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I've Found The Best Knee-High Boots Of 2025
From the high-street pieces that deliver on fit and quality to the designer investments that'll really go the distance, these are the boots to bet on this winter.
There’s a lot of stuff out there, and not all fashion pieces are created equal. Luckily, the ELLE editors know their way around a shopping rail, and when it comes to helping you find those niche brands worth knowing to high-street hits of quality, and a few vintage treasures too, our ELLE Edits showcase the very best of the season.
There are few things in fashion that I’m scared of, but at 5 ft 3 when rounding up, a knee-high boot is one of them. Opening up this very serious topic in the office, it's clear I’m not the only one: will they fit over calves? Will they scrunch down over ankles? If you tuck your jeans into the top, will you be on the wrong side of the Y2K revival?
Sure, a knee-high is trickier than a good old wear-with-everything ankle boot - but for AW24, it's a key trending shoe style, and there are actually some very chic ways to embrace its return. On the AW24 runways, 16Arlington and Chloé used high leather boots to temper the naked-ness of gossamer silk dresses, while Gucci went groomed and glossy in this winter's key oxblood hue. Fendi made a case for fancy waders, while Paris Texas and Toteme have turned out the kind of polished-but-practical kitten heels that’ll turn even the most staunchly knee-high averse into eager wearer.
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So when it comes to silhouette, you have options. The moto boot is perhaps the buzziest shape to know this season, propelled back into the zeitgeist by Miu Miu last year and still very much on the radar. This chunky silhouette works best with roomy dresses and skirts, adding structure to floatier silhouettes and tempering more feminine pieces with a rebellious edge. For something smarter, a knee-high with a pointed toe and spiky heel is ideal with mini hemlines and bare legs (ok, maybe not right now), but looks equally good peeking from a midi hemline: consider patent leather for a bold contrast against black tailoring and denim. And if you want to break away from black? Burgundy boots are hitting the high street at a rapid rate, and they’re bound to be more than a one-season wonder: the hue complements black, blue and creamy neutrals, giving it legs (sorry) to really go the distance.
Now, the best styles of the season: here, see the knee-high boots really worth investing in now.
The New Season's Very Best Knee-High Boots
Not just brilliantly priced for a pair of all-leather boots, H&M's Premium design is one that'll outlast the trends. You'll be wearing this slightly glossy, stacked-heel pair for years to come, with everything from mini skirts and thick tights to flowing midi dresses.
Cos has a host of knee-high boots online right now, but this pointed pair feels the most polished. The brand has got the silhouette spot-on: the toe is sharply tapered, heel low enough to be worn all day, and the supple legs wil slouchy nonchalantly down for a new-season feel. Wear them with loose midi lengths for the most put-together result: think languid slip dresses and pleated skirts.
There's more than a hint of Gucci influence in Reformation's ruby-red leather boots. In the shade of the season, they'll bring a fresh feel to your capsule wardrobe, working just as well with Sixties-style minis as they will voluminous culottes.
Arket's boots might not quite be knee-high, but they're still an impactful purchase. Let the moto detailing temper the femininity of frilly, floaty pieces.
A stand-out find from the January sales, these all-leather boots are the perfect versatile silhouette for wearing with smart and more casual outfits alike. There's a similar kitten-heel iteration with a sharper pointed toe on the site too.
Toteme excels at crafting pieces that feel fresh and relevant, yet never too of-the-moment. A case in point, these croc-embossed glossy boots feature the slanted heel that's dominating right now, yet are crafted to a silhouette that you'll be pulling on for years to come. Consider tucking a par of the brand's equally good suit trousers into the hems.
I always think a covered heel makes a shoe look so expensive, especially when there's a print that runs neatly from top to bottom. St. Agni's python style (which also comes in black and cream) hits on the knee if you're my height, and will graze the calves if you're tall enough to reach the top shelf in Waitrose.
If you're looking to invest in something that's guaranteed to outlast the trends, head to Paris Texas' pared-back Anja boots. Instantly chic, they're crafted to a timeless minimalist silhouette with a practical block heel and gently pointed toe. Imagine them with that new-season camel coat you've been eyeing up.
Marks & Spencer releases a sell-out shoe every season, and this winter's is a winning knee-high boot. This almost-cowboy style is generously priced for real leather, and detailed with a thoughtful zip at the side so you can get them on without a struggle.
Another muted take on the cowboy boot, Isabel Marant's effortlessly Parisian pair combines a low, slanted heel with a pointed toe. Pair them as the designer would: with pale-wash denim and outsized tailoring.
Riding boots are big news this season, neatly filling the gap between the dressed-up stiletto heel and the grungy cowboy boot. Massimo Dutti's offering is a smart investment: they come with detachable silver embellishments, so you're essentially getting two styles for the price of one.
Cowboy boots are still going strong, and Ganni's intricately embroidered pairs, which come in a host of colours, are some of the best. They'll bring a tougher grounding to the brand's puff sleeves and coquettish prints in an instant.
A serious sartorial statement, these Khaite boots are made in Italy from butter-soft leather. With slanted heels and narrow squared-off toes, they nod to Nineties styles with contemporary elegance. I'd pair them with a tailored suit, but they'd work just as well with jeans.
Roberta Schroeder is the Senior Ecommerce Editor at Harper's Bazaar, ELLE and Esquire, overseeing shopping strategy and content across fashion, beauty, and travel. Roberta has reported on everything from market-leading skincare brands to the world’s most iconic fashion pieces, while also regularly updating a range of shopping guides, including LED masks, heritage cashmere brands and niche new dress brands to know.
Roberta has more than 15 years' experience in the luxury sector, spanning editorial consultancy, trend forecasting and journalism. Over the years, she has worked for global brands including Farfetch, Chanel, and Vogue.
When not testing beauty products, trialling trends and curating content that spotlights the very best in fashion and beauty, Roberta can usually be found trawling resale sites and vintage stores for a long-coveted designer find. Follow Roberta on Instagram at @roberta__schroeder
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