5 BOOTS TO INVEST IN FOR THE NEW SEASON

ASOS DESIGN lace up hiker boots with cleated sole in brown, £50

Autumn is the perfect time for a hike, whether on heath, moor or whatever footpath leads to the nearest beer garden. Hiking boots are an excellent all-rounder on the autumn boot front. You could go full gorpcore with The North Face’s highly technical GORE-TEX® styles or opt for something less functional but more refined, like this pair from ASOS DESIGN. They're made from faux suede (which looks like the real thing but responds better to the occasional rain shower) and set on a sturdy cleated sole. The dark-brown shade and tonal accents lean more smart than casual, so wear yours with trousers and chinos in warm, autumnal colours.

Rains 70240 waterproof rubber mid dry boot in black, £139

If the previous pair can withstand an occasional shower, Rains’ can brave the kind of near-constant light rain that the UK famously falls into by mid-autumn. The Copenhagen brand is already well-known for its reliable rainwear (no wonder; it rains or snows roughly half the year in Denmark) so its recent foray into boots comes as no surprise. This 70240 pair is made from waterproof rubber to keep your feet nice and dry, plus they're fitted with a comfy neoprene instep.

ASOS DESIGN heeled zip up boots in tan snake, £55

Your autumn boots needn’t be functional over fun – in fact, the right boots are an opportunity to inject a subtle shot of colour and texture into the season’s 'fits. Take ASOS DESIGN’s pair, for example. They have a simple silhouette that lets the orangey-brown, snake-effect upper take centre stage.

ASOS DESIGN chelsea boots with square toe in black leather, £65

If you buy one pair of boots from this list, make it these. Chelsea boots have long been the first style to come to mind once sandal weather has bid farewell for another year – these ones are an elevated take on the classic, with a zip fastening instead of stretchy elasticated panels and pull-on tabs. The heel isn’t too high, the squared toe feels modern and the leather is polished without looking shiny. The result is a sleek, streamlined and incredibly versatile pair that’ll play just as nicely with a suit as cuffed jeans.

ASOS DESIGN zip up boots with western detailing in brown, £55

Occasionally, an outfit will call for smarter footwear that’s not-quite-formal and not-quite casual, and an embroidered cowboy style answers that call. This dark-brown pair are outlined with white stitching and set on a Cuban heel. You might be surprised by how versatile they are – just think Mick Jagger in the late 60s rather than Woody from Toy Story. Wear yours with jeans or tailoring: tapered, flared or slightly cropped cuts will show them off best.