I've had a love/hate relationship with over-the-knee boots since they started trending on the runways for Fall 2014. As a fashion editor, I loved the idea of them, how they seemed to make an outfit feel entirely more seasonal and luxe in all the gorgeous magazine editorials and runway looks I pored over. In real life and in my closet, they were harder to love and to wear. It felt more like they were wearing me, that they took over outfits with their overtly sexy feel and seemed to elicit far too many stares on my morning commute. Sometimes I loved it, sometimes I just wished I was wearing sneakers. But when the Fall '15 runways confirmed that, in fact, the silhouette was here to stay, I resolved to embrace the look I obsessed over on the pages, this time in real life.
For my mission, I enlisted four other editors, selected a range of styles, and set out to prove that this a trend that does, in fact,
work for every body type and our real-world day to day. The results just might change your mind about Fall and Winter's biggest boot trend. Hint: you can totally wear them too.
"I was definitely hesitant to try over-the-knee boots. I thought that they would be hard to pair with clothes and unflattering on my body type. I couldn't have been more wrong — this pair elongated my legs and goes with lots of outfits I already have. I would wear these all the time! I especially love that they give you some extra warmth in the wintertime. I'm adding a few pairs to my wish list."
The Boots: Report Signature Lipton Over-the-Knee Boots in Tan ($180)
"I normally shy away from shoes that are overly sexy, so a high-heeled OTK boot is not something I'd wear. But the flats were a perfect middle ground for me. Loved balancing them with a loose-fitting dress."
The Boots: Steve Madden Tyga Over-the-Knee Boots ($150)
"I was a little intimidated by high-heeled OTK boots because they have a femme fatale quality that seemed to reserve them for sexy nights on the town, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover that they can transition to chic daytime (and even work-appropriate) attire when paired with the right outfit."
The Boots: Stuart Weitzman All Legs Over-the-Knee Boots ($798)
"After wearing these gorgeous boots for just an hour, my outlook on over-the-knee boots completely changed. They're not only versatile but also incredibly flattering. Like many women, my thighs are not something I want to exactly highlight, but these over-the-knee boots actually had the opposite effect — they gave me legs for days! I had no idea a pair of shoes could give me such a confidence boost."
The Boots: Stuart Weitzman Lowland Over-the-Knee Boots ($798)
"I've had and loved over-the-knee boots, but I always felt a little conspicuous wearing them — especially when they come with a heel. Still, I love the way they make my legs look longer when paired with a shorter hemline, and topped with a cozy turtleneck and a varsity jacket, the look feels sporty and contemporary — not too sexy."
The Boots: H&M Over-the-Knee Boots (no longer available)