Triple Lace Combat Boots
Redefined combat boots through gothic elegance — triple rows of lacing extending to the toe, exposed side zippers, and an aggressive cap that made these the defining footwear of dark romanticism.
The Triple Lace Combat Boots, first appearing in Fall 2008 and continuing as signature pieces through subsequent collections, are constructed from exceptionally thick and sturdy cowhide leather with triple rows of lacing that extend dramatically from shaft to toe. Heavy-duty YKK zippers along the sides provide practical closure while the laces — running in three parallel tracks rather than the single track of conventional boots — create a visual density that transforms military footwear into something closer to armor. The aggressive cap toe generates tension against the delicate lacing, and flaps of leather traverse the shaft at unexpected angles.
Almost universally executed in shiny black leather — with occasional iterations in moody brown or soft grey — the boots embody Demeulemeester’s commitment to a monochromatic palette that emphasizes form and construction over color. They give a gothic edge without resorting to costume, achieving the balance between toughness and elegance that defines her entire body of work. Street style photographers at Paris Fashion Week in the late 2000s and early 2010s documented these boots more frequently than perhaps any other single piece from the Belgian avant-garde, confirming their status as the footwear equivalent of a manifesto.
After Demeulemeester’s departure from her brand in 2013, archive pieces from her tenure — including these boots — became particularly valuable. Pre-owned examples sell from six hundred and fifty dollars upward through specialist platforms like VANIITAS and Vestiaire Collective.