Knee High Boots Style the Footwear Trend

While the pendulum of the fashion trend fluctuates from season to season, switching from dopaminergic vinaigrette to businesscore in a single year, you can always count on over-the-knee boots to return in the fall. More comfortable than their thigh-high counterparts (which tend to slide down and only work with fitted trousers and mini dresses) and more versatile than ankle boots, squat shoes are a staple of the autumn wardrobe, effortlessly bringing together even the most casual looks.

Personally, while I have long enjoyed seeing people wearing high boots with miniskirts and dresses, the moment I tried on a pair, I secretly hated the look of the shoe style and lamented that maybe it wasn’t right for me. However, when I read the book the Creative Pragmatist by tibi Creative Director Amy Smilovic this year, I realized that I had no problem with the style, but with the “Skin sandwich” — “that piece of skin peeking between the edge of my pants or narrow skirt and the top of my boot” — that he created.

“Sandwiches make me feel cut off. For me, they ruin the flow of my style,” Smilovic says in the book. “For many, it’s the thing that bothers you that you could never lay a finger on. Now you know.”
Armed with this knowledge and eager to try the style again, I set out to test the Kate de Larroude boots made of elegant crocodile-embossed leather. For a week I wore these boots every day to see if they were as versatile as the street style claimed. Since there was no sandwich in sight, not only did I like the look for the first time, but I didn’t want to take off my shoes the following week.

The easiest way to wear a knee-length top is a midi hem, whether it’s an a-line skirt or a tight sweater dress (like this reform number). Preppy fashion is back (again), which makes me decide to go for knitted polo shirts and college blazers. In order not to look like I was literally coming home from school, I contrasted the look with a modern denim skirt instead of traditional wool and opted for a touch of Barbiecore pink.

For a more casual look, tuck your favorite pants into the high boots and let the fabric float around the knees. Then combine the combination with a cozy knit (in my matter, a cashmere turtleneck) and a light jacket. While a trench coat or peacoat would make this look more classic, I love the juxtaposition of a modern, sporty windbreaker (from my new favorite collaboration between Ganni and 66°North!) with fitted trousers in a vintage look.