dresses and boots
by Darby, Kiskadee
It’s funny how many women believe they can’t wear boots with dresses. We recommend it and get shot down frequently. Admittedly, in order to pull it off, there are certain things to keep in mind. Sometimes the length of the dress just doesn’t look right. At other times, boots can make us all appear shorter, as if our legs had been chopped in half. Leather dress and leather boots? Too dominatrix. You’re right. These are all things to avoid, but when the trend is done right, it’s oh-so-good.
Here’s how to make it work for you:
Hemline above the knee: Wear a knee-heigh boot (or thigh-high if you dare!) to compensate for the dress’s shorter hemline.
Hemline at the knee: Wear a boot with a shaft that ends a couple of inches below your knee. You don’t want your legs to disappear altogether.
Tea-length hemline: tight tall boots or a short ankle bootie with some height. This is a harder look to pull off but it can actually be lengthening if you do it right. Best advice? Ask someone when you try it all on together.
A-line dress, especially silky, flirty ones: A bootie! The more substantial shoe (over a pump or flat) counterbalances the lightweight fabric and anchors the whole look. Furthermore, this look really can be either dressy or casual. Consider giving the Ash in Midnight or Belle in British Khaki a go. Both available at Kiskadee. For a dressier occasion, consider the Ronan by Vince Camuto at The Shoe Hive.
Leather dress: Consider first the shape of the dress and the hemline (see above). Unless you decide to wear a bootie, we recommend mixing in some suede to soften the whole look a bit.
With tights: You can really go one of two ways. If you’re unsure how flattering the whole boot-and-dress look is on you, wear a pair of opaque tights in the same color as your boots. This will always lengthen you. If you’re feeling a little braver, see your tights as just another accessory. Think about color options or even better a print or texture. The opportunities are endless. For this to work though, ensure that you’ve followed our “rules” up until this point.
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