Alright ladies, while everyone should still own a pair or two of knee high boots and all, the riding look with jeans tucked in is dead — well, to be honest, it was dead last season and overdone even before that, but I noticed that not everyone caught on. Instead, getting more creative with boot height and the clothes you pair them with is a must.
The essential fall item for me is a pair of black leather ankle boots. There’s some great options this season, with my preference for a pair with just enough heel that you get some height, but not too much that you can’t scale the subway stairs. For the last few years I’ve lived in my black ankle boots, to the point that the heels are worn down and they’re probably unsafe to walk in. But I haven’t even been able to give them up for long enough to get repaired.
Why ankle height? First of all, because you can wear them with both skinny and boot cut jeans. I don’t know about you, but trying to make sure my jeans were tight enough to tuck into boots was a bit of a pain. Even better, you can throw them with tights and a casual dress and you’ll immediately look that much more put together. And you should still be able to layer on some socks to stay warm. Here are a few options for this season:
WIth a little heel — Madewell’s Winston Boot is a personal favorite. These shoes have put up with miles and miles of walking on the uneven sidewalks of NYC. They’re not too tall, and the boot goes high enough on my ankle to give my clumsy self some support. I’m pining after these from ACNE for an update to my shoe-game.
Chelsea Boot – You can find a form of these comfortable, all purpose flat boots anywhere. They’re great for dressing up a daytime outfit, and also getting away with wearing them at night if you want to avoid heels. There’s this affordable pair from Zara, or if you want to splurge this suede version from Steven Alan.
Western Boot - If you want to add a bit of cowboy flair, this style is definitely the most flattering for your calves. Check out this heel-less version from Steve Madden, and in this case, I think the lighter colors rock. You can also check out this leather pair from Madewell, this time with a bit of heel
