As much as I keep an eye on autumn/winter shoe trends every year, deep down I know that I’ll be reaching for my boots most of all. The royals are big fans of a sleek knee high and a heeled ankle boot, though the Princess of Wales’s most-worn boots are a little chunkier. She loves her See by Chloe combat boots and I loved seeing Duchess Sophie step out in a similar style recently.
She is a long-time wearer of Penelope Chilvers footwear and went to see their new autumn collection. In the picture shared by the brand on Instagram, we got a great look at her head-to-toe neutral outfit, including her taupe Gianvito Rossi boots.
If you were ever unsure about adding lighter-toned boots to your autumn capsule wardrobe, Sophie showed exactly why it’s worth it. Black boots are practical and don’t show dirt as much, but brown or beige boots are a softer alternative.
Shop Chunky Boots
These black suede chunky boots have a similar blend of style and practicality to Kate and Sophie's combat-style pairs. Although they're a darker colour than Sophie's, they are lace-up and have a comfy block heel and a secure zip fastening too. Pair with your go-to autumn outfits, no matter how casual or dressy, to add an edge.
Designed in soft suede with a statement chunky sole, the Pennington boots have a sturdy silhouette, with refined details. This helps to make them versatile enough to wear with everything from jeans to jumper dresses. With their durable tread, they’re built for all-day wear.
These affordable boots are also super snuggly, thanks to their faux fur lining which makes them perfect for seeing you through from autumn to winter. The combination of the white lining and tan hue works so well and the laces go up the front and round the back.
Shop More Of Sophie's Favourite Boot Styles
The Duchess of Edinburgh loves knee high boots and has worn her tan suede ones plenty of times, including to the Princess of Wales's Together at Christmas carol concert. These boots from Boden are a brilliant option and have plenty of stretch in the material for comfort.
Although she wears a lot of suede boots the Duchess of Edinburgh also steps out in a pair of smooth, chocolate-brown leather knee highs in the colder months. These pointed-toe ones from Open Edit are a pretty alternative and have a side-zip and elasticated gores.
Alongside her brown and black boots, Sophie also has a pair of navy blue suede ankle boots and they make a fun change and are still very neutral. These Next ones have a Western-inspired design, with a leather upper and an almond toe.
Suede ones accentuate this with their texture and complement light outfits like the Duchess’s so well, as they’re not a stark contrast. The royal’s boots look to be suede, or at least not smooth leather, and laced up the front.
The design’s simplicity reminded me of Kate’s go-to autumn boots and woman&home's Digital Fashion Editor Rivkie Baum thinks you can "rely" on this style.
"A sturdy, chunky-heeled boot with a lace-up front is the autumn weather-ready style you can rely on with confidence," she says. "Offering plenty of ankle support and added height, this utilitarian-inspired design is great if you struggle with slender heels but still want the elevation."
Sophie is embracing the chunky boot trend this year and something like her shoes are also a more functional choice compared to kitten heels, high heels or more pointed shapes.
They’re low-key enough to be worn with jeans and a casual knit day-to-day and still work with dressier pieces like dresses and leather trousers to make a date night outfit. For her visit to the Penelope Chilvers store, the King’s sister-in-law went for a workwear-esque look that felt more formal.
Her single-breasted Weekend Max Mara blazer was designed with a menswear-inspired silhouette and she has it in brown. She’s worn this before, but this time she paired it with a new addition - the Zelma straight-leg trousers.
They have an elasticated waist and covered the top of Sophie’s boots, but allowed part of the lace-up front to still be admired. The Duchess added a pale biscuit-brown crew neck jumper and her outfit was complete.
Tonal dressing is something we often see the royal women do and it was great seeing Sophie following in Kate’s footsteps with her chunky boots too. Although they’re not perhaps smart enough for formal engagements, I can imagine her bringing these failsafes back out for more relaxed visits.
When she’s in need of something more elevated, the Duchess of Edinburgh tends to rely on knee high boots and she has a big collection. Once again, she favours brown and other neutral tones over black boots and her tan suede knee highs have been a go-to for her in recent years.
Taller designs do have a key place in anyone’s autumn footwear collection, though sturdy ankle boots like her Gianvito Rossis work better with jeans and trousers.
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