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Ok, otk

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Thinking about this fall/winter, I’m considering OTK boots. I know they can be smart daywear, when done right. I also know I love embellishment, so could easily wind up looking like I’m headed to Gasparilla—or am starring in a local production of Pretty Woman.

What colors, design elements and features should I look for? Which should I avoid? I’m already thinking flat to 1” heel. Beyond that, I’d love to hear from fabbers how to pick OTK boots

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53 replies

Latest reply was from Stagiaire Fash

Liesbeth

Veteran

I was briefly drawn to the suede, drawstring at the top variety last year (went for cowboy boots instead - the drawstrings were either awkward or constantly flapping when walking). Combined with a low heel those read more 70'ies then street worker imo :p. But maybe not your cup of tea. Also, suede and dirt ugh.

Jane

Veteran

I love OTK boots in black leather. Because there is no gap between top of boot and bottom of skirt. I like suede too as it is softer. They can be slightly challenging to put on quickly!

Brooklyn

Veteran

Yes, I’d go for flat or near flat for sure.

I had a black flat pair for about 3 years that had a stretchy panel at the back for fit. Eventually the elastic behind the knee gave way from sitting and standing and they started to droop around my knees. So watch out for that.

I think if I were buying a pair today I’d look for cognac, burgundy or taupe. Suede would be great. Nice texture.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I'd go for a classic simple flat (maybe up to 1.5" block heel) style in black or one of the colors Brooklyn mentions. Think about exactly what you'd be wearing with them. Are they going over slim jeans or leggings, or tights and skirts/dresses. Think about how the color and texture would play with the bottoms, and whether any embellishment would push the look into ALGO (a lot going on). I'd be inclined to say no to embellishment. The OTK style is already a statement, and embellishment and color make it too easy to veer into costume mode.

I have a pair of black leather lace-up boots, but even though they are OTK style, they don't actually go all the way over my knees, they only come up to my kneecaps, and I'm not even very tall. If memory serves, you may be tall enough and have long enough legs that you have this issue with some OTK boots. Or they're just tall enough to go over the knees, but when they slip down with wear (which they always do, unless they have some stiffness or structure), they can end up in an awkward spot. Lace-up styles are good for achieving a good fit, but again, they are a look in themselves so I always keep the supporting acts in those outfits really simple -- black or dark skinnies and looks that are streamlined with some structure like a long blazer, to avoid that "pirate" look.

I also have this tan pair, which fit so nicely and were so comfortable, I bought them on a whim several years ago, but I've only worn them maybe three times. They're just not my color. For winter wear, I really need them to be black or burgundy or grey or even cognac. I've wondered about dyeing them, but suede is tricky. But I think a style like this may be a good choice for you.

Kelsi Dagger Brooklyn Malcom Over the Knee Boot

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Seychelles | Anthropologie Seychelles Rival Suede Over-The-Knee Boots

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Diana

Veteran

Mine are OTK in front but only come up to right below the knee in the back (and the back is stretch fabric), which IMO is much more comfortable (full range of knee motion!). However this does mean that the front panel can sometimes get a little floppy. Knee length full skirts tend to get stuck in them.

And yeah I agree going simple is best. Mine are flat, black, fairly fitted, and have gold zippers/small buckle at the top, but not other embellishment.

nuancedream

Veteran

I have two pairs of OTK boots in blue faux suede and a pale gray leather. They have 1" to 1. 5" heels and no hardware or embellishment. I wear mine mostly with midi skirts and flowy/sweater dresses. Occasionally, I will wear OTK boots with skinny bottoms, but not combined with a puffer vest. Great look for Han Solo, but not for me.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Thank you all for the replies!

Nuance, lol at the Hans Solo reference. Yet another direction to avoid! The colors you’ve chosen sound divine. I also want a color that’s interesting, but not “interesting” iykwim.

Diana, thanks for the warnings about knee length skirts! I don’t plan to wear these with pants or leggings much, so will have to watch out for the interaction with skirts. I have experience with an old favorite pair of boots wreaking havoc with the hem of midi skirts, because there was a buckle near the top, so thanks for that reminder.

Janet, good point about height and otk! I hadn’t even thought of that. The ones that come up just over the knee caps look great sometimes, and oddly out of place others. I bet the issue is where that piece hits on the leg. I don’t want to look like a knight in armor! The black boot you show is quite similar to my black combat boots, so I won’t be going that direction. The tan one really does look unadorned, perhaps also because of that color, but I like the heel.

Brooklyn, thanks for the warning about the elastic giving way faster than in boots where it isn’t positioned at a joint. I plan to keep these for a long time. I appreciate your color suggestions too. My first impulse was black, but that’s what half my boots are, and I do like interesting footwear.

Jane, you look so sophisticated in yours—that’s part of what started changing my mind on them! I guess I should look for zippers for ease putting them on.

Liesbeth, that flap-flap-flap would drive me nuts! It probably isn’t something I’d think of until it was too late. I liked these socks, but in reality am probably lucky they sold out.

It sounds like I was mostly on the right track with my thinking. I had in mind suede way-over-the-knee boots, with maybe a little strap across the ankle or something. Color wise, I was thinking of a rich burgundy that straddles between red and brown. I’m not sure about the color now that Nuance has mentioned hers—I’ll keep my eyes and mind open. One other question—cuffs. Have you ever seen a pair with cuffs that don’t look borrowed from Jack Sparrow?

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UGG Sparkle Cable Knit Over the Knee Socks

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kellygirl

Veteran

I love OTK but you do have to think about how you will be wearing them. My faves for dresses are my Blondo suede pull ons. They're more fitted than slouchy. My faves for skinnies are my Fryes. Low heel, western style. They're not very versatile though--they really only work with skinnnies. They are a statement though...just saying.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I think a strap across the ankle won’t work. You need a fair amount flexibility in that section, as your pointing your foot to get into the boot, then have to flex to get into the foot bed. I don’t think I’ve seen ones with that style. Also the whole point of the OTK is to have a long line up to the thigh, and in my opinion an ankle strap would just look odd hanging out down there all by it’s lonesome.

Admittedly I haven’t worn mine in forever. But here’s a relatively current look book for different styles

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/.....igh-high-b

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Annagybe, thanks for the link. Many of the boots there have a fair bit of heel. I think I want to stay flat, as I already have several heeled boots. I don’t know the name for the kind of strap I meant. This obviously isn’t otk, but it has that embellishment https://m-en.zalando.de/anna-f.....n-o11.html

Kellygirl, I might sometimes wear them with pants, but for me, that wouldn’t be the point. I expect I’d mostly wear them with mini skirts, sometimes with midis. And very rarely with pants or leggings.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I knew what type of strap you were referring to, but your example is from a more classic knee high boot, not over the knee.
And yes the link I showed included heeled versions, but it could be extrapolated to flats.

ETA: what I tried to say initially is that strap won’t work in OTK boots, which in my mind a different animal than knee high boots

Cee

Veteran

Swash that buckle !!

rachylou

Veteran

I have a pair of grey suede that tie behind the leg. The tie is invaluable. Before that I had smooth leather black OTKs. I never wore them because A) they’d slide down and B) that smooth, shiny jet black was too theatrical. They weren’t cheap but there wasn’t anything you could do to make them not look cheap because of their theatrics. Lol. Like teens on prom night.

Joy

Veteran

Tall but not OTK would be your best choice. A classic.matte finish would be ideal in a flat boot. I have a pair of light brown suede but only one dress that I would wear them with, and that outfit is on probation and probably to be gone soon. You might be better off with good high boots,

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

coming soon...

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

OK, here is what I'm thinking: I want flattering OTK boots. For me, that means my legs look long and shapely, not skinny or stick-straight. I will wear these for school girl or office casual kinds of looks, with pieces vaguely roughly similar to the clothes in 3, 5, 9, 11, 17, and 19 in the look book Annagybe linked to, but flat.

A guide to these kind of boots and what effects different elements have would be amazing. Like does a slouchy style make the legs look longer or shorter? or would a cuff highlight & play up muscular thighs? (In other words, my ideas about body ideals don't always match what the authors of these guides think. They might say a cuff is "good" or "bad" for muscular thighs, but I bet they would see big thighs as a negative. I'm working to build back up to my soccer-player legs and I damn well want to show them off. So learning about the effect of a cuff on how that part of the leg looks is more helpful than an up or down vote that encapsulates their ideas about how a woman's body should look)

Annagybe, what you said about the strap cutting into the line is just the sort of thing I'd love to find a compendium of.

Joy, I have tall boots.

Avast, Cee!

Rachylou, interesting and a little irritating about the tie. I definitely don't
want them to fall down, but I don't like the way those shoestrings look,
dangling behind the knees. Hmpf.

A couple pairs, just to see if people think I'm on the right track
for my purposes. These are both too small--I'm just trying to get the
right idea so when I see the ones, I will know they are ones and can nab
them immediately. I've seen several that have Western/cowgirl styling, don't think that's what I want.

These look brown, but the description says dark green, which would
coordinate well with my berries and blues, as well as with more classic
neutrals. There are ties, but they are made part of the style. https://www.thinkshoes.com/de/.....8503064_39

Silver/grey, with some change to break up the monotony. Would these look sparkly and cheap, similar to the black ones RL mentioned? Is fabric even anything I want to look at?

https://www.yoox.com/us/117562.....11756240OQ=

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I would not do sparkly. Those are a really specific look IMHO. You're looking for versatility? I'd stick with a more subtle neutral. The "dark green" worries me even though they look brown -- the color may be one of those greenish-brown shades that does not play well with the cooler colors you seem to wear. I'd be inclined to steer you more towards charcoal or burgundy, or a burgundy-leaning brown. Even chestnut brown. I would pull out the specific outfits you want to wear with this kind of boot and take a good look at the colors together.

rachylou

Veteran

I tuck the laces and agree with Janet. And totally think the sparkly boots would come off cheap IRL...

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Thanks Janet. What do you think of the style of the green one? I know you think about the effects of things on how thighs look (you're going for a more conventional look than I am, but the "tricks" will work the same way). I think I can picture the brownish-green you mean and you are right, that would be deadly. I *do* want things that are versatile for my wardrobe, but hope to come up with interesting colors that "happen" to work with my clothes. A nice forest green would probably work that way, as long as I didn't look like Robin Hood. The boots I have now, from shortest shaft to longest, are navy, metallic gold floral, red suede, black, black, black, and chestnut brown.

Liz

Veteran

I'd encourage you to look at overall outfit proportions as well as color. It sounds like you'll want to wear the boots with short skirts (rather than leggings or skinny jeans), which means you will always need to take skirt length, skirt-to-top proportions, and type of hemline (structured, flippy, etc.) into account when you put together an outfit with the boots. For that reason, I'd be cautious about a cuff -- that could be troublesome to make play well with skirt hems and proportions.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Only two replies in and I'm looking at those silver ones wondering what the heck was I thinking! Thanks, Rachy and Janet. You guys are great!

Liz, this coming year I want to start really focusing on shapes. Right now I just try things on together until something works, with no logic or understanding (other than very crude things like "not all super-fitted or all super-loose"). You make a great point about a cuff and skirt shapes. I have one that's straight and would probably work with a cuff, but some others are flippy, and I want these to be versatile, not tied to just a couple items. So no cuff it is!

Here's another one as fodder for discussion. I think I'd rather get a more interesting color, but what do people think of the shape and styling of this one? It doesn't have a lot of embellishments, but there is a little something going on at the knee. The color goes with my stuff, but is the same as two suede skirts (one midi, one midi) I was hoping to wear the otks with, and I think that would be too much of a nice thing. But does the shape look versatile? https://tamaris.com/de-DE/over.....#color=311

Janet

(website)

Veteran

The last ones you linked to are a good style. I would not wear suede with suede though. Too much. If you have suede skirts that you want to wear with OTK boots, I would choose boots in a smooth leather instead. If you'd like a bit more interest in texture, I know the classic Stuart Weitzman 5050 is expensive, but they are really nice, and I know there are more affordable knockoffs. Bonus is that the stretchy back panel provides a really nice fit.

https://www.dsw.com/en/us/prod.....=CSE-_-GPS

Gail

Veteran

I have two pairs of OTK boots both are Blondo and flat. One suede and one smooth leather both in black. They are very comfortable , I mostly wear them with jeans and leggings with a long top. As previous fabbers have suggested I think a muted color is best along with simple as they do make a statement by themselves .

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

ohh, Janet, those are nice!

About leather vs suede, I'm undecided. I have those two suede skirts, but most of my clothes are not suede. I don't want to match the same color suede in my boots and skirt, that's for sure. If I had infinite footwear options, I wouldn't go for the suede to wear with those skirts. I do have tall chestnut brown smooth leather boots that go with them well, so don't think I want smooth leather chestnut brown otks, just because that's so similar.

I just looked at Tamaris again and noticed that the same boots I posted earlier, the ones with 30 mm heels, are also available in 51 and 81 mm heels. Every time the heels go up, the price comes down 10€ Guess I'm not the only one who prefers low!

One of the things I really like about the Think! boots I posted earlier is that they have textural interest going on (with the laces in back) that isn't suede. Non-suede texture is probably what drew me to the sparkle shoes that we've since realized were not a good idea at all.

So this is my "grab-it" list right now:
Interesting texture that isn't suede.
Flat or very low heel
No elastic to hold them up--ties that can be tucked inside
Color that coordinates with my wardrobe (preferably not neutral, but maybe reddish brown)
No cuffs to mess with hemlines
Not too much "look"--lace-ups, sparkles, etc.
Not required but nice: that seam near the knees adds just the right bit of interest

ETA: Nuance dream, I went looking for your OTKs in your finds. They aren't there, but those Oxfords are amazing, as are the emerald green ankle boots with buckles. Wow! Can you post links to WIWs with the boots, or maybe pix?

Anonymous

I wonder how comfortable they'd be, to have the boots covering the knees, if they'd restrict movement. Or loosen up with a lot of walking. They look warm though!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I used to have a pair 10 years ago. I wore them into the ground. VERY comfy and soft! They were flat, simple, matte, soft leather, fab in rain, warm, and had elastic inserts at the back for ease of movement. No digging and very flexible. My suggestion is to get a similar silhouette, but the boots needn't be black.

The style I linked to would work well for the types of looks you like, FashIntern. Nice with the shorter skirts too.

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Vildy

Veteran

Don't know if anyone suggested this but when I had a pair of OTK boots, I hadda look up online how exactly to get them on with the least struggle.
Fold them over in about half, get them on, kinda roll the rest up.

Roberta

Veteran

I would be very tempted by a pair to wear with sweater dresses in cold weather. Ditto with a faux fur coat. That being said, I have never even tried a pair on! My choice would be suede, to look less piratical.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Roberta, yes! I have a couple sweater dresses. The shortest one is something I want OTK for, but might well wear them with the other two as well.

Vildy, such practical advice is very helpful. Thanks!

Angie, I've been realizing that OTK and thigh highs are different things. Thanks for weighing in.

Suntiger, I'm hoping for the warm! And certainly want to be able to walk and move well in them. I've never had to worry about the knee joint before, but may have to come up with a test beyond being able to run.

Gail, Blondos are a dream

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