The Best Winter Insoles You Never Knew You Needed

last updated 7 December 2018

When it comes to boot shopping, we all know the best styles are always swiftly snapped up. Peak demand means the most fashionable pairs don't stick around for long, so it's an "every woman for herself" situation if there ever was one, which brings me to my anecdote: Last year, I found my dream pair of boots in & Other Stories, but as the story goes, they'd completely sold out in my size.

Upon checking the stock levels in other stores and enquiring as to whether they'd be able to ship them from another country (desperate times call for desperate measures), I was gently told by the very patient assistant that it just wasn't going to happen. She was, however, able to present with a glimmer of hope: the next size up. How much bigger can they be? I said to myself.

Turns out, significantly larger—to the point where I could feel my foot sliding in them as I walked. Undeterred, I made the decision to buy them anyway, insisting that I'd simply wear them with thicker socks.

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Two pairs of socks later, and although they now fit the length of my foot, the rest of the boot looked as if it was bursting at the seams. So off they came, and underneath my bed in their box they sat, unworn and neglected.

It was around a month—while I was doing a spot of Christmas shopping—that an idea (of the sartorial sort, anyway) struck. I was buying my mum a pair of shearling slippers when I spotted a pair of sheepskin insoles sat beside them on the shiny plinth.

Could the thick woolly liner be the answer to my boot predicament? Turns out, it was. Not only did they make my boots fit better, but they were also instantly comfier. So far, so good. However, it wasn't until I took them for a spin in some freshly fallen snow that I realised their full potential.

The sheepskin liners kept my feet delightfully toasty—not sweltering as I expected. How? The fleece is made from hollow fibres, which means it’s a material that naturally breathes. When sheepskin touches your skin, it helps regulate a steady body temperature. Mind blown? I thought so.

A year later, my sheepskin insoles are still serving me well. Now, I deliberately buy my shoes (particularly boots) a size up just so I can line them with my sheepskin secret.

Keep scrolling to shop the best winter insoles I've found this season, and then match them with a pair of fabulous boots that could do with an extra toasty layer. Trust me—you'll wonder how you ever wintered without them…

MY INSOLE EDIT

Toasties

Sheepskin Insoles in Leopard

Hunter

Luxury Shearling Insoles

The Conran Shop

Shearling Insoles in Pink 3

Pajar

Sheepskin Insoles

Ugg

Sheepskin Insole

BOOTS THAT COULD USE A BOOST

The Row

Tea Time Leather Boots

These will look glam paired with a billowing maxi dress.

Nicholas Kirkwood

Casati Faux Pearl-Heeled Leather Ankle Boots

Pearl details are set to be huge in 2019, too.

By Far

Este Leather Ankle Boots

These By Far boots are high on our wish lists.

Gianvito Rossi

Susan 85 Suede Boots

These navy numbers are roomy enough to fit over your jeans.

Joseph

Cobain Chelsea Boot

Practical, and now, incredibly toasty.

Mango

Metallic Leather Boots

Wear these with cropped kick-flare trousers and a pussy-bow blouse for serious '70s appeal.

& Other Stories

Ankle Boots in Emerald

These green boots will still work with the black opaques you plan on wearing day in and day out.

Chloé

Reilly Buckle Embellished Ankle Boots

With plentiful cutouts, these boots will certainly benefit from a sheepskin insole.

Rag & Bone

Aslen Block Heel Boots

Just think how cool these will look with the leopard or pink liner when you slip them off at a friend's house.

Zara

Lace-Up Boots

I know from experience that these could do with additional insulation.

Uterqüe

High Split Suede Boots

Knee-highs are ideal for chilly evenings out.

Topshop

Houston Ankle Pointed Boots

These boots also come in black patent and suede finishes.

Vagabond

Simone Harness Boots

If you're yet to invest in a pair of white boots, make it these.

Zara

Animal-Print High-Heel Boots

These boots look so much more expensive than their price tag suggests.

Now your feet are nice and toasty, try this trick to take care of your top half…

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Maxine Eggenberger is Who What Wear UK’s deputy editor and has over thirteen years of experience in fashion journalism. She been creating engaging and elevated style content specifically for Who What Wear UK since 2018, covering runway reports, emerging trends, long-form features, self-styled shopping stories and columns, including her edit of the best new-in buys. She ensures the highest editorial standards are met across the site, leads the editorial team in their SEO strategy and keyword planning, works closely with the beauty team on content initiatives, represents the brand at industry events, and regularly contributes to social media, including her own Who What Wear UK TikTok franchise, French Style Fridays. Previously, Maxine appeared on ITV's This Morning in her own fashion segment and has interviewed countless celebrities—everyone from Victoria Beckham to Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o.

Prior to Who What Wear UK, Maxine’s career began when, after completing her first-ever internship at Look magazine, she was offered a position on the brand's fashion desk. She accepted, leaving university a year early in the process. Her passion and natural talent for writing and styling meant she swiftly rose through the ranks to become the title's fashion news and commercial content editor, with a stint as InStyle.co.uk’s fashion and beauty writer along the way. She later served as Look’s acting Editor in Chief, overseeing both print and digital, before embarking on a successful freelance career, working with Grazia, The Pool, and Marie Claire amongst others.

Maxine is based remotely from her countryside home near Edinburgh where she spends her downtime renovating her house, walking her dogs, hosting friends and trying to master the art of making Old Fashioned cocktails.