Chunky Boots & Pretty Dresses. Your Thoughts? - YouLookFab Forum

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Chunky Boots & Pretty Dresses. Your Thoughts?

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

I'm still thinking of ways to wear my chunky lace-up boots with a fur trim(last image).

Well, I have a rather rocky relationship with Chunky footwear.....but these boots are super comfortable - something I really need right now as I recover from PF.

While these models make it look so 'effortless', I highly doubt it'll be *that* easy to just wear a pretty dress with chunky boots. I'm neither 6' tall nor a Size 2. Plus, I doubt I'll ever start to love something so pretty & dressy paired with such chunky shoes??!!!

Any thoughts?

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Dressing

29 replies

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Liz

Veteran

Why not try on and post some outfits? I do notice that in the pictures you posted, everything except the dress is rough or messy (leather jackets, messy hair, casual poses).

Janet

(website)

Veteran

In general, I like the idea because I'm all about casualizing and roughing up pretty, dressy pieces. I think it can be done no matter what your height or size -- it's one of those concepts where the details make all the difference. It does remind me of the 90s, which is not a totally bad thing.

Diana

Veteran

You know I love this look. But it's a look, and you have to like the juxtaposition.

ETA: I don't own anything that frilly any more (with the possible exception of my 80's rah-rah skirt which I very rarely actually wear) but it's the same idea.

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Dee

Veteran

I remember this trend from the nineties and teenage me was a huge fan. I'm not sure I'll go there this time around, but mostly because I don't have really buy pretty/lacy/feminine enough dresses.

I think you could pull it off. Liz is right that everything but the dress should be a little tougher to balance things out.

Diana

Veteran

PS - Would you wear these types of dresses with gladiator sandals? Because it's not really so different at all, just warmer.

I personally often feel too girly/young/refined in super feminine dresses/skirts so I prefer something tough to balance them out. In the summer I wear gladiators, in the fall/spring I wear chunky boots.

Diana

Veteran

Ha, here's a really 90's one, complete with Docs! =D

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catgirl

Veteran

This is the only thing I really wear with girly dresses.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I'm with Diana and Una here. I'm a 90s girl at heart, so this look always makes me happy.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Good Lord, Diana....you wear this look so bloody well!! It looks totally effortless and natural on you. But I AM struggling with these boots, especially worn just this way folded down. I find them easier to wear folded up - they become calf length and look less chunky when it's all black. Hmm....I think I should just start wearing them that way!

I love the 90's photo!!! So cute!

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Question for Diana - So what do you do in winter? I see here you've styled the boots without tights as it was probably warm enough for bare legs. But do you wear black tights and these chunky boots underneath these skirts as it gets cold?

Diana

Veteran

These days, I don't do this look so much in the winter, but yes black tights would work. I used to do this more. I prefer them to have just a teeny bit of sheerness (so not super duper opaque). I'm just kind of down on tights at the moment for comfort reasons and rarely wear them. (Hence I don't wear my skirts as much in the winter.) With certain dresses you can put them over skinnies/leggings too but that's kind of a different look then.

I wear taller boots with bare legs for as long as possible too. Sometimes I add boot socks, scrunched and peeking out the top. My knees are possibly the least cold-sensitive part of me, so I do it until the temps are ~60F or so.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

It totally works with tights. Check out all these.

Greyscale

Veteran

I'm another 90s grunge child who loves this look. It works particularly well with black tights (then and now) to tie the heavier footwear in, but that's not necessary, and the contrast can be nice too.

The one thing about your boots is that the shearling changes the vibe a little - less rocker, more outdoorsy, maybe? That's also a great combo with skirts but I can see how it might throw off the look that you have in your mind. (It might mean they look better without tights, also, which I think fits your climate well?)

I'd love to see them paired with some of your dress options. I bet there are some good combinations.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Another 90s-girl-at-heart chiming in to say yes, absolutely, I like the look. I prefer it without the black tights -- or at least, sheer black hose is better than heavy black tights. But I think the bare leg look is better.

Let's see it on you.

Peri

Veteran

I love the look and think the right person can pull it off...and I'm including you in that group. You could truly do this. (Me, not so much.)

rachylou

Veteran

I think one key thing about this look is going girlish on the dress. And I think you, Maneera, usually go feminine as opposed to girlish, if that makes sense. Girlish or feline... Feline as in a long asymmetrical hem t-shirt dress and leather moto...

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Rachy - I think you're 100% right. Nothing 'girlish' about my style. I also don't have any lace dresses....I wear more of structured 'grown up' dresses or summer dresses.

From what Greyscale has rightly pointed out - these boots may be chunky but they don't have the grunge/ rocker vibe. My boots look like hiking boots. I think I may be better off wearing them with casual dresses & skirts, like denim or corduroy.

I also can't do without tights. I can't bear to be cold and sheer hose does nothing for me.

I don't think I can pull off this look. But this exercise does point me in the right direction....thanks to all the feedback. Especially you Diana!

The whole point of this exercise was to figure out how to wear the boots with skirts/dresses. I'll be trying out outfits soon and posting them for feedback.

Thanks for all the help, ladies.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I just wanted to say: just because the boots can be worn with the cuff down doesn't mean you have to wear them that way with your dresses. Start with the taller-shaft look, since you like it best!

Lizzy5

Can you please tell us brand of boot? I have been looking for this kind for a month now!

josephdyee

Member

I just love chunky boots...I usually wear them with shorts & stockings but yeah i think they look pretty cute with cute dresses.Check out this one for example. ttp://cdn11.lbstatic.nu/files/looks/large/2014/10/21/4097202_Frances_Cassandra_Blogger_Wears_Quiz_Clothing_Velvet_Kimono_9.jpg?1413905446

lyn67

Veteran

I find the whole concept a bit juvenile but as there you also know, there can be big differences between chunky boots and chunky boots-so think it can be made work equally well for mature folks, too-if paying attention to details. Yours(and Diana's) for example are all good, plus health issues always win over fashion ones, of course:-).

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Lizzy- these boots are from a brand called Carlton London. I don't know if that brand is available in the USA, though.

I quite like lace-up boots from Steve Madden, though.

J.J.

DIANA, THAT OLD PICTURE MAKES ME SO HAPPY. I LOVE all your WIWs, partly because I have a similar body type so I always learn something, but the oldie was maybe my favorite ever.

Maneera, I think you'll look Fab in it, and I think feminine can work, though Rachy's point about 'girlie' is an interesting one.

Love,
JJ, a 90s-girl who still loves STP (so sad last week, but did you read his ex-wife's letter?!- so powerful!) and NIN (I decided a couple of days ago that Johnny Cash singing 'Hurt' is the best song that's ever been made)

approprio

(website)

Veteran

Yes. A thousand times yes. I love this look on others but I rarely do "pretty" dresses so it's not for me. I think you could really rock it.

LaPed

Veteran

Maneera, for those boots you need to check out yama girl style from Japan -- that sort of hiker-chic look that exploded several years ago. Here's some pinspiration:

https://www.pinterest.com/apar.....yama-girl/

I don't know how much of it would adopt well into your style, but the emphasis is on colorful, sometimes frilly layers paired with chunky outdoor gear.

I think Greyscale is right that these boots are more "outdoorsy" chunky than "urban/rocker" chunky -- think puffy vest or quilted jacket in place of the leather/moto styles. Chunky knitted elements would work too -- a cozy cable or fair isle seater, maybe? The idea is still to make the dress the one feminine element in the ensemble and to keep the rest fairly androgynous.

L'Abeille

Veteran

What about with a sweater dress?

VioletMyra

DH purchased these for me yesterday: http://www.websafety.com.au/pr...../705-60510
in the hope that I'll get more than two seasons out of them. I love the ruggedness of the boots with pushed down wool socks (over leggings) juxtaposed with a pencil skirt and chunky sweater when I'm out on the oval in the Roaring Forties or the southerlies from Antarctica.
Best wishes.

dakotacheryl

Veteran

Maneera, you would look wonderful with your new boots styled this way...love the boots BTW!!

Anonymous

I like the look on Diana very much, but her boots fit against the leg. Try yours worn up and with the denim or cord skirts you mentioned and maybe add a rustic scarf if the outfit looks bottom heavy.