Shoes have been around for a while. Like, a long while. Evidence suggests people started protecting their feet as long as 50,000 years ago, especially in cold regions where exposure to the elements could quickly kill a person.
In the Kassite period of 1600–1200 BCE in Mesopotamia, people living on the mountains along the border of Iran developed a simple shoe design using leather and rawhide lacing. Leather would remain a popular material for all kinds of shoes throughout history.
Throughout the Middle Ages, shoe construction and sizing became a bigger focus. Standardized sizes were introduced by King Edward I in the early 1300s, leading to modern English sizing.
By the 17th century, boots became the norm in Europe while many people on the North American continent wore “stout leather shoes with a moderate heel.” These boots and shoes were often decorated with pricey materials, similar to the most expensive boot designs of the modern-day.
Boots are still common, and most pairs are pretty affordable. But that doesn’t mean they’re all cheap. Boots are regularly made by luxury fashion brands, leading to some pretty steep price tags.
These are the most expensive boots in the world.
- Gucci Riding Boot Desk Accessory
- The Shark Lock Boots
- Morgan Fleur Crystal Embellished Boot
- Damien Hirst’s Spot Boots
- The YSL Rhinestone Boots
- Baron Alligator Boots
- The Phantom Boots
- The Diamond Boots by A.F. Vandevorst
Brand: Gucci
Materials: Leather and brass
Origin: Italy
photo source: sothebys.com
This one’s a little surprising. Other boots on this list can actually be worn — but not this one. Gucci’s Riding Boot is a desk accessory. That’s right, this is a miniature boot decoration. The little leather boot was crafted in the 1970s in Italy. In those years, Gucci was getting big in the fashion world and the fragrance arena, but that didn’t stop it from making unique leather creations like handbags and tiny boots.
According to Sotheby’s auction house, this boot measures just 7.5 inches tall and 5.5 inches wide. The body is made of leather while the spur is made from brass. Altogether, Gucci’s tiny boot costs a whopping $1,375.
Did you know?
Gucci’s first ready-to-wear fashion show debuted in 1981.
Brand: Givenchy
Materials: Leather
Origin: Italy
photo source: givenchy.com
Givenchy’s Shark Lock boots are unique for a few reasons.
First, that design. The interesting look features a broad upper body that almost swallows the lower section. Each boot stands on wedge heels, but you wouldn’t know that unless you flipped them over to see behind the extended layer of leather.
Next, Givenchy added a padlock-style charm stamped with the brand’s name to the brim of each boot. The overall look is very industrial — and it comes with a price tag of $2,395.
Like most leather goods from Givenchy, these boots were probably made in Italy. However, the brand also produces some clothing and footwear in Portugal and France.
Did you know?
These boots are made from calfskin leather. That means the leather comes from cows under one year old.
Brand: Christian Louboutin
Materials: Leather
Origin: Italy
photo source: nordstrom.com
These are the ultimate statement boots. The wild design is bold and fiery, just like the glam rockers it’s inspired by.
Christian Louboutin says these boots were influenced by the flamboyant styles of rock stars of the 1970s. Think David Bowie and Elton John. These artists are well-known for their attention-grabbing outfits on and off-stage, so it’s not hard to see where the designer got his inspiration.
The boots themselves are made from leather — but that’s really just the start. Crystals are added to the boots’ upper body to form beautiful blossoms while the leather itself is made an eye-catching yellow. The whole thing is tied together with Louboutin’s iconic red soles and shipped with a price tag of $4,895.
Would you buy these boots?
Did you know?
These boots are part of Christian Louboutin’s “Our Angles” capsule, a gender-inclusive collection “that pays homage to the androgynous magic of glam-rock icons as it celebrates inclusivity and authenticity.”
Brand: Manolo Blahnik
Materials: Unknown
Origin: Italy
photo source: bonhams.com
Damien Hirst is famous for a lot of reasons, but his biggest claim to fame is the controversial use of animals in his work. Hirst regularly has animals such as cows and sharks killed, then preserved and displayed in his exhibitions. One estimate says nearly Hirst has used nearly 1 million dead animals in his art.
Beyond controversy surrounding his use of animals, critics call Hirst a “pretentious money-lover.” Some of this criticism comes from a 2008 auction staged by Hirst, which earned the artist an estimated $200 million. That wasn’t Hirst’s first foray into ultra-expensive creativity, though. In 2002, the artist worked with designer Manolo Blahnik to create these “spot boots,” which are worth an estimated $5,919.
Did you know?
These boots originally sold for up to $1,200 a pair, but the resale market has boosted the price significantly.
Brand: Yves Saint Laurent
Materials: Rhinestones and other materials
Origin: Italy
photo source: thefashionball.com
In the high-fashion world, it’s pretty common to see celebrities get excited about expensive clothes and footwear.
Well, that’s exactly what happened with these YSL Rhinestone Boots — and all that hype got the general public excited too. According to reports from the time, icons like Rihanna and Kendall Jenner were seen wearing the $10,000 shoes, leading to a huge surge in general sales. Some high-end stores even racked up long waitlists of people in line to purchase a pair.
The boots themselves are handmade and covered in 3,000 rhinestones. Like other products from Yves Saint Laurent, these boots are likely made in Italy. The man behind the brand, Mr. Laurent, was born in 1936 and died in 2008. During his life, the designer became a well-known name in the world of fashion thanks to his widely acclaimed dresses. Interestingly, Mr. Laurent got his start working for another iconic designer: Christian Dior. Mr. Laurent worked for Dior for a while, but he eventually launched his own brand in 1966.
Did you know?
Yves Saint Laurent was the first designer in the world to get a solo exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Brand: Lucchese
Materials: Alligator leather
Origin: Texas
photo source: lucchese.com
Alligator leather is extremely expensive. Estimates say the material typically costs more than $200 per square foot — so it’s no surprise that these Baron Alligator Boots from Lucchese have such a high price tag.
According to Lucchese, these boots are handmade in Texas. The design, known as The Baron, has been a “staple” of the brand for generations. Lucchese says the design is made entirely from alligator leather.
Lucchese gets its start in the 1800s when the company’s founder, Salvatore Lucchese, was born. The brand itself was founded after Salvatore purchased a machine used to make shoes. The company gained notoriety over the years, and in 1910 the first international purchase of a Lucchese boot was made by Lorenzo Quesada of Mexico.
Did you know?
In 1923, Salvatore Lucchese tragically suffered a stroke. His son, Cosimo Lucchese, quickly returned to Lucchese to help run the family boot business despite previous efforts to launch his own company.
Brand: Howard Knight
Materials: Leather
Origin: The United States
photo source: rockingkcustomleather.com
Coming in at number two are the Phantom Boots, a unique pair valued at $106,000. The wildly expensive footwear was designed by Howard Knight, a master craftsman known for his expensive leather artistry.
The Phantom Boots feature leather and silver details blending to form intricate patterns. Knight reportedly took 800 hours to complete his impressive creation.
Did you know?
Howard Knight was featured on Viceland’s Most Expensivest, a TV show about a selection of expensive items across the globe. Knight met with rapper 2 Chainz to discuss his leather masterpieces, showcasing a variety of shoes and other leather-based projects.
Brand: A.F. Vandevorst
Materials: Over 30,000 diamonds and other pricey materials
Origin: Antwerp, Belgium
photo source: diamonds.net
The Diamond Boots by A.F. Vandevorst are the most expensive boots in the world.
At the number-one spot are these $3.2 million boots. The wildly expensive design was created by A.F. Vandevorst, an Antwerp-based luxury brand known for expensive products. The boots themselves feature over 30,000 diamonds and over 4,700 grams of gold. Altogether, the project took about 30,000 hours to complete.
Would you buy these boots?
Did you know?
A.F. Vandevorst got its start in 1987 when two designers met on their first day of school at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, an art school in Antwerp, Belgium. The brand ended its operations in 2020.
