We’re seeing it all over the place these day - super short skirts and cute ankle boots - or booties. Just yesterday I saw Nikki Hilton rocking some ankle boots with her denim, frayed daisy dukes and here we’ve got Taylor Momsen, filming next season of Gossip Girl, in an edgy outfit with a super short skirt and an over sized flannel completed with a fabulous pair of mid heel black leather ankle boots.

We saw the ankle bootie become super popular last year and it looks like we’ve got more looks to pair with this trend, but how can you take the look you see on celebrities but add your own signature style?

Well, we looked around on Planet Shoes to find some interesting options for you. These aren’t the ankle boots you see everywhere - from Naot to Pikolinos, these boots are high quality and boutique and guaranteed to give you a unique look that is going to get you noticed!

Here are some great black ankle boot options perfect for summer, into fall and winter!

Let’s start with the  Blowfish Willis! The reverse wedge heel, structured yet slouchy look and perfect ankle height will make these perfect with short shorts, and with skinny jeans as the weather cools.

Blowfish offers the best value for fashion these days and you can see the quality in the detail. The fun and vibrant purple lining and the architectural nature of these boots elevate their style - and they’re super comfortable as well!

If you want to go with a slightly edgier, rocker look, check out the Blundstone Classic Boot. This black leather work boot has a more masculine, chunkier look, similar to the punk aesthetic of the Doctor Marten’s but with an easy pull on style and elasticized fit for comfort. Blundstone is one of the best known names in high quality boots.

In this case, you’ll be taking a boot made for function and giving it a fashionable edge. Perfect to add that biker flavor to even your most feminine outfit, the Blundstone Classic boot is also extremely practical, developed for durability and hard wearing.

For a more modern and innovative look, check out the Naot Remu, a funky bootie with faux lacing and a fascinating combination of textures that give it a futuristic feel. This is truly a boot for the fashion forward - a real attention getter - but also a boot designed for function and comfort.

The footbed is specially designed for additional shock absorption and the materials that go into this boot are all top of the line. The combination of tanned leather, suede and elastic material help the boot fit your foot perfectly, supporting you and keeping you ahead of the trends.

And, last but not least, the feminine ankle biker boot; the Pikolinos Cuba. This ankle boot is beautifully shaped and made with eco-friendly leather. The shape of the toe will elongate your legs and the mid sized heel will keep you comfortable walking to work or dancing in your favorite bar.

The side belt adds edginess and this boot is truly perfect for your cute micro mini and will look hot in the fall with jeans, skirts or just about anything you choose! This is also a perfect staple for your fall wardrobe, made to last but with a commitment to the earth!

So take inspiration from fashion forward celebrities and then make your own look!

Leather within the context of the environmental movement is a complicated topic. Leather has been used for generations but there are two main arguments against leather for shoes, bags, belts and more.

1. Vegans and vegetarians in the environmental movement hate the use of animals for food or products, so leather is unacceptable right off the bat!
2. The typical leather tanning process used in today’s industrial applications is heavy on the chemicals and the industrial waste. This makes many leather goods very eco-unfriendly.

Here is where the complication comes in:

1. Vegans and Vegetarians won’t use leather, but in many cases are willing to wear shoes or carry bags made from synthetic materials. Although these products are considered “vegan” they are, in many cases, not eco-friendly.
2. Leather, although not vegan, is a natural material. When tanned in an environmentally responsible way, its durability and the fact that it isn’t synthetically produced makes it a more eco-friendly option.

So you see, you can get durable, eco-friendly leather which will last you longer and help you buy fewer shoes but that aren’t vegan, or you can cast a sharp eye to make sure you’re purchasing a vegan product that is also eco-friendly and hope that they last!

If you’re going to purchase leather goods, you should definitely know where it came from and how it’s been treated. Likewise, if you choose to purchase vegan goods, make sure they are also made with a commitment to the environment.

We’ve talked about the process of greening leather before. Various large companies are making a concerted effort to follow in the footsteps of smaller shoe makers who’ve already made the commitment to using only “green” leather.

A number of our favorite brands use eco-friendly leather in all or some of their shoes. They include:

• El Naturalista
• Groundhog
• Patagonia
• Pikolinos
• Timberland

Enjoy our eco-friendly leather shoes and stay green this season!

There are plenty of fashionable women out there who would love to shop eco-friendly. In many cases though, it’s a matter of finding options that are stylish and sophisticated as well as being environmentally friendly. That’s actually a tougher order than you might think. While it’s pretty easy to find a comfortable or casual shoe that’s eco-friendly, dress shoes or shoes with a more fashionable and formal bent aren’t so easy to come by.

This is especially challenging with women’s formal footwear since a lot of eco friendly brands also look…eco friendly. These shoes are adorable, but they do trend to the more casual, so what’s a gal to do when she wants to shop online for some shoes that look and feel fabulous but that also make her feel socially responsible.

That’s where Pikolinos comes in. Based in sunny Spain, these all natural and beautifully crafted leather shoes have European sophistication and an ecological conscience. By refusing to treat their leather with additional chemicals and plastics, they remove a great deal of toxicity from the environment and reduce their eco-footprint.

The other benefit of the supple Pikolinos leather is the way it will form to your foot with wear. The added comfort that comes with a well crafted leather shoe is second to none and being of such high quality leather means, with care, these shoes could last a lifetime.

The hand stitching and immaculate detailing make the classic shapes of these shoes pop. You don’t just get a peep toe skimmer, you get a woven peep toe skimmer with multiple tones of soft, natural leather, comfortable cushioning through the sole and you feel great because you know those very soles are biodegradable.

Likewise you don’t just get a simple black or brown leather pump, you get a shoe with fine detailing and beautiful internal lining that is designed for shock absorption, stability and traction. You can also find trendier shapes like ankle height, open heeled boots, again beautifully detailed with floral cut outs and hand stitching that makes these shoes really stand out.

As a woman of many styles, being able to find an environmentally friendly, classic and well made shoes that have enough detail to make a shoe unique and fabulous is a serious challenge. The quality and styling of the Pikolinos line definitely make them worth a look and a buy!