Collection: Boots

Discover our carefully curated selection of secondhand boots: ankle boots, knee-high boots, over-the-knee styles, combat boots, riding boots and rare archive pieces from the world's most celebrated houses. Every piece is hand-evaluated by our team on avenue Louise and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Because a great boot is not simply winter footwear — it is fashion's most architecturally ambitious shoe category and the one that most completely defines a silhouette.

The boot in fashion history: from riding field to runway icon

The boot's history in women's fashion traces a particular arc: from its origins as a fundamentally practical garment (the riding boot, the walking boot, the work boot) through its appropriation by fashion's most subversive figures (the go-go boot that Mary Quant paired with the miniskirt in 1964, the thigh-high boot that Saint Laurent deployed to extend the leg of his 1960s collections into near-architectural territory) to its current status as one of the most actively designed and collected categories in luxury footwear.

The great boot moments in fashion history often coincide with broader shifts in how power and femininity are understood. Beth Levine's stretch vinyl boots of the 1960s elongated the leg while implying movement and freedom. Yves Saint Laurent's thigh-highs of the late 1960s and early 1970s were simultaneously the most revealing and most commanding footwear women had worn in public. Stuart Weitzman's over-the-knee boots of the 2000s translated this command into an accessible luxury proposition. And in the contemporary period, the ankle boot — flat or heeled, structured or soft, in leather or suede — has become the most versatile and consistently collected piece in the luxury footwear archive, its scale allowing it to work equally with jeans, trousers, skirts and dresses.

At Les Enfants d'Édouard, our vintage boot selection spans this rich history: from the archive ankle boots of Celine, Balenciaga and Alaïa to the knee-highs of Saint Laurent and Gucci, from the combat-inspired boots of Rick Owens and Ann Demeulemeester to the equestrian traditions of Hermès and the sculptural extremes of Alexander McQueen.

Our boots categories

Ankle boots

The most versatile category in our boot selection and the one with the broadest range of design ambition: from the squared-toe ankle boots of Celine's Phoebe Philo era to the block-heeled constructions of The Attico, from the Chelsea boot tradition in premium leather to the deliberately distressed and architectural ankle boots of Rick Owens and Ann Demeulemeester. The ankle boot that works with everything in a wardrobe is one of the most reliably valuable vintage shoe purchases available.

Knee-high and over-the-knee boots

Saint Laurent's knee-high and over-the-knee boots in soft leather — the definitive luxury boot silhouette across multiple decades — lead a category that includes the suede thigh-highs of Stuart Weitzman, the structured riding-influenced knee-highs of Gucci and Hermès, and the most dramatically proportioned over-the-knee constructions of the avant-garde houses.

Combat and lace-up boots

The combat boot's appropriation by luxury fashion — beginning with Rick Owens's draped and distressed constructions and Ann Demeulemeester's lace-up leather designs in the 1990s and 2000s, and continuing through the contemporary interest in utility-influenced footwear across the industry — has produced a category of boots that combines practical durability with genuine design intelligence.

Riding and equestrian-inspired boots

The riding boot — structured, tall, in premium leather with a low block heel — draws on the equestrian tradition that runs through Hermès, Gucci and the great Italian leather houses. Archive riding boots in exceptional leather from quality producers represent some of the best value in our boot selection, combining longevity of material with a classic silhouette that has never fallen entirely out of fashion.

Chelsea and pull-on boots

The Chelsea boot — elastic-sided, easy to pull on, with a clean silhouette that works with an unusually wide range of clothing — is one of the vintage shoe market's most consistently in-demand pieces. Archive Chelsea boots in premium leather from quality producers, in excellent condition, represent some of the most practically useful pieces in our entire shoe selection.

How to evaluate a vintage boot

Evaluating a vintage boot requires attention to several combined criteria. Here are the 7 checkpoints we systematically verify in our atelier on avenue Louise.

1. The label and authentication

Every boot carries a verified attribution — house name, size marking and country of manufacture on the insole, with any additional authentication markers specific to the relevant house and era.

2. The leather and material quality

The upper leather is assessed for suppleness, grain consistency, any cracking or delamination, and the condition of any pull-on tabs or zip mechanisms. For suede uppers, we assess nap evenness and any bald patches from wear or cleaning.

3. The shaft condition (for knee-high and taller boots)

The shaft of a tall boot is subject to specific stresses — creasing from wear, distortion from storage, and potential cracking at areas of repeated flexion. We assess the condition of the shaft leather specifically, as shaft condition significantly affects both the appearance and the wearable life of a tall boot.

4. The sole and heel condition

Sole wear pattern, heel condition (tip condition for heeled boots, sole edge condition for flat boots) and any previous resoling are assessed in detail. A well-resoled boot can offer many additional years of service; a poorly resoled boot may have lost structural integrity in the process.

5. The zip and closure condition

Where boots feature zips, we assess zip quality, smoothness of operation and the security of zip stitching at both ends. Zip failure is a common issue in vintage boots and requires disclosure as a condition factor.

6. The internal structure and lining

The internal lining condition — leather, fabric or synthetic depending on the boot — and the integrity of any internal structure (particularly in structured riding boots and tall boots with internal boning or stiffening) are assessed as condition factors that significantly affect wearability.

7. The overall condition and wearability

We assess and honestly grade every boot's overall condition, with particular attention to whether the piece is genuinely wearable by a new owner or primarily collectable rather than functional.

Our method: at Les Enfants d'Édouard, every boot undergoes a three-stage examination — visual inspection, technical verification (label, leather, shaft, sole, zip, lining) and wearability assessment. Every authenticated piece comes with our certificate of authenticity.

Size guide for vintage boots

Vintage boots size conversion guide

EU	UK	US	Foot length (cm)	Calf note
35	2.5	5	22.5	Check shaft width
36	3.5	6	23.0	Check shaft width
37	4.5	7	23.5	Check shaft width
38	5.5	8	24.0	Check shaft width
39	6.5	9	24.5	Check shaft width
40	7.5	10	25.5	Check shaft width
41	8.5	11	26.0	Check shaft width

Sizing notes for vintage boots

Boot sizing requires attention to both foot length and calf circumference for any boot taller than an ankle boot. Vintage knee-high and over-the-knee boots were often produced to specific calf widths that may not accommodate all calf circumferences — we provide shaft circumference measurements for all tall boots in our selection. Soft leather and suede boots typically offer more calf accommodation than structured leather. For ankle boots, standard shoe sizing conventions apply, with the same caution about vintage sizing running smaller than modern equivalents pre-1980.

Why invest in vintage boots

Vintage boots represent one of the strongest value propositions in the secondary shoe market for a simple practical reason: a great boot in premium leather, properly maintained, improves with age. The leather softens, the sole conforms, the silhouette settles into exactly the right relationship with the wearer's foot. Archive ankle boots from the Celine Philo era, knee-high boots from the Saint Laurent archive, and the most sought-after combat and lace-up designs from Rick Owens and Ann Demeulemeester all offer this combination of design significance and material durability that justifies the investment.

For those wishing to sell vintage boots, we offer an expert consignment service.

Our boots selection in Brussels, avenue Louise

Our boutique Les Enfants d'Édouard, 175 avenue Louise, 1050 Brussels, carries a curated selection of vintage boots from the world's most celebrated houses. We welcome you Tuesday to Saturday and offer private appointments outside regular opening hours.

Care and maintenance of vintage boots

For leather boots, use boot trees to maintain shaft shape and absorb moisture after wear. Clean with a soft cloth and condition the leather periodically — shaft areas that flex repeatedly benefit from more frequent conditioning to prevent cracking.

For suede boots, brush after each wear with a suede brush. Treat with suede protector spray before first wear. Avoid moisture — suede is significantly less water-resistant than smooth leather and can be permanently marked by rain.

For storage, store tall boots upright using boot shapers or rolled-up acid-free tissue paper to prevent the shaft from folding and developing permanent creases. Never store boots on their side without support.

Frequently asked questions about vintage boots

Which vintage boots are most sought-after?

Square-toe ankle boots from the Celine Phoebe Philo era, Saint Laurent knee-high and over-the-knee boots in soft leather, Rick Owens distressed leather lace-up constructions, Ann Demeulemeester asymmetric leather ankle boots, Maison Margiela Tabi boots from early production years, and Balenciaga Ceinture boots and knife-heel constructions from the Nicolas Ghesquière era.

What warranty do you offer on vintage boots?

Every piece sold by Les Enfants d'Édouard is guaranteed as described, with a certificate of authenticity for signed pieces and 14 days to return (return shipping costs excluded).

Discover also

Looking for vintage boots?

Browse our full boots selection or book an appointment with our team for a private viewing on avenue Louise.

• ✓ Guaranteed authentication: every piece certified
• ✓ Secure delivery: Belgium, France, Europe
• ✓ 14-day returns: satisfaction guaranteed
• ✓ Boutique at 175 Avenue Louise: 1050 Brussels