Catherine, Princess of Wales always comes back to chunky boots in the winter and they’re a great blend of practicality and stylish design.
The Princess of Wales can switch up her style at the drop of an Ascot-worthy hat when the occasion calls for it and in winter practicality often becomes a priority more than any other time of year. Most of us will have our go-to boots in our winter capsule wardrobe and Kate is no different. She always comes back to chunkier designs which are great for grip as well as looking incredibly chic. The chunky boot trend will never really go out of fashion and the future Queen has three key pairs that she reaches for - hiking boots, Chelsea boots and cleated sole boots.
The best winter boots are cosy but beautiful at the same time and when the Princess of Wales has to tackle more challenging terrain, her Berghaus Supalite II GORE-TEX Hiking Boots are her must-haves.
Shop Kate's Berghaus Boots
The Princess of Wales's Berghaus boots are made from durable leather and have memory-foam heel and toe features for extra cushioning. The chocolate brown colour is stunning but also easy to style with other shades and these practical boots are waterproof too.
These waterproof hiking boots also come in grey and taupe and have D-ring lacing up the front. The TimberDry waterproof membrane helps to keep the elements at bay and lightweight cushioning is great for comfort. The traction sole also provides enhanced grip.
If you've been eyeing up hiking boots then these are a slightly more affordable option. They have a rubber sole, a moulded toe tap and an Omni tech waterproof breathable seam sealed membrane. Wear for frosty winter walks with your favourite leggings and a waterproof jacket.
Kate’s Berghaus boots are crafted from durable leather with GORE-TEX performance technology and memory foam details which make them so comfortable to wear. They’re also very lightweight, with cushioned OrthoLite footbeds and the rubber sole has anti-clogging technology. It doesn’t come much more functional than this when you want your feet to be dry and supported whilst you’re out and about in the great outdoors.
They’re also a more fashion-forward take on waterproof footwear than even your best wellies can give you, a pair of chunky hiking boots like these are perfect. The Princess of Wales has worn hers in the snow when she visited the Irish Guards in March 2023 and also for an abseiling exercise during her time in Merthyr Tydfil in Wales in April 2023 the next month.
Both times she styled her Berghaus hiking boots with her beloved skinny jeans, thick socks and cosy layers. These aren’t the only type of chunky boots that Kate regularly returns to, though, as her Reiss Chelsea boots are another favourite.
Reiss is highly-regarded as one of the best British clothing brands and the Princess of Wales is known to champion homegrown talent and timeless designs like the Thea boots. These exact boots are still made but are sadly virtually out of stock, although Reiss do sell similar chunky-soled Chelsea boots. Kate has the chocolate brown leather boots which have the classic elasticated sides and a chunky rubber sole.
Shop Chelsea Boots Like Kate's
These Chelsea boots are more of an investment piece for your shoe collection but are well worth it if you want a chunky but fashionable boot that you can pair with both casual and more elevated outfits. They have a cleated sole for traction and stability and are made from durable leather.
Affordable and easy to wear, these Chelsea boots have a loop at the back and elastic at the sides which are both details that make this style of footwear so distinctive. The sole is chunky and these have a smooth finish with satin linings and insoles.
These Chelsea Boots are so chic and we particularly love the chocolate brown tone which is similar to the colour of Kate's boots. They have elasticated gores at the sides and pull-on tabs to help you get them on and off smoothly and are made with a leather and textile upper.
We saw Her Royal Highness wear them with dark-wash, straight leg jeans by Mother Denim, a striped jumper and her Alexa Chung x Barbour jacket in 2023 when she visited "Dadvengers" - a community for fathers and their children. These Chelsea boots were perfect for striding through puddles on a rainy walk whilst still being cool and stylish.
Blending the practicality of her hiking boots and the elegance of her Chelsea boots are Kate’s other go-to chunky boots - the See By Chloe Eileen Combat Boots. They’re an investment piece but they are beautiful with their lace-up design. Kate’s boots are the brown suede versions with tonal leather trims and a block heel that gives a bit of elevation but the sturdy sole helps to keep them grippy.
Shop Combat Boots Like Kate's
Venture outside in showery weather with these water-resistant lace up boots by Sorel who also make some of Kate's favourite snow boots. This design has a grippy multi-terrain tread and come in this beautiful brown hue, as well as in black and tan. Wear with your go-to activewear for a walk or with jeans and a jumper day-to-day.
If you want to pick up a pair of chunky lace up boots like Kate's with a more affordable price tag then these are a great alternative. They're so versatile as a shoe thanks to the simple design and neutral colour and the chunky flatform sole is on-trend and comfy. M&S's Insolia Flex® technology helps to ensure your feet are correctly placed for comfort.
Also available in black and grey, these gorgeous brown lace up boots are crafted from 100% leather and have a chunky sole. Padded insoles help to cushion your feet and keep them comfy throughout the day and these would be great styled with everything from skinny jeans to dresses.
The Princess of Wales tends to style these combat boots in the same way as she does her Berghaus boots; with skinny jeans and knitwear and this helps to balance out the chunkiness of the boots. She wore them for a visit to Cumbria in 2019, visits to County Durham and Scotland in 2021 and for visiting The Queen’s Dragoon Guards in 2023. These See By Chloe boots were also her footwear of choice for the special photo she shared for Mother’s Day last year.
If you’ve never considered investing in a pair of chunkier winter boots before now, Kate has proved how stunning they can be as you enjoy the season in comfort.
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