Essential Boot Arsenal Make a place for each of these in your wardrobe

From The Rolling Stones, The Beatles to stormtroopers in Star Wars, Chelsea boots have been gracing the feet of pop culture and style icons for decades. Defined by their ankle-length height and an upper constructed from two pieces of leather, their popularity has been at an all-time high in the last few years, and we see why: they work with everything from suits to jeans, and they can be on your feet in seconds.

Still worn today by soldiers during combat, military boots were made fashionable off the battlefield more than half a century ago with the help of British label Dr. Martens. Not just reserved for 90s grunge-inspired looks, the now classic boot is versatile enough to work across seasons and outfits. Key styling tip? They look even better beaten up. Buy them pre-battered or scuff them up yourself by wearing with abandon.

Ankle-high desert boots (or chukkas) are the original “dress casual” shoe. The style was first worn by the British Army while stationed in Cairo, with crepe rubber soles that helped soldiers who needed better grip in the desert. Today, they are considered the ultimate when it comes to transitional dressing and work with everything from denim and shorts to chinos and suits.

Aiming to make your feet fancier, dress boots are perfect for weddings, dinner parties and any other formal or semi-formal occasion pencilled in your calendar. While dress boots come in a variety of shapes - Chelsea, buckled, lace-ups - what sets them apart is elevated materials, polished leathers and exotic skins topping our list.