AD – in collaboration with Dune London. Item gifted. Opinions are entirely my own.
September always flips the mood board: iced matcha turns into hot, city pavements turn into catwalks, and my colour palette deepens into rich, tonal browns. This year, I built my whole September wardrobe around one pillar piece: the Dune London ‘Simple’ block-heel knee-high boot in brown — elegant, 70s-coded, and walkable enough for Liverpool days that turn into neon nights.
Why this pair works (and actually walks)
- Clean, minimalist shaft & almond toe = elongates the leg and slides under midi hems without fighting fabric.
- 7cm block heel = height with stability (perfect for cobbles and quick turns into coffee shops).
- Inside zip; standard and wide fit options = practical and inclusive.
- Suede-effect microfibre in deep chocolate brown = that luxe, soft focus finish we love, but with easier care than traditional suede.
- Price: £169 — a strong value for a true outfit-maker.
The bigger picture: why knee-highs are the AW boot again
Runway and editor round-ups are unanimous: knee-high boots are central to AW dressing in 2025 — from stacked-heel classics to equestrian and slouchy profiles, with suede textures and chunky heels getting special love. Translation: the silhouette isn’t a micro-trend; it’s a foundation.
Vogue also frames all-brown and mocha tones as one of the year’s defining colour stories (hello, Pantone’s Mocha Mousse), which makes chocolate footwear the most wearable way to tap the mood right now.
How I’m styling them: Penny Lane energy, now
I’ve been wearing ‘Simple’ with my chocolate-brown mohair-trim Penny Lane coat — a 70s-dream combination that hits that “groupie romantic” note without feeling costume. The shearling/mohair-collar Penny Lane shape is firmly back in circulation (and spotted on Bella Hadid earlier this year, styled with brown knee boots — proof of concept).
Silhouette recipes that just work:
- Tonal midi + long coat: brown slip skirt + fine-knit + the boots + Penny Lane coat. Add gold hoops and a structured bag.
- Mod mini + opaques: a chocolate mini, 40–60 denier tights, and the boots for a leg-for-days line (yes, stylists still swear by this combo).
- Soft tailoring: camel/brown trouser suit with the boots tucked under a wider hem for a quiet-luxury stance. Dune’s own AW edit recommends tonal dressing and pairing chocolate with burgundy and olive — the trio reads expensive in real life and on camera.
Bag chemistry: the Dune pieces that complete the look
I pulled three new-season bags from Dune that slot perfectly into this palette and echo current handbag trends (top-handles, suede, crescent shoulders).
- Deliberate (woven shoulder bag) – the brand’s cult weave with a softly slouchy shoulder silhouette; I love it in dark brown for texture against the smooth boot shaft.
- Balancing (asymmetric clutch) – glossy, sculptural, with a gold clasp and optional cross-body strap; the mirror-shine plays beautifully against suede-effect boots for evening.
- Dedicated (scoop shoulder bag) – the crescent shape that’s everywhere again, in rich brown to keep things tonal and 2025.
Shop the look:
Comfort, fit & fabric notes
- The 7cm block heel is genuinely all-day — I’ve worn it for city striding and it’s served me extremely well.
- Standard and wide fit options make styling over jeans or under thicker tights easier.
- The microfibre (suede-effect) upper gives you the look of suede with slightly simpler upkeep; still, treat them like suede: spray-protect before first wear and brush away marks gently. Dune’s care guides back regular cleaning and (light) protection for suede textures.
AW25 trend radar
- Knee-highs & suede textures are major across editor picks and runway recaps.
- Chocolate brown + tonal dressing is the cheat-code to chic right now; Dune’s own AW25 capsule pushes chocolate as a hero colour and suggests mixing with burgundy and olive — I co-sign.
- Handbags: suede, top-handles, and early-aughts shapes (hello crescent shoulders and structured minis) are the carry-now directions.
Stephi’s styling checklist
- Build head-to-toe brown: start at the boot and stack chocolate, toffee, and coffee tones northwards.
- Add one glossy element (Balancing clutch) to contrast the boot’s matte surface.
- Sprinkle 70s references: Penny Lane coat, ribbed knits, or a woven bag like Deliberate.
- For day: mini + tights. For night: bias midi + sheer top + sculptural bag.
FAQs
Yes — editors are calling out knee-highs (including stacked and suede) as central to fall dressing this year.
It’s bigger than a flash-in-the-pan. Brown has dominated AW25 shows and was bolstered by Pantone’s 2025 Mocha Mousse call-out. It’s the most wearable way to do “quiet luxury” in colour.
Crescent shoulders and structured top-handles feel the most current; Dune’s Dedicated and Deliberate tick both boxes.
Final take
If you want one purchase to anchor September through to winter, make it a knee-high in a modern brown. Dune London’s ‘Simple’ nails the proportions, comfort and palette — the perfect base for Penny Lane romance, café-to-cocktail days, and a wardrobe that reads rich, not try-hard.
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