Attention.. Forward, March. The Trend in Tough Shoes Borrows from the Battlefield
Chunky, proletarian-style shoes have long remained the domain of countercultural style; Doc Martens are as synonymous with punk as studs and safety pins and steel-toe boots and black skinny jeans the uniform of the early '90s grunge rocker. So what to make of this season’s fashion combat boot craze?
Spotted all over the fall 2010 and spring 2011 runways and on celebs from Nicky Hilton to Naomi Campbell and Vogue Nippon fashion director Anna Dello Russo, lace-up boots, inspired by the combat boot, are the latest iteration of the military look to seize fashion.

Nicky Hilton (Photo by Gustavo Munoz/BuzzFoto/FilmMagic); Naomi Campbell(Venturelli/Contributor); Anna Dello Russo (Photo by Venturelli/WireImage)
Fashion designers as diverse as Roberto Cavalli, Burberry, Chanel and Alexander Wang have interpreted the look in recent collections. "It's an offshoot of the popular uniform of jackets and vests and slim cargo pants in muted army greens and khaki," says Jackie Crew, owner of Pella shoe boutique in Atlanta, Georgia. "And everyone’s doing a version. In my store the new trend is represented by fresh young lines including Jeffrey Campbell, Frey and Mia as well as directional Italian and Spanish lines Ixos, Argila, Enrico Fantini and Francesco Morichetti. They all offered their own interpretation on the military look."

Roberto Cavalli (Photo credit should read CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images); Burberry (Photo credit should read DAMIEN MEYER/AFP/Getty Images); Alexander Wang (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
The black combat boots we love seem less a statement of disassociation than a shoe trend that can transcend seasons. "The lace-up adds a softer touch than buckles and straps," says Crew, and will look just as great with a bare leg and shorts as they would layered with knit knee-highs, leggings and a skirt in the winter."
Online eBay listings in Women's Shoes with the term "combat boots" are up 139 percent in a recent week (10/28-11/3) compared to a week-long period approximately one year ago. We scoured the online marketplace and turned up scores of fashion trends inspired by the humble combat boot.
Estar Desert Handmade Combat Boots
(buy it now price, $129)
Rugged Rider Rocker Lace Up Knee High Boots
(current bid, $37.99)
Tory Burch Brian Lace-Up Leather Boots
(buy it now price, $224.99)
Lace Up Beige Military Ankle Boots
(buy it now price, $42.32)
Laredo Black Leather Lace Up Boots
(buy it now price, $34.99)
Durango Dark Brown Leather Boots
(buy it now price, $49.99)
Robert Clergerie France Lace Up Tall Boots
(buy it now price, $249.99)
Tall Knee High Lace Up Military Worker Boots
(buy it now price, $48.83)
Black High Heel Military Lace Up Boots
(buy it now price, $48.83)