Heel or flat. Lace-up or studs. Knee or thigh.
"This season you are seeing everything from a flat to over-the-knee," says Karsten Chorus, owner of Bondstreet Shoes in Shadyside."There also is a lot of hardware on boots from studs to rhinestones."
The skinny jean has created a new look for boots, he says, because you can see the entire boot. Boots with cuffs give two looks in one.
"With so many choices, you can find a boot that fits your personality," Chorus says.
And the many faces of your personality. Women may wear the flat boot chasing after the kids on weekends, but want a dressier boot with a heel for the evening, .
"Every boot is doing well because boots look great with so many outfits," Sigal says. "Plus, there are about eight months out of the year to wear boots where the weather is cool. Shoes are even boot-inspired. Some, if you wear long pants, look like they are boots, even though they aren't. That's how strong this boot thing is."
The variety of boots has gotten quite expansive, says Gregg Andrews, fashion director for Nordstrom.
Take a step away from black and brown and go for a grey or an olive green, he says. The distressed or worn finish is popular. Washed leathers create a softer, vintage look and are perfect for the weekend. With many technological advances in the processing of leather, boots have different finishes than they did before.
Because of the many heights of boots, including mid-calf, women with more athletic or fuller legs can finally find a boot they can wear.
"If you study the shaft of a boot, you can tell if it's shaped to accommodate a wider calf," Andrews says. "Boots are cut for different shapes of legs the same way jeans are cut to different thighs and hips. Women, regardless of age or personal style, can find a boot that fits them. There are sexy thigh-high boots to flats to military-influenced to lace-up. The equestrian style is timeless and looks great on most women."
Boots can transform an outfit and give garments a new personality. Women feel different when they are wearing a boot versus a pump. It's kind of a mental thing that goes with fashion. You feel more confident and have a little extra kick in your step, Andrews says.
"Buying the right pair of boots satisfies on a deep level because the payoff is so great," says Suzanne Mauro, a stylist accredited by the Association of Image Consultants International. "A pair of great boots positively hollers for attention and admiration. Many of us, and I am among them, has a tale or two that starts with us talking ourselves into buying a very cute and stylish pair of boots and ends up with a Band-aid mosaic on our heels. This is precisely the reason why it's so important to take the time and buy the right pair of boots that will flatter and fit you."
Boots, when paired with pants or leggings, can create a seamless and elongated that's slimming. When looking at a knee-high or over-the-knee boot, be sure it fits snugly to the leg without digging into the flesh and that it hits above the widest part of your calf, Mauro says.
Pay attention to the color and heel height. If you wear a lot of pants and jeans, you may be better off going with an ankle boot or bootie. If you wear a lot of skirts, leggings and skinny jeans, then look towards a knee-high or over-the-knee boot.
If you go with an over-the-knee boot, keep the rest of your outfit tame. Go for a long-sleeve top with a modest neckline or slip on a pair of tights underneath a short skirt. Make those peep-toe booties last all winter by investing in a pair of interestingly patterned tights or knee socks, Mauro says.
Always look in a full-length mirror so you can see how the proportions of the boot complement your body, she says.
"Flat booties that are vaguely Western-feeling -- either round-toed in scrunched-down suede or worn-in leather with pointier toes -- have been gaining momentum since the summer when the music festival crowds started wearing them to combat muddy fields," says Susan Cernek, executive online editor fashion and beauty for Glamour. "The look works just as well in cooler months, especially when paired with skinny jeans, leggings or a dress and tights."
Boots with buckled details is another popular look and is something that can be tougher, with silver hardware or sweeter, with gold details, Cernek says. Lace-up booties have replaced the edgier all-black booties of previous seasons.
"A knee, or above-the-knee pair of flat boots is always a regret-free purchase," Cernek says. "They are the most versatile, easily tucked into skinny jeans or leggings or worn underneath skirts and dresses. And they are the most comfortable, too. If you've already got a pair in your closet, try a lace-front stacked heel bootie with a little personality to update all of last winter's pants and dresses."
Additional Information:
For hard-to-find sizes
Jcrew.com : Get classic yet cool styles in extended calf sizes.
Onestopplus.com : Find more than 45 wide-calf boot options in medium, wide and extra-wide measurements.
Widewidths.com : Every boot on this site comes in plus calf sizes, with helpful calf measurements for each style.
Zappos.com : The go-to for hard-to-find sizes! The selection spans from sizes 4 to 16 with widths of 3A to 4E and more than 100 wide-calf boots.
Source: People Style Watch
