Back in the game....

... and back to the boots.  Ok, who turned on Winter in just 10 days?  Seriously, I was all the Phil Collins before I left (no jacket required) and I was one step off reaching for a scarf this morning.  

Thankfully there was no frost (that may have had me heading back to the airport smartish) and I refuse to put the ankles away just yet.  I do, however, appreciate this bold gesture has a very limited shelf life. 

Which isn't the worst issue in the world, as that leads me to discuss one of my favourite wardrobe essentials.... BOOTS.  And for once, it's not ankle boots.  It's the polar opposite of ankle boots.  It's verging on crotch high boots.  Ish.  Also known as over the knee boots.

You may remember that I have looked at these a couple of years ago - the Stuart Weitzman Highland boots, which I never got round to buying for various reasons.  And I can't say I've really ever regretted that decision - they were too expensive, I didn't really know what to wear them with, I was worried they wouldn't stay up my leg and would bag down.

So why am I contemplating them again?  Well, I'm not contemplating the Highlands but over the knee boots are on the verge of once again becoming an obsession - a scratch I really need to itch.  But this time, the irony is, the baggier the better.   We are talking ruching, we are talking Nora Batty style boots. 

We're randomly talking about not even seeing all of the boots - by all accounts, the ideal way to wear them is under a dress or skirt.  Not even one of the mini varieties.  Midi or maxi is the length of choice.

And THAT is why, I've gone from "OMG NO WAY, I look like I belong in a window in Amsterdam", to  "they're top of my wishlist" at the moment.  As, being Gulliver at 5ft10, it's incredibly difficult to find midis that are midis.  However, with an over the knee boot to hide my, soon to be white again, skin and Les Dawson knees - it opens up a whole host of midi love for me.  

So starting at the very top end of the scale.  This is not where I am intending to purchase.  Not at all.  But it's a great place to get inspiration and see the best styles to then try and track down on the high street.

I'm not sure how popular these are going to be, but I wonder if anyone will change their mind by the end (which is what I inevitably do when I write these sorts of blogs).

Deep breath peeps, we're going in...

Thigh suede and leather two tone boots from Marques Almeida £705

Dare I say, I think these are actually really elegant?  Not a whiff of red light.  
Gabriella Hearst Matilda over the knee leather boots £995



A classic which I heart on every level.  Apart from in actual real life wearing the buggers, as they are hideously high for every day.  Which is handy as I would have hated to fall in love with them at that price.

Balenciaga Knife Over the Knee Boots £950



Or my favourites which I fear would elicit all sorts of "wading", "fishing" and other non complimentary comparisons from the husband.  But I love them.  

Lostynn leather over the knee boots from Isabel Marant £1280  Never going to happen!  Which is handy as they're sold out in most sizes already (which doesn't mean I therefore want them more.. doesn't at all.  Not.  At.  All....)




Don't faint at the price of these ones....

Prada Buckle Embellished Over the Knee Boots £1740




Now here's the thing.  If you're going to wear a dress or skirt below the knee, you're not seeing the true beauty of those amazing buckles.  Which means that it's "probably" not worth it for that money ("probably" in there was no possibility of me EVER spending that money on them - this is purely for inspiration purposes).  They also look like they would take a lot of time to put on.  All those buckles... I am waaaaaaay too lazy for that amount of time expenditure on putting on boots.  Not to mention the nails I would break in the process (when I say "break", I mean ping off, as I still use the stick on ones!  All the class when one of those flies across the room and you have to go and rescue it...).



BUT I do think lower heel ones are a good idea.  A really, really good idea as I have become addicted to wearing flat, or near as flat godammit, boots.  Is it an age thing?  *weeps*.  Is it a fashion thing? *offers up small prayer*.

Without the above price tag.  I have to say I love the brown as I fear the black may be edging into Gestapo territory.  And I'm going to throw it out there - never a good look.  However I think if you team with floral midi dresses and flowing skirts, it would definitely de-WW2 them.

Leather high-leg boots from Mango £119.99







Although personally I prefer these from Topshop. 

Dollar High Leg Boots £59




Flat again at Zara but I do prefer the extra studding on the above Topshop ones. 

Flat Over the knee boots with toe detail £59.99 (I can't see any toe detail...just saying..)



Then there are these ones also from Mango.  The fabric definitely makes them less German Soldier.

Over the knee heel boots from Mango £49.99



Moving up a notch in the heel height (actually they're the same as the ones above) are these from Topshop.  Where I lose ALL my confidence and think - are you out of your mind?!  BUT then I'm curiously drawn back in... WHY???! 

Crawler Over the Knee Boots £79 from Topshop



So it's all sorts of wrong diddly therefore, that I'm more drawn to the red.  HOW is that?  

Crawler Over the Knee Boots from Topshop in red £79



Or.. how about these from M&S.  Hmm, yes M&S.  

Kitten Heel Side Zip Over The Knee Boots from M&S £49.50



And we're going higher still.  Oh man... Again.  I start a blog thinking - meh.  Nah.  Not going there.  And end up convincing myself that I can wear all of them.  I love these.  I think it's the suede, the Marant inspired feel to them, the glorious price tag, how fabulous they'd look with dresses and skirts.  BUT are they a teensy bit too high for every day wear?  Alas, I fear if I'm asking the question, I already know the answer.  Of course it's completely down to the individual but for me.. probably too high. 

Boxer High Leg Boots from Topshop £99



Or how about these from Miss Selfridge?

Miss Selfridge Over the Knee Ruched Boot £65



Or at Kurt Geiger.. 

Violet Black Mid Heel Over the Knee Boots £229



Then I get all the bold and think - maybe I could go patent (I started writing this at midday so no, I hadn't had a sniff of anything emboldening aka gin).  As I could see myself in the Marant ones... but these.. they just tip over into Red Light District, don't they?

Boxer High Leg Boots from Topshop £99



Which leaves me in utter confusion (nothing new there...).  Come on - what do we think?

I'm finishing with ones that I know I'm not going to get as they're simply too high.  BUT if you are a fan of the Balenciaga Knife boots - these are for you.  For less than £50.  As opposed to nearly £1k. Get in there. 

Public Desire Refuge Over the Knee Boots £44.99