Happy October!!! Y’all know I love boot season and now it’s finally time to bust them out without looking like a complete autumnal psycho. I’ve searched high and low for the perfect additions to my ever-growing collection and thought y’all might be interested in some of the ones on my radar. Of course a gal can never have too many pairs of boots, but there is a science to the right boot collection for your budget. I love a good bargain but sometimes worry that I’m risking quality to save a few pennies. Girls, I’ll be honest… I’m not easy on a pair of shoes, so I need to be sure that they are going to live through fall and I’m not going to be traipsing the web for another pair the following week. I try and stick with brands I know and retailers I trust; it’s also not a bad idea to stick to darker shades to prolong wear.

To start off your boot collection, everyone needs a pair of classic booties. Something you can throw on with a pair of skinny jeans and cute sweater and you’re ready to go. Booties are an instant outfit maker and can pull any simple look together. They are perfect for transitional weather, since they’re so low on your leg they won’t give you a heat stroke if its still 90 degrees where you live.

Next up is a category that I have just started obsessing over in the last few years and easily my favorite – the ankle boot! I personally like an ankle boot to be tighter fitting about my ankle/calf area. The key to this look is making sure your skinny jeans are TIGHT or it could look like the boot cut jean with UGG boot trend we all fell victim to in 2006. I like how an ankle boot polishes a cozy sweater look, without making your outfit look “over-dressed” or too fancy.

My favorite thing about a fall wardrobe is how stylish you can look while essentially wearing pajamas. On a typical fall day, you can find me in yoga pants, an oversized sweater and a pair of riding boots. The boots and sweater kinda mask the fact that you’re not wearing *real* pants. Of course riding boots look great with dresses, skirts and black denim, too. They are definitely the most versatile boot of your collection and absolutely a closet staple.

You know my old faithfuls in the over-the-knee category are the Stuart Weitzman Lowlands, Highlands and now the Midlands (next up to try: the Thighlands)- they really are worth the price. If you aren’t sold on the over-the-knee look quite yet, then of course there are fantastic dupes that won’t break the bank. I started my OTK boot collection with a pair of the Steve Madden’s because I wasn’t sure that my legs were long enough for the style. Once I was convinced that the OTK life was the life for me, I bought a pair of Lowlands and I’ve never looked back.

Let me know what your favorite boots are this season – you know your girl is always in the market.