(Image credit: 2021 Christian Vierig)

The best winter boots will see you through any weather and scenario, from snowy days to walks in the park, and business lunches to winter weddings. Now that autumn has officially set in, there's never been a better time to invest in a pair.

As luck would have it, there is a style to suit every taste and budget this season, from fitted knee-high boots to chunky ankle boots (yes, the track sole is still big news for AW21).

If you're wondering which winter boot trends to try, you can always count on designers such as Khaite, Prada, Bottega Veneta and Gucci to set the tone for the new season.

Chunky track sole boots, whether tall or short, are still going strong, so if you weren't sure last year, consider yourself convinced. There are plenty of budget-friendly options on the high street (Arket, Oasis etc).

However if your budget allows, I do have a soft spot for The Row's leather boots, re-issued for a third year running due to their popularity. I can't see Bottega Veneta's rubber-trimmed chelsea boots going out of style anytime soon either.

A newcomer trend for AW21, the western boot one is way more wearable than you'd think. You can pair tall suede boots (Isabel Marant has an excellent pair) with a leather mini skirt and oversized knit, or short leather ones with your favourite mum jeans and a blazer, Princess Diana style.

Those are your more casual options though, there are plenty of dressier winter boots to cover all your social outings - here's hoping for no more lockdowns.

Fitted knee-high boots are perfect paired with shorts or mini dresses, which are huge for AW21. Those do tend to work better on taller women though, but fret not, you'll never go wrong with heeled ankle boots, no matter your height.

Keep scrolling to shop my edit of the best winter boots to keep you snug and stylish.

Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire, covering everything from catwalk trends to royal fashion and the latest high street and Instagram must-haves.

Penny grew up in France and studied languages and law at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris before moving to the UK for her MA in multimedia journalism at Bournemouth University. She moved to the UK permanently and has never looked back (though she does go back regularly to stock up on cheese and wine).

Although she's always loved fashion - she used to create scrapbooks of her favourite trends and looks, including Sienna Miller and Kate Moss' boho phase - her first job was at MoneySavingExpert.com, sourcing the best deals for everything from restaurants to designer sales.

However she quit after two years to follow her true passion, fashion journalism, and after many years of internships and freelance stints at magazines including Red, Cosmopolitan, Stylist and Good Housekeeping, landed her dream job as the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK.

Her favourite part of the job is discovering new brands and meeting designers, and travelling the world to attend events and fashion shows. Seeing her first Chanel runway IRL at Paris Fashion Week was a true pinch-me moment.