This is the type of outfit I would have worn to work three years ago. Now that I work from home, how I approach getting dressed has evolved from wearing office-appropriate outfits to anything that bares my midriff (just take a look at my last three posts 😂). In fact, I really had to reign myself in from wearing this outfit with a leather bralette like I initially wanted, but figured I’d at least keep it winter friendly.

For some reason, heeled ankle boots also went the way of office-appropriate outfits these past few years for me. It was as if I wore them so much (I pretty much wore them to the office exclusively) that when I finally had the chance to dress for life outside of corporate America, I shunned them. It wasn’t until this past winter that I finally started coming around again. Back in November or so, I started lusting after a pair of the Manu Atelier duck boots and began monitoring The Real Real and Poshmark with a plan to buy a pair secondhand. That plan was promptly abandoned when I discovered these Tony Bianco boots instead.

For a fraction of the price, you can get essentially the same pair of boots, made with real leather (if that’s something you value— up until that point, I hadn’t realized the Manu Atelier pair were made from vegan leather). I personally prefer real leather as I find it holds up better over time and has a higher resale value if I decide to part with them. It’s been a few years since I’ve owned a pair of black heeled ankle boots, and while I didn’t miss them, I can already tell these will fill a gap in my wardrobe nicely, and give me something besides sneakers or kitten heels to wear with looser trousers and jeans. You just won’t catch me wearing them to an office anytime soon!