5 Ankle-Boot Trends My Chic Friends Will Wear in 2020

I’ve gone over this before, but I, like many of you, basically live in pointed-toe black ankle boots. The classic silhouette is just so versatile and timeless. What’s not to love, right? That said, while I’d never turn my back (or foot, rather) on my go-to black boots, I’m always open to testing out fresh silhouettes when something feels right at the start of a new season—and many of my friends are also on the same page.

In fact, I recently hung out with a few friends that wear basic booties on the regular, and I brought up some of the biggest boot trends from the runways. While there were actually quite a range of unique looks, there were five key silhouettes that piqued the interest of most in my crew. So with that, I’m sharing a bit of visual (runway and street style) and shopping inspiration below to showcase the cool ankle-boot trends my chic friends are curious about testing out next year. Well, when they decide to peel off their favorite basic booties, that is.

Square-Toe Boots

The spotlight isn’t dimming on square-toe booties. This forward shape will be updated in 2020 to showcase geometric heels with playful, color-blocked twists.

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On the runway:
(Image credit: Peter White/Getty Images)

For an especially modern take on square-toe boots, Loewe didn’t shy away from offbeat color mixing and polished details. Just take this loafer design for example.

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On the street:
(Image credit: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

Style Tip: Mix a multitextured pair of square-toe boots with a statement maxi coat for maximum impact.

Shop the trend:

Biker Boots

Biker boots ruled in 2019, but ankle boots featuring chunky shapes, brassy hardware, and bold buckle details are especially cool in 2020.

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On the runway:
(Image credit: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images)

Sure, the buckle and metallic accents bring that biker edge, but the overall sleek shape of these Alexander McQueen boots also feels quite polished.

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On the street:
(Image credit: Vanni Bassetti/Getty Images)

Style Tip: Teaming biker boots with straight-leg jeans and a leather jacket is inherently cool yet timeless.

Shop the trend:

Lace-Up Boots

Sure, lace-fronts are practical for support, but it also brings a cool aesthetic to an otherwise simple pair of booties.

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On the runway:
(Image credit: Peter White/Getty Images)

There are so many details that are right about this Louis Vuitton silhouette, including the on-trend laces, rounded toes, and slightly curved heels.

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On the street:
(Image credit: Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

Style Tip: Consider a sophisticated pair of lace-up booties for work with a midi skirt and sharp blazer.

Shop the trend:

White Booties

Snowy-white boots will continue to have their moment come 2020 as a fresh alternative to the other neutral picks in your closet.

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On the runway:
(Image credit: Peter White/Getty Images)

Altuzarra’s take on white boots is current in design with the low shape and chain accent.

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On the street:
(Image credit: Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

Style Tip: Try white booties with a printed white dress and bomber coat for an unexpected winter vibe.

Shop the trend:

Bright and Bold Boots

On the other end of the boot spectrum come brightly colored silhouettes that are equal parts eclectic and eye-catching.

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On the runway:
(Image credit: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images)

Never afraid to push it with experimental looks, Sacai's footwear range—these colored boots included—take footwear to a new dimension.

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On the street:
(Image credit: Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

Style Tip: Hot pink just so happens to be one of the It trends of the season. If you really want to go for it, consider the monochromatic look by matching your coat to your boots.

Shop the trend:

This post was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

Next, 17 outfits to wear with your black ankle boots.

Bobby Schuessler
Market Director

Bobby Schuessler is a fashion editor with over a decade of editorial experience covering shopping, style, and beauty. He's spent over seven years at Who What Wear, currently leading the market team to deliver highly covetable and convertible content. He creates data-driven shopping guides featuring top retialers like Nordstrom, Shopbop, and Net-a-Porter and is at the forefront of Who What Wear's shopping tentpole strategies, including Amazon Prime Day. He also works on branded content initiatives and appears on camera in video and shopping livestream franchises. He has also worked across a variety of other media brands and fashion retailers like Refinery29, PureWow, Men's Health, and Gilt covering commerce, trend reporting, women's and men's fashion, home, and lifestyle.