August 21, 2026 |
Boot weather may still be far off, but Vivienne Westwood knows how to draw a crowd with footwear laden with treasure. For autumn/winter 2026, the fashion house resurrected a millennium-old classic, debuting the Treasure Boot — a more mature sibling to the coveted Pirate Boot that found its way onto the feet of stars in the early aughts.
The blueprint? Kate Moss soaking up the Los Angeles sun against her black Ford, clad in a striped T-shirt and white denim miniskirt, finished with a pair of beige Pirate Boots. It’s an image that has long peppered the sartorial moodboards of fashion enthusiasts, cementing the look as an enduring reference.
Despite being a staple of the 2000s, the boots’ inaugural reveal took place years prior during Vivienne Westwood’s autumn/winter 1981 runway – the designer’s first collaboration with then-partner Malcolm McLaren, as part of the Pirate collection.
Pirate Boots emerged from Westwood’s intrigue with the swashbuckling sphere of 17th-and 18th-century pirates, infusing the collection with a sense of romance, adventure and rebellion. Indeed, the boots were defined by soft, ruched leather that slouched effortlessly down the leg, while wide leather straps and oversized roller buckles lent them a rugged look. They were perfectly imperfect. Rebelling against the capitalistic excess of the 80s, Pirate transcended Westwood to new heights, cementing her status as the punk rebellion of the counterculture.
While the cult design still has a special place in the wardrobe of many vintage lovers, this autumn/winter 2026 contemporary counterpart continues to echo the punk spirit synonymous with the house. Accordingly, the Treasure Boot’s design reflects the bones of the original with its slouchy leather structure and buckled straps. Yet, the addition of the elongated pointed-toe and sharp pin heel indicate the boot’s evolution from swashbuckling pirate princess to feral Victorian office siren.
Shop the boots here.
Photography by Vivienne Westwood.
Written by Gaia Marinaro and Maria Sarabi.
