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What She Wears: Winter Boots

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By Anne Marie Boyhan
Monday Nov 30 2009

My favourite ritual when I change from a summer to a winter wardrobe is fishing out my winter boots again. However, every year it gets more and more confusing, as trends dictate buckle boots one month to ankle boots the next, even as far as this season’s over-the-knee boot trend, also referred to as OTK boots.

I initially held the OTK boot in low esteem, having spotted Julia Roberts wearing them in Pretty Woman circa 1990, but this year they’ve evolved onto the most influential catwalks from Isabel Marant to Paul & Joe. Alas, this look is not for everyone – I believe it only fit for the seriously slim-legged amongst us.

Trends aside, here are some tips to guide you through boot wearing every winter:

Boots and jeans

To-the-knee boots, or knee-highs as they are often referred to, is a style that suits most people and can be worn to the office or on your downtime at the weekend. If you love the Parisian look and long to wear skinny jeans with boots, you should choose a pair of slim cut or skinny jeans in the same colour as your boots.

When buying your boots, be sure to try them on with the jeans that you have in mind to see if they fit into the boots. Leggings or jeggings are in abundance this year and make a less bulky option, sure to fit into your boots.

Take heed from Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively and Trinny Woodall, who both avoid a light colour worn with dark boots (or vice

versa) as it “chops up” the line of your leg, making you look shorter.

Also, do not wear jeans over flat boots; this is a look saved for boots with a heel.

Flat boots

Again, for flat boots, wear your skinny jeans or leggings tucked inside your boots. If you’re lucky enough to be a tall gal, then you can wear any colour jeans with your boots.

For shorter, curvier ladies, stick to a dark wash denim such as black or indigo blue. If, like me, you fear that tucking your jeans into your boots will make you look even shorter, then wear a longer top which will give the illusion of a longer torso.

Boots under jeans

A riding boot style is a classic “to the knee” boot that will do you for years and comes in various heel heights, so suits both the high-heel and flat-heel fans. They look good with jeans tucked in, as well as under jeans.

For wearing your boots under your jeans, I recommend opting for a round toe and a sturdy heel, as a pointed toe with a stiletto heel can look a bit like you’re the wicked witch of the west, which obviously, is not a good look!

Boots with dresses and skirts

Another thing about to-the-knee winter boots, is the fact that you can also wear them with dresses and skirts. This is a look that’s become more and more acceptable as office wear (instead of court shoes), preferably if you wear them with opaque tights. Try to choose tights in a colour that’s in unison with your boots, as wearing boots barelegged with dresses or skirts can look a tad tarty.

Bare legs with boots

If you do have great legs and want to show them off when the weather permits, avoid a boot style with a sky scraper heel and pick a colour close to your skin tone – nude or beige coloured footwear will elongate the line of your legs. Also, make sure your top half is conservatively dressed, for example wear a high neckline and/or long sleeves. If you are short and want to wear a dress or skirt and boots, you should wear a miniskirt with dark, opaque tights and dark boots – here it’s a case of the monochrome colour having a leg lengthening effect.

It’s basically all about proportion and as much as the boys might like it, you really don’t want to show off more bare leg than skirt.

Anne Marie Boyhan is the editor of WhatSheWears.ie, a fashion tips and celebrity and catwalk style website.

- Anne Marie Boyhan