Over the past two years, there has been a lot of talk about the decline of luxury, with the exception of Kering's Saint Laurent. In addition to the phenomenal rush to buy YSL lipsticks, Saint Laurent's quarterly sales have been growing by double digits in recent years, reaching 974 million euros in 2015, an increase of 37.7% year-on-year.
 
Since April 2016, Creative Director Anthony Vaccarello has taken over the brand's leadership, and under his leadership, Saint Laurent's ready-to-wear has moved towards a violent romanticism, but this has had little impact on its boots, which remain clean, unseasonal.
 
Refined pragmatism seems to be the best way to describe Saint Laurent's ankle boots. Worn by the likes of Gigi Hadid, Alessandra Ambrosio, the timeless 'Blake' Jodhpur ankle boots are a timeless choice. Suede reduces the stiffness of the lines, and the Cuban block heel and wrap-around ankle wear are a mix of sculpness and softness for a chic western style that can be worn with a biker jacket or ankle-skimming skinny jeans.
 
The Rock Chelsea boots are a classic and unbeatable piece, with a pointed toe and Cuban heel that are just as stylish as they are for commuting. The Babies collection pulls you out of the ranks of boring passers-by with a square block heel and square toe, and the leopard print style is even more eye-catching, and the unbridled animal motif and fur texture become the statement piece in the autumn and winter of black, white and gray. Named after French fashion designer Loulou de La Falaise, one of Yves' many famous muses, the Lou Lou collection is dominated by a round toe, with a wide choice of materials and boot shapes, such as lace-ups, suede zippers and gold-toned textured leather.
 
If you feel that the above recommendations are too bland, the Niki series is a bit picky, but eye-catching enough. Anthony Vaccarello adds an '80s twist to Niki's signature with a sculptural tapered slice heel with an asymmetric collar with an avant-garde label, paired with a tonal mini skirt or a stone-washed faded denim for a retro and sleek look.