Tips needed for wearing combat boots with a floral dress - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

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Tips needed for wearing combat boots with a floral dress

LilMrsNomad

I bought a pair of combat boots and am looking to pair them with a floral dress I already own. I asked my husband what he thought of the combination and he told me that it looked odd. I love this look on others so I’m wondering - what am I doing wrong and what would be an appropriate fix? Or am I just too old to pull this style off?

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Dressing

25 replies

Latest reply was from Bennett

rachylou

Veteran

I think maybe you just have to get used to it. It’s cute. You could put your hair up.

Toban

Veteran

I don’t think you’re doing anything wrong. It looks great in the photos. That said, from my experience some looks may work on me but not feel like me or represent the image I went to portray ... your personal feelings about the look matter most of all.

kkards

Veteran

i agree with Toban, re sometimes what you love on others just doesn't feel authentic on yourself.....
but before you give up on this look, to my eye the dress feels a smidge to long for the boots. i think there needs to be space, maybe 2-6 inches, between the hem and the top of the boots. for me what makes this work is that all are showing skin

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CarolS

Veteran

I agree it looks great. You might want to check out this post for inspiration: https://youlookfab.com/2020/02.....k-leather/. The addition of a leather motorcycle jacket to this look really helps bookend the toughness of the boots.

Then it really is about getting comfortable with the look yourself, and try not to let DH's lack of familiarity with the look affect your confidence in trying it! You look great!

Mirjana

Veteran

I'm with Kkards. The dress is little longer to my mind and that's bother you.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Prehaps you just need to change your husband!(kidding)go alittle shorter with the dress and a little more romantic with the hair,up or curled prehaps.

Staysfit

Veteran

I think it looks great and have nothing to add to what been said. New looks can take time for the eye to adjust, or maybe it is not the right look. What other shoes would you pair with that dress? Is there a pairing that feels better?

Jane

Veteran

They look great to my eye. Perhaps a tiny smidge shorter dress may help.

Bee

The combo is more of a fashion statement rather than classically flattering, and I feel like my husband also often finds that sort of choices odd. It looks great to me, though I second trying it with hair pulled up - I think a messy bun would bookend the edginess of the boots.

catherine

Veteran

I like it. It may take some getting used to, though. You look cool and stylish.

kellygirl

Veteran

Agreeing with the others that it looks fab as is. I think your husband just isn't used to the juxtaposition of the floral dress with that more rugged boot. I don't think the dress needs shortening either--I like that style with midi length dresses. Can you unbutton the top bottom to make add some structure and make it look a little more relaxed? That might help too. Love it.

notsaf

Veteran

I can't tell about the neckline, but opening it up if possible would lighten things up a bit. As would pulling back your hair. Also, as others have said, adding a little moto or even a blazer with a rolled cuff would break up the floral a bit, and balance the boots. I don't tend to like belts myself, but that another option here. Or a pendant.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

If it helps, think of this juxtaposition in terms of proportions - the way it stands right now, the only thing that's obviously RATE in your outfit are the boots. The hair down, high ruffled neckline, blouson sleeves, long length, even the gold watch - all of this puts your outfit into a 90% polished or conservative look. Putting your hair up (or in a loose fishtail braid), adding a leather jacket or opening up the neckline will lower the percentage, maybe even rolling the sleeves? (I can't tell if you've rolled them already, but maybe rolling outwards instead of inwards can give a more casual look). A felt fedora (eg burgundy, camel or black) would also look smashing!

As for raising the hemline, if you have a RATE looking belt (maybe wide leather or studded, for example) you could try tucking some of the excess length into that & seeing what you think of that before you commit to any snipping (can pin or tape it in place whilst you check the mirror).

L'Abeille

Veteran

Haha all you are doing wrong is asking your husband's opinion...
I get the same kind of response when I ask my daughter. They aren't used to juxtaposition, they see dress + floral = classically feminine, and aren't comfortable with deviation from that.

Here's my take, though. A long, ditzy-floral dress harkens back to Victorian or pioneer eras. And those ladies did NOT pair them with ballet flats or heeled pumps! No, they wore boots much like yours, which are laced (not buckled) and slim fitting at the ankle, so don't give a chunky vibe. (And the skirt length is just right for this take.) I agree with those who said hair up or back, that moves it more into a history-inspired look.

And of course, if you WANT to go for the tougher aspect, a leather jacket--or maybe a cargo vest-- will mute some of the floral and add more edge.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I think you look great! But I agree with L’Abeille, your husband is probably unused to this kind of look on you so finds it odd. If you haven’t been wont to dress in such a way before, he won’t understand the look.

delurked

Veteran

Sorry, didn’t read all the replies, but I wear this look often and I agree with kkards. Some skin between the end of the skirt/dress and the boots helps. Maybe a dainty bit of frill in a sock if you like. You’re not too old. You just have to wear it a couple times and your DH (as well as you) will get used to it. Once you’re used to it you can reevaluate and decide if you like the look on you, or just on others. But I say try it a couple times before ruling it out.

Lucy

I think it looks great! I find it takes my husband longer to adjust to a new look than me, and some he is just never going to like. Which is ok with me.

LilMrsNomad

Thanks all! I’ve decided to just wear it with my hair up a few times and see if it grows on me. I’ve a moto jacket the same colour as the shoes but it isn’t fitted and makes me look like a large, walking rectangular block when worn with the dress. If it still hasn’t grown on me after a few wears I will have it taken up a smidge.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I think it looks good, at this length or shorter is up to you, but may not be the style you and DH are used to seeing you wearing. But if you like it I say too old is not an issue.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I also get a sorta "victorian" vibe and I love it!

Preppy Pear

Veteran

Love it! Definitely, definitely not too old. Nope, nope, nope.

Eliza

Veteran

Dress is fabulous on you. Total wow. I think the boots would look a bit more deliberate if the dress were a bit shorter, as kkards suggested. It means embracing the juxtaposition and just going for it. Which means it has to feel like you..

I don't know about your husband, but there is about a zero percent chance that mine would have noticed the combat boot/dress thing at all, so if I wore it, he would think it odd. He generally gives great feedback about looks, but occasionally has to have it contextualized if he's not seeing regularly locally.

LilMrsNomad

I wore it around the house with my hair up yesterday and the husband mentioned today that it had grown on him. I see lots of this shoes/dress combo in my future. I tend to prefer a more masculine aesthetic but this combination makes me feel womanly without making me feel like I’m pretending to be something I’m not.

delurked

Veteran

It sounds like this combo will really work for you. Good for your DH to come around to it too.

Bennett

Veteran

You look perfect, as is. No, you are not too old to look so stylish. Get used to being style-adventurous; it gets easier as you go forward.

And, it's a rare husband who "gets" fashion, please know you can pull this off without any outside approval. Your instincts are spot-on!

I WOULD suggest caution on the hair up/back suggestion, though. You don't want to do anything that veers toward this being a victorian 'costume'. If I added a third piece, it would be a utility-type jacket. I love the dress, have fun with your new look!