It’s no revelation that winter is clodhopper season. And what we see here are a pair of Bottega Veneta’s Puddle boots, an apt name for what could be best described as the fanciest Wellingtons known to man. In these, this chap knows that his feet won’t feel the ill effects of a sudden downpour, but let’s face it, they’re a bit too nice to be deliberately wading through grimy surface water, so he’ll probably be meandering around any he encounters. Extra points are awarded for his tonal harmonising, which he’s nailed to, err, boot.

As everyone and his grandmother knows, black shoes go with anything. The pair in question here, known as Tyrolean shoes, originally hail from the mountainous European region of the same name, where they were once worn for traversing the snowy alpine landscape. While you’re unlikely to be scaling peaks in them today, their sturdy, clumpy sole, often Goodyear or Norwegian welted, makes them ideal for tackling the treacherous conditions found underfoot at this time of year – even when you’re just ambling along a via and not ascending Monte Civetta.

If you’ve made it this far down the list, you’ll know that chunky soles are big news right now. And why wouldn’t they be? Not only do they keep the cold from penetrating your toes from the ground up and keep you on a firm footing, they just look damn cool. When it comes to the chunky sole game, Balenciaga has played its ace card with these megalithic clodhoppers, which this sartorially fluent guy has used to bolster his burly just-off-the army base look.

OK, so this might go against our advice about giving your beloved kicks a sojourn during winter, but when they look as good as this pair of New Balance, who would want to leave them boxed up? We will say that as pristine as they look, at least he’s chosen wisely for the season, opting for a grippy, cushioned sole. Luckily, it doesn’t look like there’s a rain cloud in sight to wreak havoc on these prize specimens.

Move over, Tyrolean Derbies. If you’re really looking to stomp through winter with ease, it’s a pair of hikers you want. And like our aforementioned footwear from the Dolomites, these glossy high-altitude booties have left the confines of alpine trails, making a fine companion to jumbo cords and a Casentino wool overshirt, as demonstrated by this rugged, yet polished urban explorer.

As a cross between a sneaker, snow boot and a slipper, these Suicoke shoes bear all the hallmarks of what we want from our apparel in 2022 – the sporty, intelligently designed pieces that will take you anywhere, at any time. What else would you expect from a cult Japanese label? As for the appropriate style partners, anything in the sportsluxe genre will fit the bill – or as we see here, workwear-inspired carpenters won’t go amiss, either.

While Bottega Veneta might have made a subtle salute to the humble Wellington, Balenciaga’s Mr Demna Gvasalia has gone the whole rubber hog with this hard-hitting design. Their hefty, sculptural soles make them a considerably more brawny alternative to your standard olive-green pair – and we couldn’t think of a better pairing than the all-black ensemble that this hell-for-leather chap has styled to the nines.