Ready to step into something more comfortable? YLC style guru Victoria Hussey on boots, brogues and and why a girl needs to go British this season!
Autumn is here. Popping into town for a spot of research this week, I was confronted with the prospect of getting wet, very wet. But this is something I’m more than used to, coming from a little village in the middle of England. So, I clothed my bedraggled self in a old Marks and Sparks knit, a pair of slouchy Gap khakis, mismatched socks (for ease, not necessarily for style), wrapped a brolly nonchalantly around my wrist, and on went the biker boots.
London’s fashionistas may have been braving the British weather this week in strappy Kurt Geiger heels and Celine’s spring/summer 2013 fuzzy slippers (if you don’t know, Google them, they’re amazing); power-stepping it to see ice-cream pastels (Burberry Prorsum), science-lesson flora (Christopher Kane) and fairyland, fantasy dressing courtesy of Meadham Kirchoff for spring/summer 2014, but back on terra firma, Stockholm’s style set have made a sensible and chic start to autumn 2013. And happily, for a Brit whose home-town was once famous for its shoe and boot-making industry, there’s a decidedly British feel to Stockholm’s autumn footwear.Finally, the white Converse have been shelved for more practical alternatives to keep feet warm and dry.
Instead, Stockholmers have turned to equestrianism with paddock-trotting Chelsea boots, rainproof Hunter wellingtons, on-trend tractor-sole punk platforms and ankle-skimming brogues. I don’t usually condone welly-wearing outside a rural setting but autumn has only just hit Stockholm so one must allow for a little transitional-style wiggle room (normally, I’m a wellies-while-it’s-wet or on a farm kinda girl).
Rubber boot issues aside, there’s something a little Downton Abbey meets nineties grunge about this season’s footwear in the city.
In recent years, the boyish brogue has taken over transitional autumn-wear courtesy of Prada, Céline and this season there’s no stopping the hardy staple with Dries Van Noten, Jil Sander and Michael Kors all doing boyish flats for autumn.
With Church’s, traditional British shoe maker – and purveyor of the most perfect Oxfords, Derbys and Chelsea boots hailing from the 19th century – recently setting up shop in Stockholm, there’s not far to go for a little British design inspiration and the most perfect brogues in the city. Lovely though they are, Church’s footwear does have a luxurious price tag in line with its top-notch handcrafted soles.
For a cheaper alternative, step inside trusty H&M and you shall find an indulgent homage to sixties mods-versus-bikers London.
The retail giant this season has an array of exceedingly good Chelsea boots in obligatory black and moss green alongside thick, black, boyish biker boots that will see you through the autumn and winter months in faultless style.
If modern is more your bag, seize supped-up, high-top wedge sneakers in the style of British supermodel Cara Delevingne or punk-inspired rubber-soled ankle boots Punk Queen, Vivienne Westwood would covet; even classic Victoriana boots have been given a contemporary twist this season with enough height and clunkiness to send Mr Carson quivering with indignation.
For feet this autumn, anything goes as long as it’s boot shaped or British.
Tally-ho!
Victoria Hussey
A self-confessed country-girl, Victoria studied English literature and fashion writing in the UK and Milan and then swapped English village life for city living in Stockholm in April 2013. She has spent the last five months swotting up on Swedish fashion and exploring her favourite part of Sweden; its national parks. Victoria enjoys travelling to far-off lands, alternative music and wishes someone would invent some kind of socially-acceptable breakfast ice-cream.
Follow Victoria and Your Living City on Twitter!
