Radical Basics: Ann Demeulemeester’s Head-Turning Boots

At first they may seem to be your average black leather ankle boots, but Ann Demeulemeester makes footwear with a lot more going on behind the seams. A Demeulemeester boot is simple and basic enough to wear with everything, but little differences in shape and embellishment set them apart from the crowd.

This Belgian designer is known for her atypical silhouettes and fresh perspective on utilitarian high fashion. Invest in a pair of Demeulemeester boots that will take you everywhere and look like nothing else you’ve ever seen.

Black Beauties

Almost all of Ann Demeulemeester’s boot offerings are crafted in shiny black leather— otherwise, they’re moody brown or soft grey. This makes them as universally wearable as your other shoes and discreet enough to pair them with just about anything, from skinny jeans and a white tee to gauzy black layers a la the designer’s ready-to-wear line. That basic color palette mutes all the other things about them that make them so special, giving your look a secret touch of avant garde.

Shape Shifters

There’s something in the shape of a Demeulemeester boot, whether it’s in the starkly narrow shaft of the ankle or a strange, jutting heel, that makes it worthy of a double-take. An emphasis on the flatform silhouette and the perversion of traditional military boot structures make them more than your average combat boot.

Finishing Touches

A simple lace-up boot is nothing to fuss over, but the laces and other final details on Ann Demeulemeester boots take it further than others dare to. Laces that don’t stop until the toes, flaps of leather that traverse the shaft at unexpected places, an aggressive cap toe that seems to pop out of nowhere—each choice reflects a significant design choice that deviates away from the norm while remaining ultra-discreet.

Ann Demeulemeester boots might look basic at first, but they’re some of the most interesting and beautifully made shoes on the market. Wear them with everything, but don’t think anything else can come close.

Ann Demeulemeester boots elevate your basic black boots to something more like art.