Sleek, understated minimalism had its moment at the start of the year – you couldn’t move for stills of Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn Bessette Kennedy in – but with cigarette jeans and shoulder pads back in rotation on the spring/summer 2027 runways, fashion has rewound to the ’80s. One of the easiest ways to get in on the act? Take your cues from the decade’s style plates – Princess Diana, Stephen Sprouse, Vivienne Westwood and Jane Fonda – and pull on a pair of eye-catching boots. Here are five ways to wear them now.
Red boots
There was nothing subtle about the ’80s, and few things stomp on the idea of subtlety quite like a pair of bright red boots. In 1985, Princess Diana wore a kitten-heeled pair with a beige coat, while Jane Fonda teamed her lace-ups with a black maxi dress. This season, look to Lili Curria and Anonymous Copenhagen for a fresh take on the style.
Cowboy boots
When choosing cowboy boots, take your cue from Dolly Parton: the bolder, the better. Prefer something a little more low-key? Channel off-duty Princess Diana, who wore hers with sweatpants and skinny jeans.
Mid Shaft Embroidered Western Boots in Black
Pirate boots
Vivienne Westwood introduced her famous pirate boots in 1981, and more than four decades later, their influence is still easy to spot in the slouchy, buckle-laden styles on the street style circuit. For a modern interpretation, try Isabel Marant or good old M&S.
Suede Buckle Strap Mid Calf Flat Boots
Hunter boots
Hunter launched its Original Green Wellington in 1956, and the style became a royal staple, with Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana and Kate Middleton all photographed in wellies while tramping through the countryside. These days, though, rubber boots have found fresh footing on city pavements, where the forecast needn’t dictate how you wear them.
And then there are white boots. They were everywhere in the ’80s, from Stephen Sprouse and Loredo’s collections to the dancefloor at Studio 54, with Princess Diana and Madonna both slipping into a pair. They’re a less ubiquitous proposition this season, but Le Monde Beryl and Bottega Veneta offer plenty of reason to revisit them.
