When do you stop wearing boots? - YouLookFab Forum

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When do you stop wearing boots?

Melissa

With spring (hopefully) approaching, I am starting to wonder when I should put my boots away for the season. How do you decide? Do you go strictly by the weather, do you have a cutoff date (ie, no boots after May 1st), or some other criteria?

Now, I realize that there are certainly spring and summer looks that rock boots, I just am not yet advanced enough for them. So I am mostly referring to fairly fall/winter-esque looks, like skirts with tights and knee-high boots, and skinnies tucked into boots.

It's still mostly cold enough here to want to wear them sometimes, but I am starting to feel that it is a bit late in the season for wearing boots. What say you?

Dressing

25 replies

Latest reply was from Melissa

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I do when there is snow on the ground. There is snow on the ground today; so I can wear boots!

I also still wear boots if my calves are not dripping with sweat at the end of the day (I'm sure that's a good mental image - sorry!) ... I love boots and will hang onto them until I cannot wear them... Anything above 10 degrees C I won't wear boots

Kate

Veteran

Two things: 1) I pretty much only wear boots and sandals. I don't own any ballet flats, the pumps only come out on special occasions, and sneakers only for REALLY casual days. 2) I live in AZ.

I wear my boots for as long as I can! I haven't been able to wear them with skinnies tucked in since March, but I wear them with dresses and skirts even when it's summer weather by many people's standards. I wore my brown knee-high boots this past Tuesday with a skirt (high of 81, low of 50), and I'll keep wearing them on days when it's less than 80 ish when I'm outside. My cognac booties are staying in rotation for as long as possible - I wore them on Friday when the high was 87, and I think that as long as it's less than 90 outside they'll be getting use. So if there are any rules about time of year or temperature, I'm probably breaking them! But I'm comfortable, happy, and I love my boots!

ETA: I wear thick socks (mostly REI hiking socks) with my knee high boots, and normal weight socks (mostly running socks) with my booties. My feet also tend to be cold, and there's AC in my office.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

In Seattle I've worn boots in June, but by that point I'm a bit tired of them and it makes me cranky.

rosee

Veteran

I never put away my boots, but I don't really wear them in July and August. Actually, I don't have summer /winter wardrobes, but everything hangs in my closet the whole year b/c the weather is really changeable all year here (western Canada).
Wear your boots as long as you are comfortable wearing them -- in June if need be! Just lighten up other aspects of your outfit for a more warm weather style.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Last year I wore Summer boots all Summer long, here in Seattle. It was far too cold for me to wear anything else.

Louise

Veteran

I don't have a specific cutoff date but the wearing just dwindle off as the weather warms up and my feet get too warm in boots. This year I haven't worn my knee high boots since mid March ankle boots are still being worn if the weather is a bit cooler but it's been a few weeks sinceI last wore them x

Kari

Veteran

I stop wearing boots when it is too reasonably hot to do so. Like Angie said, last summer was a year when you could basically wear boots throughout the summer. Here's hoping that this summer we will have some well-deserved warmer weather, although I am not holding out much hope with such a rainy Spring so far.

catgirl

Veteran

I never do, but in Alaska that is possible both style and weather-wise.

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

Until it is just to hot to do so. 65 is probably still boot weather. 70 probably not.

Julie

Veteran

I put my boots away after June 30th and take them out on July 1st. But then again, I'm boot crazy so what do I know.

In all seriousness, I'm a year round boot wearer. All my outfits are styled with boots, because that's just what works for me. I only buy the best boots I can afford, and I rotate them so I never wear the same pair two or three days running. This allows them to fully dry after each wearing. Another tip I picked up from an online friend was to always wear socks in my boots, and to change those socks at least once through the day. I try to change mine at mid-day, and again after work. This seems to work well so far, even in the warmest weather we get here. And, that little extra cushioning never hurts, (no pun intended).

Before I became a full time boot wearer, I occasionally "fell off" my high heel shoes, and did some nasty mischief to my ankles. That has never happened with a pair of high heel boots, even the 4 inch variety. I will also change up to flat boots, for an extra casual look, and to give my feet and legs a break. If a particular work day is going to include lots of walking, out come the flat boots, but if I'm at my desk most of the day, it's heels for sure. It's only my personal opinion, but I think most women don't wear boots enough. I've suggested them to friends who work all day on their feet, and they report less swelling at the end of the day. Much more elegant than support hose. One friend, whose female relatives are notorious for varicose veins even at a young age, wears them and they are working so well that now her doctor even recommends them to other sufferers. Her younger sister spurns boots and has already needed one surgery on her lower legs. So, they even have practical uses besides cold and snow.

Anyway, enough of Julie's ramblings, I'll shut up now and be a good girl.

Julie

Maya

Veteran

Until summer comes to pry them out of my cold, dead, winter-loving hands.

Bianca

Veteran

Pretty much I have retired my boots...I do have a pinkish colored cow-boy boot, which I consider my "spring boots" that I don here and there. In CT it is still cool. But I try to keep warm with the other components of my outfit and have been wearing ballet flats sock-less. I would say as look as the temps are above 50. But then again, there are a lot of ladies who wear boots year round.....so there is no right answer. (My preference is nowish)

Kristine

Veteran

I'm still wearing them although I'm trying to work in lighter looks and I'm not wearing the black boots as often. I'd love to find a lighter colored pair. I think I'll probably wear boots until June!

Mary from Faniente.ca

(website)

I'm still wearing them because it's still cold here in Ontario, Canada (7 degrees Celcius). In fact it was snowing minutes ago...arrgh! However, we haven't had snow on the ground for a few weeks now and like Kristine, I've stopped wearing my black boots. I'm only wearing my light beige ones and a cognac-colored pair. I'll probably stop wearing them soon though and put them away until the Fall.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Julie, you are my boot soul sister! I was so happy wearing boots all winter that I really grumbled when I thought my feet jamming into the fronts of my heels, getting some sexy corns while wearing hose with my pumps again. Enter a shorter pair of boots that looks less wintry yet still supports my ankles so my feet don't slide forward. Woohoo! I also still wear my combat boots if summer nights are cool enough... which for me is, like, anything under 70. I still wear pumps at work, too, but it is nice to give the old barking dogs a break.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

lol @ Julie; I just wear my support hose INSIDE my boots no one knows!

Steph

Veteran

For me, I feel it is already too late for boots. I wore them two weeks ago, and even felt a little odd doing so then; by now, they are put away. We have had some unseasonably cool days, but once April is here I just wear pumps when it is cold out.

Frances

I'm glad you asked this question, Melissa, because I've been wondering about this myself. I stopped wearing mine at the end of March. Part of it is that they feel out of place to me once spring weather arrives, and part of it is that I like to reserve them only for winter. I despise winter, but love winter styles, so things like boots and turtlenecks and beautiful overcoats are consolation prizes I try to save for those dreary months to help lift my spirits.

AJ

Veteran

I like wearing dresses with boots, sans hose/tights. So whenever the day's high is less than 80 F, I get my boots out! : )

Julie - My two casual boots are flats. I'm going to look into some heeled boots...thanks for the info!

Barbara

Veteran

I LOVE boots! By this time of the year, I usually clean them, have them waterproofed if suede and carefully stored for next fall. It's supposed to be 80 degrees today here in NC and just thinking about NOT wearing sandals makes me sweat!

Heidelberg has the exact climate as Seattle, so when I lived in Europe, I wore boots almost year round. *SIGH* I really miss that!

Jonesy

Veteran

I wear them until it's too hot. Like several others, I like to wear them with skirts and dresses and bare legs, as long as it's below 75 degrees F or so. I go with the weather, rather than the season.

Lisa

Veteran

I don't go by the calendar date. I have one pair of tall boots that are gray and one tall pair that are a lighter taupe color. I feel they can work with spring outfits. I'm prone to wearing boots until about 70F. Then I put them away. My darker boots whether tall to tuck into skinnies or that work under jeans (dark brown, black, chestnut) get put away around spring time as they do not play as easily with my spring clothing. My cowboy boots, I have one linen pair that are a light color, the material and color mean they come out to play in the spring and get worn all summer long. I tend to stop wearing them starting in September as I itch to start wearing darker colored boots again.

Antje

Veteran

I wear them until my feet get too warm... (which is usually by May). I tend to choose my lighter boots in the spring (light both in color and material/style), though, more than the heavier dark ones. And at some point I leave off the hose/tights when I wear the boots with skirts.

Beth

Veteran

Just this morning I sadly tucked most of my boots away for the season. I love spring and summer, but I love wearing boots just a little bit more:)

I stopped wearing black boots a few weeks ago. Less due to the rising temperatures than because black boots were just starting to look too heavy for the season. I'll still be wearing my cognac boots and my dark brown cowboy boots a few weeks more as the colors are less heavy. Wearing cognac boots, nude MFNs and a bright skirt seems to be a great way to dress for a cool spring day with a lighter look. Cream boots could go even longer, depending on your region.

By May, I'll have put all of my boots away.

Melissa

What a great bunch of replies! It's interesting what a wide range of dates and temperatures this crowd is comfortable wearing boots through.

I think I fall midway between the weather and date camps. Right now, even though the temperature still justifies boots, I am starting to feel that they are too heavy for the season, although I still feel I could wear some lighter colored pairs, like my light grey ones. I would love to find some spring/summer boots to extend my boot season, so I'll be on the lookout, especially for a pair with some ventilation built in.

For those of you who wear summer boots, what kind of socks, if any, are you wearing? I can almost never go sockless except in sandals, so inquiring minds want to know.