I didn't expect this, but these waterproof clogs are the perfect autumn shoe

I have a teenage daughter who doesn’t hold back when it comes to her views on fashion. She took one look at my new shoes – SOREL Ambler waterproof clogs – and glanced at me in that withering way that only teenage girls can.

“It says here you shouldn’t wear them on the school run,” she said, smirking while I scrutinised the box for further guidance.

Then the penny dropped. If clunky waterproof clogs are going to become a regular fixture in my autumn capsule wardrobe, she'd rather her friends weren't there to witness it.

But actually, having worn these waterproof clogs almost exclusively for the past week, I’ve concluded that you can wear them pretty much everywhere.

I slip them on for a cosy start in my home office, potter outside to inspect the veg patch with a coffee in hand, jump in the car for the school run, dash to the supermarket and squeeze in a brisk dog walk – all before my 9.30 am meeting. And not once have I felt I'm wearing the wrong shoes.

Even when the heavens open and I remember the washing is still on the line, I can dash outside to rescue it without stopping to change my shoes.

In other words, I’ve found my perfect autumn shoe. That kind of versatility makes them worth every penny of their £125 price tag.

Shop the Sorel Ambler

Sorel Ambler: Style

I live in my beloved Birkenstocks year-round, switching from sandals to clogs as the seasons (and heatwaves) demand. But come October, when the weather turns properly wet and wintry, I face the same old footwear dilemma. Which shoes should I wear for unpredictable weather?

My FitFlop Chelsea boots are great for a polished look, but fastening the zips slows me down when I’m running late for pickup, and I’ve ruined a pair by wearing them for beach walks. Hiking shoes are fab for dog walks, but when bumping into a friend turns into going for coffee, I feel out of place in heavy, muddy footwear. And while several iterations of the best slippers are my most-worn shoes thanks to working from home, I’ve ruined innumerable pairs with a dash to the garden to rescue said laundry.

SOREL launched in 1962, originally designing footwear for harsh winter conditions, and has a loyal following among celebrities and royals. Kate Middleton is a Sorel gal, having been photographed wearing the brand’s boots.

The Ambler – a chunky, sturdy shoe with the distinctive outdoorsy aesthetic that SOREL is famous for – is inspired by the brand's rugged Caribou boot. Imagine a mash-up between its all-weather practicality and a slip-on style clog. Add a nubuck upper and leather shell, textile lining and an EVA midsole, and you've got it.

Sorel Ambler: Comfort

Fashion has a funny habit of telling women what we should want. The shoe that will elevate our outfit, make our legs look longer, or take us from desk to drinks.

But the reality of my life – and that of many of my friends in their 40s and beyond – is much more practical. I’m in and out of the car at least six times a day between school drop-offs and pickups, dashing to the gym and nipping to the shop for whatever’s for dinner. Weekends are no different – I can be on the muddy sidelines of my daughter's football match one minute, and visiting my mum in her care home the next.

It probably sounds trivial – especially to anyone not in these chaotic midlife years – but it shocked me to realise how often I change my shoes throughout the day because I can't predict what the next hour will require. That's exactly the problem the Ambler has solved for me.

As for the waterproofing test, I've worn them on wet grass and country lanes after a recent downpour, and my feet have stayed completely dry. They're no substitute for walking boots in genuinely filthy conditions or very deep puddles, due to the low-cut design, but for the kind of wet pavements and garden showers that usually catch me out, they're the perfect shoe.

I bought my usual size and found them a little snug at first, particularly around the opening, which made them slightly tricky to get on and off. After a couple of days, though, they eased up and now fit like a glove. My heel stays securely in place when I walk, and I don't have to grip with my toes, so I'm glad I didn't size up.

How I wear Sorel Ambler clogs

I've paired my Ambler clogs with my favourite M&S barrel-leg jeans and a good coat – I love my new Friends Like These Neutral Cosy Funnel Neck Short Jacket – I think the shoes prevent a fairly ordinary outfit from looking dull. They also work well with these Boden Single Pleat Ponte Culottes that have become a permanent fixture in my wardrobe – the shortness of the trousers shows off the shoes to perfection.

Sorel Ambler: Verdict

Let's talk about the fact that it's not the prettiest shoe in your wardrobe. Honestly, I've always found the term 'ugly shoe' slightly irritating. It suggests to me that women are somehow compromising when we choose something comfortable or practical – as if a shoe can't be desirable unless it makes the wearer look daintier, prettier or more elegant. But women have spent decades proving that we quite like shoes with a bit of attitude. Birkenstocks, UGGs, Dr Martens – the list goes on. Wardrobe staples, all of them.

The Ambler belongs in that lineage. It feels less like a trending shoe (although I bet you’ll be seeing them everywhere in time…) and more like the evolution of something women have known for ages: that sometimes the most stylish thing you can wear, the thing that truly elevates your outfit, is whatever makes you feel more confident. Not more ‘put together’ or more ‘polished’, but simply more comfortable. That never goes out of style.

So, if there’s one shoe I'm going to wear on repeat this season, it's the one I don't have to change out of every time the weather - or my schedule – takes an unexpected turn.

As for my daughter – I can live with her refusing to be seen with me in my new favourite autumn shoes. Hopefully this is one item she won’t be ‘borrowing’ from my wardrobe...