Picture the scene. It’s a balmier day than usual, and you can’t see yourself surviving the temperature in anything that covers your legs. For doing so would just cause unimaginable discomfort. Of course, then rounding out the rest of the outfit with a nice set of boots and a light jacket—a perfect interseasonal look.
But what happens when the fickleness of transeasonal weather strikes. Spitting rain to one side against the glow of the sun to the other. How on earth could you possibly prepare for all the elements hitting at once, particularly if you want to remain in something more casual.
It would seem Dua Lipa has at least part of the equation figured out. Stepping out in London recently after a touch of shopping at Bottega Veneta—perhaps picking up an Andiamo bag of her own. In an oversized moto-style leather jacket and a frayed denim miniskirt, the day-to-night outfit was finished off with a pair of leather heeled boots. But for the pop star, it was her luxurious adaption of a hiking essential that made the look ready for even the most inclement of English summer weather.
Image credit: Getty Images
Wrapped neatly above her boots were a built-in quilted leather set of gaiters. For the uninitiated, gaiters are covers that sit above the ankle openings of hiking boots and over the top of pants, or trousers to keep out mud, rocks, water, or other annoyances encountered on your hike. There’s really nothing worse than having loose debris get stuck in your shoes, particularly if the boots are as nice as these.
While these gaiters were part of the boot itself, the added material acts exactly like the detachable version. For Lipa, the terrain was Sloane Square, but the risk was all the same—light drizzle. Her choice in gaiters? Rather than the traditional nylon or canvas gaiters made for hiking, hers were instead crafted in the most premium of materials.
This isn’t the first time that the world of hiking has been a source of inspiration for some of the fashion set’s most desirable accessories. Gorpcore, in all its many shapes and forms, has seen outdoor brands like Arc’teryx and Salomon become hotly demanded on the back of celebrity co-signs from Bella Hadid and Rihanna. In more recent surges in popularity, The North Face collaborated with luxury fashion label Gucci, for a capsule of outdoor-ready parkas and clothing draped in the luxury cotton of the Florentine house. The essence of practicality still remains—as Lipa’s covered boots deftly prove.
Detachable or not, a little extra protection on your next booted look goes a long way. So when the might of nature flexes its muscle, even when you least expect or want it to, a designer gaiter might be exactly the thing to have on you.
