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Fall is right around the corner, which means that it's time to start thinking about making the shift from warm to cold weather wear. An easy way to bridge the fall gap is with a great pair of boots. Boots are big this fall, in all their various forms -- tall, short, flat, stacked, you name it -- which is great because it means that you can wear what's in your closet instead of having to shop for new boots to keep up. The trick, of course, is HOW you wear your boots, particularly in the cool-but-not-cold days of fall.
So how DO you work boots into your fall wardrobe? Easy!
The most universally flattering boot is an equestrian style; no matter how tall or short or wide or thin you are, a sleek equestrian boot will work for you. Flat boots are practical and chic and comfortable, but more than that, they are VERSATILE -- wear your equestrian boots with a skirt, or with jeans (tuck your skinny jeans into the boots for a cool country-weekend look). Pair them with lighter cotton skirts and bare legs for fall, or with wool skirts and a parka for winter. Wear them for work or dates with a dress -- I love the combination of sturdy riding boots and a wrap dress. Classic. (Whitney by Etienne Aigner, $149.00 at Piperlime.)
However, be sure your boots don't overpower the rest of your outfit. If you want to merge a summery skirt with fall's riding boots, finish the outfit with a cardigan or crewneck sweater, to give the whole look some weight and warmth. Jackets are also a nice way to layer up summery pieces for fall; pair skinny jeans and boots with a tee and a blazer or trench.
What about all those other boots out there, the ones that DON'T hit at the knee? Think carefully about your legs before you commit to a shorter boot; boots that hit mid-calf can cut your legs in half. Mid-calf boots work best on girls with long legs, and are better paired with opaque tights in the same shade as the boots and a skirt that hits either just above or just below the knee. Mid-calf boots are also perfect under trousers; they tend to give you a cleaner line than a knee-high boot.
And then there are the booties, those teeny little ankle boots that are so hip right now. Booties are cool, but they are not necessarily versatile, for a couple of reasons. The best ankle boots have some sort of fun detailing, like the pair here, which has both a cuff and a button. Avoid ankle boots that are cut straight across the ankle; this cuts your feet off, which is bad. Really. (You by Crocs boots, $160.00 at Piperlime. CROCS! Who knew!)
Ankle boots are meant to be paired with a dress or skirt; your hemline should hit above the knee, for a long, clean leg line. If you are not comfortable with a shorter hem, you can pair ankle boots with cropped pants, but honestly? I'm not recommending that. It's a tough look to pull off; most of the time, you just look like your pants are too short.
SheFinds has some great dresses to pair with short boots, the Go Fug Yourself girls show you what NOT to pair with your boots, and the girls at The Fashionable Housewife share their favorite fall boot picks.
Susan Wagner writes about style at Fashion Find and ParentDish, and about everything else at Friday Playdate. Have a pressing style question? Email her at fridaystyle.susan@gmail.com.
