Reviewers say they are comfortable and they get lots of compliments when wearing them.
Vestase Lug Sole Lace Up Boots
wedges
If you like to wear wedge sandals or espadrilles in the summer, you don’t have to keep up your wedge heels during cooler months.
soul naturalizer
The SOUL Naturalizer boots (below) come in brown or black and feature a memory foam insole. Reviewers say they are stylish and comfortable. One woman particularly recommended these if you have bunions.
SOUL Naturalizer Haley Ankle Boot
ecco
If you love a minimalist style, the ECCO ankle boots (below) will appeal to you.
ECCO Shape 45 Wedge Ankle Boot
ruched or slouchy
You’ve already seen many trends for 2022 and ruching is another one.
Kim @kimair above (read her style interview here) wears ruched boots with her sweater dress.
Get her look with this similar sweater dress (other options here and here), boots (other options here and here), handbag, earrings and sunglasses.
RF ROOM OF FASHION
The slouchy boots (below) come in black or a textured beige shade. Wear with your skinny jeans or leggings, or under your summer dresses to give your outfits longevity during cooler weather.
RF ROOM OF FASHION Slouchy Knee High Boots
Anthropologie
For a shorter ruched option, you could try the Angel Alarcon boots (below), either in cream, pink or black.
Angel Alarcon Ruched Boots
peep toe booties
If you’re looking for a pair of booties to wear as summer turns to fall, or winter turns to spring, peep-toe boots could be a good option.
söfft
The Söfft boots (below) would look good with your casual jeans, or with your summer dresses so you can wear them longer into the year.
Söfft Carleigh Peep Toe Bootie
Zappos / Nordstrom
lucky brand booties
Lucky Brand’s wedge booties (below) combine a wedge style with peep toes. The braiding adds some extra interest.
Lucky Brand Lureli Peep Toe Wedge Bootie
Zappos / Nordstrom
Another choice from Lucky Brand is the shoe-boot hybrid (below).
Lucky Brand Joal Bootie Pump
macrorepublic
For a dressy choice, you could wear the Marco Republic peep toes (below) with any of your evening outfits.
MARCOREPUBLIC Moscow Peep Toe Sandal Booties
Women’s wide calf boots
Of course, just as with clothing, there’s no one-size-fits-all. If you are struggling to find tall boots which fit your calves, you may be more comfortable in a pair of boots specially designed for wide calves.
dr. scholl’s
The Dr. Scholl’s boots (below) are a style classic that won’t go out of date. Reviewers advise to size up.
Dr. Scholl’s Brilliance Wide Calf Riding Boot
mysoft
For a heeled pair of wide-calf booties, you could look at the mysoft booties (below) which come in a good range of neutral shades. They’re well-reviewed from women who say they are comfortable and easy to walk in.
mysoft Knee High Wide Calf Boots
For more stylish wide calf options take a look at the best boots for wide calves this winter.
shop the items above here:
What boots or booties do you like to wear during fall or winter? What do you think the best winter boots are for women?