The Best Lug-Sole Boots Are a Winter Wardrobe Staple–Just Ask the Street Style Scene
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For every season, there’s always a winning shoe style to splurge on—whether it’s a showstopping sandal in the summer or a polished loafer for the here and now. This winter, however, we’re nominating the lug-sole boot as the must-have item of footwear to sport everywhere. Take the recent street style scene, for example: From models off-duty to It girls alike, the fashion crowd is pairing their lug soles with everything, including knit dresses, sleek jeans, and even leather trousers. One thing’s for sure, we’ve taken notice of the standout style.
Vogue’s Lug-Sole Boot Lineup:
- The Rain Boot: Everlane The Rain Boots, $85
- The Lace-Up Lug Sole: Proenza Schouler leather lace-up lug-sole boots, $995
- The Knee-High Boot: Ayede Blanca leather knee boots, $795
- The Hero Item: The Row zip-front leather ankle boots, $1,378
- The Sock Bootie: Mango platform track-sock booties, $100
- The Fashion-Girl Favorite: Ganni knee-high chunky Chelsea boots, $339
- The Combat Boot: Dr. Martens Jadon leather combat boots, $210
- The Bucket Boot: Reformation Kata bucket boots, $498
- The Tabi boot: Maison Margiela Tabi leather ankle boots, $1,350
- The Suede Style: Gucci Horsebit ankle boots, $1,250
Standing out from the typical winter boot lineup, the best lug-sole boots feature a toothy rubber sole, indented for traction, and ideal for navigating any wintry mixes. And while it does have roots in functionality, that doesn’t mean lug soles aren’t great for everyday wear or even special occasions like Fashion Week, for example. As modeled above, the treaded style looks just as luxe when paired with daintier fashion items, whether a festive dress, cozy cashmere sweater, or a pair of perfectly practical leggings. With all that being said, the lug sole toughens up any look to perfection.
Look to leather knee-high pairs from Reformation, Aeyde, and Zara to master model-off-duty style. Colorful ankle boots from Everlane and Cougar are vibrant takes on the traditionally neutral-toned boots, while classic black pairs from Mango, The Row, and Cos make styling the lug sole an easy–and welcome–task. Styles from Ferragamo, Dr. Martens, and Prada have especially exaggerated soles, which makes for some serious stomping. Then, there are shearling-lined lug-soles from Chloé and Jimmy Choo that transition from the city streets to the ski slopes seamlessly.
With winter weather officially here, there’s no time like the present to start shopping for the best lug-sole boots. To help you get started, here are the 50 best to sport now throughout the season–and beyond.