What makes a boot dressy enough for skirts?

pastrygirl

I'm having trouble finding a "dressy" boot to wear with skirts. I have a pair of Frye 15R harness boots in black that I had intended to wear with skirts. But every time I wear them with a skirt, they look SO bulky, wide, and unkempt.

I've been trying on tons of boots and they all, to me, look like my 15Rs when I put them on, even if they looked dressy on the shelf.

What am I looking for? "Sleek" is too abstract. Is it a boot that hugs the ankle and back of the calf? A boot that doesn't scrunch at all? Is it the sheen? The toe shape? Help!

I can wear up to 1.5" heel but really do best with flat boots. How should a dressy boot FIT? And why did I not find a single one at the Nordstrom half-yearly sale? What was wrong with the options that made them look just like my Fryes?

12 years ago

General

13 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

To me, dressy and sleek mean fitted close to the foot/leg, smooth leather. Nothing rugged-looking. Minimal hardware. Elegant shape. The best I can describe it is "does this boot look like a pencil skirt is its best friend?"

Sorry about the edits.

12 years ago

Aquamarine

Veteran

Watching this thread as I struggle with this too.

12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I would echo Alexandra and add that most will also be quite fitted to the calf. Suede also works. Toe shape does make some difference as does the material and thickness of the sole. Refinement will add to the dressiness quotient.

A heel will also make a boot appear dressier, but as that is out for you, you are limited to looking to the other features.

Here's one from the NAS that is not exactly dressy, but still relatively refined and possibly okay with dresses: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/st.....ort&c

Here's another with potential: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/vi.....ersonalize

Warning: tall boots can be very difficult to fit. Be prepared to look for some time if your calves are out of the ordinary in any way whatsoever.

And the way it looks on you with a dress might be different from the way it looks on someone with another body type. Plus, what you like (your style persona) will affect your perception. Some people really love the look of a heavier boot with a dress (our UWPs).

12 years ago

Jjsloane

Veteran

I wear boots daily with my skirts and dresses to work. The ones that work for this are not the same ones I wear on weekends.
To me it is sleek in that it fits to the leg (does not add bulk to leg silhouette). The test is can they stand up on their own - if not they generally fit this criteria.
I purchased these fabulous Munro suede boots this year and they are perfect for both work and casual. With black tights it's almost like not having a boot on and the heel is perfect height.
http://www.sierratradingpost.c.....rFamily=02
I also have similar styles in black leather (a little higher heel), nude (wedge heel), grey python. None of these have any hardware other than the zipper and there is minimal calf gap.
The boots I wear on weekends with skinnies, skirts and dresses have more hardware (buckles etc) and stand on their own without boot forms.

12 years ago

Snowqueen

Active Member

I think this depends on the type of skirt too. I have better luck with wearing boots with my fuller skirts and dresses. I haven't yet found anything I love with my pencil skirts.

Today I am wearing a short gathered wool skirt with tights and my Frye Karla boots. These are a short boot moto boot with a heel and smooth undistressed leather. They pair well with most of my looser dresses and skirts.

12 years ago

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, all! I tried these at Nordstrom and they were all bulky like my Frye 15Rs:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/mi.....l=Boots+%2

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/bl.....26+Booties

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/bo.....seUrl=Boot

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/ec.....ots+%26+Bo

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/co.....y&Bas

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/en.....y&

I had high hopes for all of those, because they look sleek in the photo. But they all looked clunky on me. ETA: Here's how my Fryes look with a skirt.

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12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Then it has to do with your proportions and the fit of the boot, perhaps. The Blondos -- for example. Those work beautiful on Transcona Shannon. They did not work well on Kellygirl and didn't work on me, either.

How did these styles fit your calves?

You may need a dressier more fitted style vs. a riding boot. E.g. more like the one that Jjsloane linked to.

12 years ago

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

They fit my calves OK, but there is a tiny bit of a gap at the top in most boots that I try. I think you're right, that I need something fitted from the ankle up. The ankle folds really bother me! (Except with pants/skinnies/leggings. I'm fine with the look then, LOL.)

ETA: I had leggings on when I tried them all on. So they'd be a bit roomier with tights or bare legs.

12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

How tall are you again?

I get that gap in the top of many boots. And it is because my calves are not wide enough but also not tall enough -- i.e. the widest part of the boot is hitting me above the widest part of my calf. I finally found some (speedy) boots from La Canadienne that work for me. One semi-dressy and one dressy. Both have a heel of sorts, however.

http://www.lacanadienneshoes.c.....suede.html

http://www.lacanadienneshoes.com/philip-16265.html

My calves at 13.5 widest point are not truly narrow but are too narrow for most regularly sized boots.

12 years ago

Anonymous

I think it is proportions. If you want to wear a longer skirt, then you would be better with an ankle boot or mid-calf boot, depending on where it hits. I think The Fryes look cute with skirts, but it would be a skirt to your knee, so we could see your knee and calf.

12 years ago

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

Suz -- I'm 5'7 and my calves are ~14.5 at the widest point. I think in general boots hit me higher than the widest part, too. Are they not "supposed" to? My Frye Veronicas reach just to that point and are nice and snug there. I don't know if I've tried those with skirts; I might try them just to see the proportions.

Ceit -- well that's a good point! I didn't think to try a shorter skirt with my 15Rs. I just have this image in my head of a midi skirt and fitted boots…embarassing to admit, but much like Angela from Who's the Boss, LOL.

12 years ago

Anonymous

I totally grok that look -- I think you need to look at more of a fitted riding boot style then, or even ones with leather fronts and elastic up the back to make a completely fitted shaft over your calves.

I am 5'7" too, and my calves are 15", so I get your fitting woes. I have worn my Veronicas with a pencil skirt before and liked the look. http://ceit.lookfab.com/post/wiw-almost-black

12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Well, the place they hit on your calf (height wise) depends on the boot and the particular style -- but if you are getting that gap at the top when the boot fits elsewhere, it suggests that something is wonky. It should hug the calf. Unless it is meant to scrunch.

14.5 is "normal" sized and with your height I would expect you to have fewer problems than I do (you are average height, too). I'm shorter than average, with shorter than average-for-my-height calves. So I basically need to shop for boots as a "petite."

Fitted boots do work with a midi skirt.

If the skirt is a pencil skirt and knee length or higher it may look better. Angie has some pointers in the blog archives about how to find your boot-skirt sweet spot.

12 years ago

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