The transition from summer into the colder months brings with it many unpleasant changes: prolonged darkness, frigid temperatures and a woeful lack of ice cream vans, to name a few.

However, for all of autumn/winter’s glaring faults, it does boast one redeeming feature. It equips you with a bombproof excuse to treat yourself to some new, seasonally-appropriate stompers.

New shoes are usually an expensive purchase, so to make sure you part with money in all the right places, we’ve handpicked seven footwear trends worth dipping your toes into this season.

Hiking Boots

Even if you’re only en route to the office, there’s something oddly reassuring about knowing that if you did happen to find yourself halfway up K2 after a wrong turn at the coffee shop, your footwear would be up to the challenge. Fortunately, it’s a sense of security that the trend for luxury hikers delivers by the boot-load.

“Very much a solid investment, other than looking good, hiking boots blend nicely into a city commute,” says stylist and personal shopper Daniel Johnson. “They’re a much more suitable replacement to wellington boots and don’t blur the style as much between town and country.”

Styling something as bulky as a hiking boot needn’t be an uphill struggle. Simply steer clear of skinny jeans to avoid looking out of proportion and keep things layered up top. It’s also worth learning more towards a wool blouson than a technical jacket, unless you want to end up fully looking like you’re training for the Three Peaks Challenge.

Sustainability And Natural Materials

From the extinction rebellion protests to the rise in clothing rental services, the desire to buy-less, buy-better has created a resurgence for heritage shoemakers with centuries of craftsmanship behind them.

“There is an overall trend toward sustainability and authenticity,” says Daniel Willis, a footwear designer at John Lewis. “Consumers are looking for a more considered approach to what they buy: less fast fashion, more product with purpose.”