Alexander McQueen's love affair with the Dallas era lives on as he brings out another line of footwear and accessories in houndstooth fabric. I have to say, I think the print works particularly well on ankle boots, but it's the pointed toes and - again - the interestingly pinched heel that mark these out as quality footwear.
It would be a shame to wear these boots without fully 'buying in' to the glam lifestyle look, I think, and they'd certainly look their best as part of a sharp, besuited outfit with plenty of oversized jewellery pieces and some black leather thrown into the mix. I expect copies of this style from almost every highstreet retailer, but suspect that anything other than the real deal will look a bit naff. Le'ts wait and see!
£425 at Browns
Related: Valentine shoes: Alexander McQueen heart-toed court shoes | Casual Friday: New Look houndstooth trainers
Perhaps you can help me make up my mind about these boots. If it wasn't for the fringing at the front, I think I might just have found my perfect winter ankle boots, as when I saw them 'irl', the embellishment looked overly fussy. A shame, because they were surprisingly comfortable to wear.
Fundamentally, this is a pair of old punk boots that have been glammed up a bit and given a fashionable 'work boot' tread. I think they could really work with black jeans and a washed out grey top. Grunge here we come!
If you can live with the fringing, they're £99.99 (a great price for a great date!) at Schuh
Related: Tory Burch lace-up leather boots | Office and River Island work the work boot look
I've never been a huge fan of traditional wellie boots, so anything that subverts the style while retaining its practical functions is a winner in my book.
These thight-length patent boots by Armuse are a very stylish alternative, available in a rainbow of yummy colours. They remind me a bit of Stella McCartney's patent wedge boots and they look like they'd be heaps of fun to wear, bringing and instant futuristic touch to whatever else you've got on. I think they're an excellent price, too: all are £148 at LuisaViaRoma
Related: Stella McCartney patent wedge ankle boots | 'Mocha' waterproof suede boots by Van Dal
Miu Miu's lightning bolt heel boots were an instant classic when they went on sale last year, and despite a brief stint at The Outnet, have now seemingly sold out everywhere.
Don't despair though, because Jones the bootmaker have brought out a style that's certainly influenced by Miu Miu's design, and it's bound to go down a storm on the high street. Priced at £95, Napier is made of suede and faux snakeskin and certainly 'gets the look', even if it lacks the crucial bolt-shaped heel of the originals. This style is certainly high up on my list for that crucial winter boot purchase, and will work well with all the season's fabrics.
£95 at Jones the Bootmaker
If you've ever had a craving for some seriously solid, stompy boots, now's the time to start looking, and with so many great styles to choose from, you can afford to take your time.
For me, these boots by Tory Burch strike the perfect balance between tough, imposing and feminine, and I'm sure that donning a pair of these would make most of us feel queen of the world. If you don't want to run the risk of people kneeling at your feet, I suggest you move on and find something a whole lot more plain and apologetic! These boots mean business. £485 at Net-a-Porter
Related: Tory Burch's 'Breely' flipflop with patent leather flower | New York Fashion Week: Tory Burch backstage gallery
This tan calf-length boot from Alexander McQueen has got to be one of the most covetable boot styles for the new season. A/W is all about wearing stuff that's as practical as it is stylish, and McQueen has risen to the challenge beautifully here: just check out the adjustable gold zips that span the length of the boot: they look like decoration at first glance (and he's added a cheeky reference to his current obsession - skulls - on the end too) but these can be used to radically alter the shape and length of the boots.
I'm also loving the conical, 'pinched' heel - a look we've already seen done to extremes in Louis Vuitton's ribbon-tie thigh boots as worn by Madonna. This pair is certainly more wearable but it's also £850 at Net-a-Porter
Related: Louise Vuitton thing-length boots | Moda in Pelle 'Zander' calf-length boots
We've seen a lot of styles recently that are essentially going in for the 'knackered old boot' look, and personally I'm loathed to splash out on a boot that looks like something you might discard at a festival. Ideally, if you're going to go for this look you should hold out for a happy charity shop purchase or see if you've kept back any old boots from school.
Alternatively, you could look beyond the usual mainstream haunts and check out some of the authentic goth styles we looked at last week, but the next best thing is probably high street staples Office and River Island. Office's 'Marlon' ankleboot on the left is tough, grungy and cool, and will set you back £85. River Island's lace-up boot, right, has a very DM-like feel to it but is a fair bit cheaper at £64.99.
Related: Comptoir des Cotonniers exclusive grey DM boot | Office 'Manic' studded ankle boots
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