This High Street Brand Just Dropped The Most Expensive-Looking Shoe Edit I've Seen This Year
Over the past week, I've noticed a series of my colleagues wearing seriously chic shoes. Almost every day, I've exclaimed, "Where are they from?" and quickly found that every single person gave me the same answer. As editors, we're often lucky enough to get an early preview of new collections and even test out the styles before release. Now, I can officially share that the highly anticipated Whistles X ESSEN collaboration has arrived.
For Winter 2025, high street hero Whistles has teamed up with ESSEN the Label, a brand dedicated to beautifully crafted footwear. The pairing is a perfect match, bringing together Whistles' aesthetic of timeless, capsule pieces with a contemporary edge, with ESSEN's craftspersonship, which always has longevity in mind. The collection mirrors this with a focus on timeless styles. The six-piece capsule focuses on enduring styles that feature in every great shoe collection, including the ballet flat, the Mary Jane and the classic boot. But each has been given a contemporary twist to bring a dose of modernity to these enduring silhouettes.
ESSEN's eye for detail, paired with the elevated colour palette of Whistles' new season collections, works in harmony to form the timeless styles. The ballet flat retains a soft, rounded toe, with updated colourways of suede chocolate and vibrant plum. The Glove boots were one of the first pairs I spotted this week, paired with a simple knit and jeans, the squared-toe and black leather finish instantly took the simple look to all-new heights. One of my colleagues had paired the Mary Janes with tailored trousers, allowing the sharp toe to peek out as an elegant finish to the look, whilst another sported hers with a midi dress, showing off the directional backless design. All together, the edit makes for a seriously premium-looking shoe collection that I predict will sell out fast.
Keep scrolling to shop the Whistles X ESSEN Collection and shop more shoes our editors really rate.
Shop the Whistles X Essen Collection
Whistles X Essen
Black Glove Boot
A pair of classic black boots will work hard in your wardrobe for years to come.
Whistles X Essen
Chocolate Ballet Flat
Lean into the sumptuous palette of the cooler months with these suede brown ballet flats.
Whistles X Essen
Black Mary Jane
Bring a touch of polish to your day and night looks.
Whistles X Essen
Plum Ballet Flat
The shade and textured leather has all my attention.
Whistles X Essen
Chocolate Glove Boot
Style with jeans, tailoring, dresses and more.
Whistles X Essen
Chocolate Mary Jane
I have a feeling this pair will move fast.
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