You're In, You're Out: 7 Dated Boot Trends That Didn't Make the Cut in 2023

As much as I cherish every pair of boots in my vast shoe collection, as a fashion editor and a self-proclaimed footwear expert, nothing brings me more joy than the arrival of a new trend set. Almost never will I permanently get rid of any pair, not even when my 300-square-foot apartment transitions from a home into a glorified storage unit. I will, however, store the more outdated styles away in the back of my closet (or an actual storage unit) to make room for those ones that warrant the spotlight right now. 

The year has barely started, yet 2023 has already seen a significant number of boot trends reach must-buy status. From the Miu Miu buckle boots that spurred (pun intended) a million lookalikes to '90s-era stiletto sock boots, every boot trend to come out of 2023 has been better than the last. Ahead, see and shop the seven that are making it to the big time this year and the seven that we'll be politely declining (aka storing away for later use) during their reign. 

Thanks to Miu Miu's buckle-clad boots from the F/W 22 collection, motorcycle boots have officially eclipsed combat boots in terms of utility-driven, rugged boot styles. 

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Never has there been an over-the-knee boot offering as intriguing as the one presented for fall and winter this year. From Bottega Veneta's braided styled to Brandon Maxwell's suede ones, 2023's OTK boots are well on their way to becoming as much a staple as ankle boots are. Personally, I'm backing my prediction by storing away the latter for the remainder of winter. 

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Speaking of point-toe boots, '90s-inspired styles with a stiletto heel and a sock-boot fit are all the rage right now. A style that's not feeling the love so much in 2023? Slouchy scrunch boots, which are leaning more toward outdated than relevant right now. 

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Though both have roots in the Y2K trend, denim boots are feeling far fresher than shearling ones, especially after the likes of Loewe, Diesel, and Chloé all backed them in their recent collections. 

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If you like a stable, easy-to-walk-in heel but are as bored of flatforms as I am of late, let me reintroduce you to wedges, the comfortable alternative to skinny heels that has gotten a serious makeover in the last year thanks to brands like Givenchy and Bottega Veneta. 

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I love statement boots as much as the next person, but the neon pairs that were trending last year feel almost like too big of a statement for a fairly minimalist dresser like myself. Metallic boots, however, have a chic subtlety to them despite the fact that they're anything but subtle. 

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Rubber soles made a huge splash last year, but with a quick rise can often come an equally fast fall. Though rubber boots will always be pivotal to staying dry on a wet day, we're pivoting our attention away from them as a fashion piece and toward artsier boot silhouettes with sculpture-like heels. From designers like Loewe, Off-White, Givenchy, Fendi, and more, prepare for a 2023 full of shoes that look more like a million-dollar piece of art than anything created to protect your feet from the elements. 

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Next: This Is How Fashion Girls Will Be Wearing Denim in 2023, Period