The Grungy New Boot Trend That We'll See Everywhere During Fashion Month
If you thought Miu Miu's ballet flats were good, just wait until you see the brand's grungy boots that emerged during the 2022 Paris Fashion Week season. Miu Miu's much-talked-about F/W 22 collection featured engineer-style boots that are the complete and utter opposite of the dainty, pretty flats that hit viral status immediately following last season's show in February. Made of thick, distressed leather (classic engineer boots are known for this since the material is so durable) and adorned with an array of metal harnesses and buckles, Miu Miu's boots have quickly become fashion's next It item.
But Prada's little-sister brand isn't the only one getting in on this trend. On the contrary, leather-shoe brands like Frye have long been known for their engineer boots. Others like Jeffrey Campbell, Steve Madden, and Vagabond are, too, making engineer boots a cornerstone of their fall offerings. And they're unlikely to be the last. Ahead of their full-blown takeover, scroll down to shop the coolest engineer boots on the market right now.
These boots are so dreamy. I'd even go as far as saying that I'd start wearing leggings or skinny pants again for them.
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The speed at which I ran to look up these boots after seeing this Reel could rival an F1 car. Something about this pull-on style just seems so effortless and easy to style.
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This chunkier, heavier style from Marni is perfect for the shopper looking for a tad more height (not to mention grit).
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Outside of the Miu Miu show, the brand's engineer boots were a dime a dozen. In fact, the only people not wearing them were donning ballet flats or loafers, which Miu Miu also featured in its fall collection.
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Influencer Courtney Trop never fails to make things look cool. But really, these boots speak for themselves.
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I love the idea of pairing knee-high engineer boots with a midi skirt and a matching top.
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When Chiara Ferragni (with her 28 million Instagram followers) wears something, it's only a matter of time before it goes absolutely viral. Her Miu Miu engineer boots are next in line.
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The hold Devon Lee Carlson has on Gen Zers' wardrobes is mighty. So when we saw her wearing engineer boots, we knew they'd be a hit.
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This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Eliza Huber is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and the intersection of sports and fashion. She joined Who What Wear in 2021 from Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a business degree from the University of Iowa. She's launched two columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, Gracie Abrams, and Sabrina Carpenter; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top runway trends each season. Eliza lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, watching WNBA games, and scouring The RealReal for discounted Prada.
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