Open any fashion magazine (or preferably The Debrief Style tab), and you’ll see that knee-high and thigh-grazing boots are the toast of this winter. And, I’m really sad about that.
Until this winter short, ankle-height boots, be them shiny, matt, sock-like, shearling or any number of permutations possible have been permissible. But, in some collectively cruel manner the runways of Christian Dior, Versace, Balmain, Chanel, Balenciaga, Tom Ford and Marc Jacobs were ankle boot-free zones. Like a boycott was underway they revisited slouchily scrunched 80s styles and dangled rhinestone-covered booties in front us.
As if they’d read the minds of designers before their work hit the catwalk, street style stars retired their abbreviated boots in time for the fashion week. Rather than teaming minidresses with miniature boots, they opted for thigh-highs in clingy fabrics that suctioned to the leg, or zany exotic skinned boots that they hid under swathes of midi-dress fabric. This winter the more absurd the boot, the more welcome it is. Cowboy boots, hello. Spaceman style mirrored thigh highs, come on in. Swarovski covered kitten heel knee-highs, welcome. It’s an OTT free-for-all.
A search through the shops and you’ll see that Net-A-Porter is still stocking 600 ankle boots compared with 116 taller models. And, at the other end of the spectrum, ASOS has 592 short styles while only 162 over-the-calf options. So, I know I’m not alone in wanting to keep this ankle boot fashion going.
The experts at WGSN have been discussing the waning style. Last year they noticed that ankle boots with wedge heels sold 17% less than previously. And, that they saw the more elaborate styles, like tasselled and velvet designs spiking in popularity and number.
Earlier this year Man Repeller also noticed the glory days of ankle boots were long gone. Rather than entirely dismissing them, they decided to give them a little styling love. Yet, here we are a few months later, and this hasn’t caught on.
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Though my calves may be warmer, I’ll miss my ankle boots. I’ll miss how neat they looked with trousers, how they kept my feet warm, how were work appropriate and how easy they are to get on and off. For, you can’t wear flares and thigh-highs. And, everyone knows OTT boots are too sexy for the boardroom. And, don’t get me started on how impossible they are to store. Really, who has the space for that much footwear?
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.