Python Cowboy Boots: The A.W.A.K.E. MODE Viggo Guide 2026

Python cowboy boots pair a Western silhouette with a snakeskin pattern. The A.W.A.K.E. MODE Viggo Boot Python on Coveti does it in python-embossed leather, not exotic skin, with a curved cowboy-inspired line and a 70 mm sculpted wedge heel. It is made in Italy, costs $1,550 and runs large, so take a size down.

Western boots are back in a quieter, sharper form, and the python version is the most graphic way to wear one. The Viggo comes from A.W.A.K.E. MODE, the London label founded in 2012 by Natalia Alaverdian (shoppers also search it as “Awake Mode”). This guide covers what the boot is made of, how embossed leather differs from real snakeskin, how to style and care for it, and how to get the size right.

What is the A.W.A.K.E. MODE Viggo Boot Python?

It is a Western-inspired boot in python-embossed leather with a subtly curved silhouette and a sculpted wedge heel.

The Viggo Boot Python draws on cowboy boots without copying them. The shaft and toe follow a gently curved line rather than the hard angles of a traditional Western boot, and the heel is a 70 mm sculpted wedge instead of a stacked block. The upper, insole and sole are all leather, and the boot is made in Italy with a dust bag. It is an AW26 pre-order style, listed for dispatch from the atelier between 9 and 13 November 2026, in Italian sizes 36 to 41.

That curved, sculptural approach is typical of the label. A.W.A.K.E. MODE is known for classic codes cut off balance, and its shoes bring the same thinking into curved and swan-shaped heels. Read who A.W.A.K.E. MODE is for the background.

Is the Viggo Boot Python real python skin?

No. It is python-embossed leather: leather pressed with a snakeskin texture.

The materials listing for the Viggo Boot Python is 100% leather for the upper, insole and sole. The python look comes from embossing, a process that presses a scale pattern into the surface of smooth leather. It is not an exotic skin, and no part of the boot is made from snake. The same is true of the Arna Shoe Python, which the brand describes as crafted entirely from python-embossed leather.

For most buyers embossed leather is the practical choice. It takes standard leather care and has no exotic-skin paperwork to think about. The pattern also looks consistent from one boot to the other, which suits the clean A.W.A.K.E. MODE silhouette.

How does the Viggo compare with other A.W.A.K.E. MODE Western boots?

The Viggo Python is the patterned option; the Viggo brown, Gabriel Sister and Soren are the plain versions of the same Western idea.

The Viggo Boot in brown is the same shape in plain brown leather, and the easier colour if you want one pair for every day. The Gabriel Sister Boot is sleek and black with a subtly curved cowboy line. The Soren Boot adds a softly pointed toe. All four are in designer boots, and our statement boots guide sets them against the rest of the range.

How do you style python cowboy boots?

Treat the python as your print and keep everything else plain.

• With a long coat and midi skirt: this is the pairing we suggest on the Viggo product page for the colder months. A belted trench such as the Flared Belted Trench Coat in light khaki works well against the snakeskin tones.
• With cropped flares: the curve of the boot shows below the hem. The Cropped Flared Trousers in classic blue wash are the obvious A.W.A.K.E. MODE pairing.
• With straight denim tucked in: the full shaft becomes the focus. Keep the top fitted and dark.
• With a knit dress: a ribbed midi and the python boot give texture against texture without competing prints.

Avoid a second animal print in the same outfit. The python carries enough pattern, and the sculpted wedge needs space to read. For whole looks built around the label, see our A.W.A.K.E. MODE styling guide.

Is there a python shoe as well as the boot?

Yes: the Arna Shoe Python, a pump on a 70 mm sculpted wedge.

The Arna Shoe Python is crafted entirely from python-embossed leather, with a softly squared toe and a curved wedge heel that continues the same textured finish. It costs $1,220, comes in sizes 37 to 41, fits true to size and is listed for dispatch between 26 and 30 October 2026. Wear it with straight denim and a sharp jacket for evening. If you prefer a different texture, the Solenne Shoe uses croc-embossed leather on an 80 mm curved heel. Both sit in designer heels.

How do you care for python-embossed leather boots?

Care for them as you would smooth leather, with extra attention to the grooves of the pattern.

1. Brush off dust after wearing with a soft brush, working in the direction of the scale pattern.
2. Wipe marks with a barely damp cloth and let the boots dry at room temperature, away from radiators.
3. Use a neutral cream made for smooth leather, applied thinly and buffed so it does not sit in the grooves.
4. Store them upright with boot shapers in the dust bag that comes with every pair.
5. Take them to a cobbler for sole and heel work; a sculpted wedge is best left to a professional.

How do the Viggo boots fit?

The brand notes that the Viggo boots run large, so take a size down from your usual size.

A.W.A.K.E. MODE uses Italian sizing, which is the same as EU. As a guide, 38 EU is about a UK 5 and a US 8. If you normally wear a 39, start with a 38 in the Viggo. The same advice applies to the Gabriel Sister boot. The Arna Shoe Python and Soren Boot fit true to size. Our A.W.A.K.E. MODE size guide has the full conversion for shoes and clothing.

Where can you buy A.W.A.K.E. MODE python boots?

Coveti stocks the Viggo Boot Python alongside the full AW26 A.W.A.K.E. MODE footwear range.

The label is also carried by Net-a-Porter, Selfridges and Harrods. Coveti ships worldwide from its UAE and Australia hubs, with duties calculated at checkout and authenticity guaranteed. Find every piece on the A.W.A.K.E. MODE brand page, and see the rest of the shoes in our A.W.A.K.E. MODE shoes guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is the A.W.A.K.E. MODE Viggo Boot Python made of real snakeskin?

No. The Viggo Boot Python is python-embossed leather, which is leather pressed with a scale pattern. The upper, insole and sole are all leather, and no exotic skin is used.

How high is the heel on the Viggo Boot Python?

The Viggo Boot Python has a 70 mm sculpted wedge heel with a subtly curved, cowboy-inspired silhouette.

Does the Viggo boot run large?

Yes. The brand notes that the Viggo boots run large, so take a size down. Sizing is Italian, which matches EU, and 38 EU is about a UK 5 and a US 8.

What should you wear with python cowboy boots?

Let the python be the only print. A long coat with a midi skirt, cropped flares and straight denim tucked in all work, with plain colours on top.

How do you clean python-embossed leather boots?

Brush off dust with a soft brush, wipe marks with a barely damp cloth, apply a thin neutral cream for smooth leather and store the boots upright in their dust bag.