Can anyone out there clarify what mum boots are?

[Flumpyflumps]

I'm shopping fr new boots this weekend and want to avoid boot faux pas of at all possible.

mum boots are cautious, with mid height block heel, in black leather mostly

like these

boots that mums wear of course ! Like these ......here of course

these

Fark I have pistols

In my opinion?

99.99% of ankle boots are mum boots.

Those pistol things are actually horrible. And exactly what would have been dismissed as fashionable 5 years ago.

£350? Emperor's new boots.

So.... basically ankle boots???

X-posts, Bunny

Emperor's new pistols
Lols

No, ankle boots aren't mum boots anymore, they're fashionable now! Mum boots are boots that are typically worn by suburban women in their thirties, who have taken a few years to catch on to what the current trend is, and so are wearing boots that are in fact a few years out of date. Five years ago, this would have been mid block heel ankle boots, and whilst there are still some awful ankle boots around ( not acne pistol's imo ), the tide has turned, and mum boots are now knee high ( especially with skinnie's tucked in ).

Grimandhumourless, yes those M&S ones are horrid.

So I want to get ankle boots, but ones that are this season's ankle boots to avoid Mum Boot Syndrome?

Why not get some that YOU like. The most stylish people are those who know what they like and what suits them, without much reference to passing fads. Take Bunny's assertion that Pistols wouldn't have been considered cool 5 years ago... that's fashion - it changes with the weather!

Plus I have never once seen agreement on the absolute definition of 'mum boots' on here. To me they're boots that I don't like and would never wear, but I guess as an actual mum it must be the opposite!

In total agreement with Grim and Quinn on the M&S ones, though...

Yes, the whole mumsnet "mum boot" debate is all a bit tongue in cheek, surely?

I'm just worried about all the poor souls out there dithering over their Clarkses or Topshops

I can never find boots that I love (generally avoid black footwear) and that fit (I'm broad of foot and calf). So when I find some that are pretty good, I tend to keep them for years and year and years anyway. I had been thinking of long boots, because ankle ones can accent those broad calves I mentioned, but maybe I haven't found the right cut / heel height combo.

I would rather wear flip flops in winter than those M&S boots

I just think it's really important that people understand that the definition of mum boot has to change with the fashion!

isn't it down to how they're worn, as much as anything? A Mum Boot - to me! - is a 1.5 inch block-heeled black ankle boot, worn with a pair of too short bootcut jeans in a determined mid-blue, possibly with a Per Una gilet.

Agree with wildfig. Lots of examples of mum boots about in the shops this season. It's all about how you wear them. stares down at own ASOS Ash rip offs

Forgot to add 'with a square toe' for that full 1996 effect.

still devastated that my pistols are mum boots

although..i am a mum

In my opinion someone who is " mumsy" and has zero style would make any boots look like mum boots , conversely some stylish people can make anything look stylish, those pistols could look really up to date on one woman and like something your gran would wear on another.

I totally agree with Quinn, I was out shopping the other morning and almost every mum pushing a buggy was wearing knee high boots with skinnies tucked in, a tunic and a scarf. Nothing wrong with that, but it is certainly the mum uniform now. The same outfit with ankle boots would have looked much better IMO.

Pistols wouldn't be my favorite boots ever, but there is a whole world of a difference between them and the M&S.

April is blogging about the merits of ankle boots v knee boots today over on schoolgatestyle here

April?? Avril! (iPad blah blah)