Welcome to week two of the The Winter Essentials Series on Chasing Cait. Five posts over Five weeks that talk about the five items that I think everyone should have in their Winter Wardrobe (one each week), not matter what your body shape, budget or lifestyle. Did you miss last week’s post?
For someone who loves shoes so much, I definitely don’t have as much variety in my shoe-wardrobe in winter. For me, it’s all about The Ankle Boot!
They work with dresses, they work with pants, they make your leg look skinner (we’ll get to that in a sec) and most of them are pretty comfortable to walk in all day – what more could a girl want in a shoe!
If you invest in one pair of shoes for winter, find a GOOD pair of ankle boots. These shoes are something I would also advise to buy a quality pair. I’ve gone through my fair share of cheap, synthetic ankle boots, but wearing through them in less than 6 months was a good indication that a solid, sturdy pair of leather boots were needed!
So let’s chat about a few of the reasons there are a Winter Wardrobe Essential!
Why Ankle Boots?
And not knee high boots? Good question! Mainly the versatility in a good ankle boot is second to none. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of a great knee-length riding boot over your skinny jeans or ponte pants, but knee high boots and skirts/dresses? Not so much a fan….. the reason is PROPORTION.
When you wear a skirt or dress, you don’t see the outline of your leg – add to that knee-length boots, which also hide some of the outline of your leg, and your leg just ends up looking a whole lot bigger than it is – kapesh??
How to wear them
There really is no wrong way to wear a great pair of ankle boots. But my favourite two ways to wear an ankle boot are with a dress (tights or no tights, depending on the colour of the boot, and the temperature!) and with ponte pants or skinnies……
A good little nude boot and bare legs (or sheer tights) will elongate your leg, PLUS keep your toes warm as it cools down
EVERYONE should have a pair of black ankle boots in their wardrobe! Wear them with bare legs OR black tights or pants
Wear you black ankle boots with black ponte pants or leggings to elongate your leg
Black is best (most of the time)
Combined with a black legging, opaque tight or pair of ponte pants, a black ankle boot is the winter equivalent of the NUDE SHOE in winter. It will elongate your leg, drawing the eye up and down, rather than cutting you off at the ankle.
Of course they are a gazillion exceptions to the rule, but this is a good place to start. I’m also impartial to a tan ankle boot, in fact I may (or if The Boy asks, may not) have just bought these yummies on the left, I’m also lusting after the ones on the right….
Left: Wittner Shoes “horacio” tan boots $199.95 Right: Django & Juliette “recess old gold” boots $199.95
Chasing Cait Recommends……
Here are just some of the amazing ankle boots out there (So I already own two out of there of these and I’ve tried the others on – they all come HIGHLY recommended. In fact those Django & Juliette boots are THE most comfortable boots I’ve EVER owned!)
One: Django & Juliette from Styletread.com.au $189.95 Two: Country Road Tayla boots $229.00 Three: Hannahs Pula Noir “cherie” leather boots $119.95
Or if you REALLY want the mother of all ankle boots, check these bad boys out. They are a bit of a cult item (and about 6ft tall on their own)
Beau Coop “Scand” boots – CLICK TO BUY
Now this doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with your ankles boots – these are just some starting points if you’ve never worn them before. Try then with different outfits, and there is HEAPS of inspiration on Pinterest HERE.
Are you convinced yet? I hope so! Stay tuned next week when we discuss the next Winter Wardrobe Essential on my list, The Leather Jacket.
Unitl Next Time,
In Style & Love Always
Cait xoxo[line]
Want more one-on-one help finding the RIGHT pair of ankle boots for your body shape? Why not book a Style Coaching session with me. You don’t have to be in Auckland! Check out all the details HERE.
Hi I was just wonder if you knew the name of the black boots on the bottom right of your first picture in this article. I absolutely love them! 🙂
Hey Gabby – I’m sorry, I don’t! They were just a few pics from Pinterest – sorry!
Oh my god Cait, they’re perfect! J’adore! Thank you so much, I will definitely check them out!!! You’re a legend :). Mwah!!! xoxoxo
yay!!! xx
Hi Cait
I’m new to your blog, I’ve already found tonnes of useful info 🙂
As a pear shaped girl, I feel like my legs look DREADFUL in ankle boots! I have quite chunky thighs and knees and nice medium sized calves (they look a little slender compared to my knees and thighs). I have no idea how to look good in skinnies/tights + ankle boots bcs I can’t roll them up like in the summer 🙁 help?
Hey! thanks for your comment, I’m so glad you have found some useful tips already – Ok, you TOTALLY need to sign up to my online styling service, StyleMail – it’s all about dressing the best for your body shape so perfect for you as a yummy Pear! I’ll tell you what I’ll do, I’ll send you the StyleMail edition I JUST wrote about boots and your body shape for FREE (perfect timing!) it should help!
If you have any other questions after you’ve read it let me know, and if you love it, have a look at signing up for it HERE (it’s only $10 a month!)
Cait x
Oh wow, I never realised the knee high boots & skirts added such bulk. You learn something new every day!! What’s not to love about ankle boots – they are a shoe!! I would love your opinion though – I have a pair I want to wear with a navy and white dress with tights … what colour tights should I wear? I have both tan and black boots as options.
Hey Kelly! ok, so you could go either way – wear the tan boots with SHEER (but thick) tights ie. a similar colour to the tan boots, that way your leg looks longer.
Now normally I’m not a fan of navy+black together but I think black tights and boots are the exception. Again, same colour tight and boot = longer legs!
Hope that helps? x
Thanks Cait, I appreciate your help and that makes perfect sense! And seems quite simple too. I know what you mean about black and navy … I think that is what threw me.
happy to help! There are always exceptions to the rules 😉
What do you make of these Cait? I’ve been wanting a pair of glitter ankle boots, and these are in my budget (and it rains in Canberra, so the gumboot part could be pretty useful!) but I can’t decide if I love them or hate them! At least I know I’m not ambivalent. What do you think? (PS, I have enormous calves and little ankles and I’m short and an apple.)
http://www.tradesecret.com.au/knight-rider-boot-in-silver/
ooooh I LOVES me a glitter boot haha! I think they would be great for a rainy day – just make sure (especially as an Apple) that you are wearing all the same colour on top then – so wear them with an all black, or navy outfit for instance?
I love them—- do it! x
Thanks Cait! I’ll send you a pic if I do 🙂
FYI, I bought them but am now going to return them :(. They broke when I put them on at home for the first time. I tried to push through, wearing jeans over the top with just a little sparkle showing at the toe, but alas, my feet were ACHING in no time. So, back they go, and onwards I go with my search for a sparkly statement boot that I can afford!
Oh what a bummer! I’ll definitely keep my eye out for you in my travels too – I have seen a few sparkle boots around so I’m sure you’ll find a pair! Target had a cool shimmer boot, it’s not full sparkle, but still pretty cool!
http://www.target.com.au/p/mitre-gusset-ankle-boot-bronze/55206983
http://www.target.com.au/p/cromeo-ankle-boot-silver/55325899
xx