It's time to give your boot collection a little update, so instantly add high fashion to your oversized shirt with thigh-highs this season
When Matthieu Blazy debuted his first collection for Bottega Veneta back in February, I was glued to my screen. After a wait that felt like an age, those along-awaited thigh-high boots have finally surfaced and are singlehandedly responsible for rearranging my current perception of boots.
Stretching all the way up, the sleek thighs high boots, or 2.0 over-knee, wasn’t exclusive to Bottega Veneta this season, but seen on enough runways for me to claim this as the most exciting, if not dominating, boot style for AW22. The higher the better, pants optional.
I am no stranger to the iconic over-the-knee numbers, but what is new this autumn (read: back for the season at least) is the slouchy fit combined with a cut that stretches all the way up your thigh and higher. The perceived goal is to look like you are wearing pant-boots, that’s undoubtedly a pretty flattering way of illustrating never-ending legs (even for those among us who definitely don’t have them).
Bottega Veneta AW 22. Photo: Bottega Veneta
Acne Studios AW22.
Isabel Marant AW22. Photo: Isabel Marant
Chanel, Acne, and Isabel Marant all backed the relaxed high boot as a seamless progression of the oversized style of clothing that we’ve grown accustomed to, finally making its way down to our shoes. I’ve seen enough of second skin pull-on boots to welcome this effortless trend with open arms. What is also new is the return of the subtle round and ever-so-wearable almond toe. After countless seasons of the pointy toe and more recently endless iterations of the square shape, the in-between, dainty almond shaped toe fits well is with the carefree high boot.
Chanel’s seasonal thigh-high was definitely a nod to the most off-duty version of Coco Chanel, as wellies and rubber waders filled the runway. Styled with high woollen socks and short hems, the silhouette was clear – echoing the extra high boot style shown a few days earlier by Bottega Veneta, where you leave spectators guessing where your boot ends and pant starts.
Trussardi AW22.
Chanel AW22.
The thigh-high boots made its way onto the menswear runways as well, here depicted at GmBH AW22.
When it comes to styling, the secret is in the proportions as well as material choice. Unsurprisingly a pair of designer waders sets a very different mood than a pair of heeled leather boots do, however this season there is space for both. Acne’s take had references of a western boot, while designers such as Balenciaga and Isabel Marant along with Bottega Veneta, introduced a more feminine spin by adding heels to their thigh boots.
As I try to talk myself out of adding both Bottega Veneta’s and Chanel’s surely soon-to-be iconic thigh-highs to my ever-growing boot collection, it is important to remember that both designers did also include a shorter version of these boots in their AW shows. So while the extra over-the-knee isn’t the only boot choice this season, it might just be the one making the biggest statement. Best paired with a skirt or oversized shirt that barely covers the top of the boot will allow room for both imagination and ever-so-vital thermal tights this season.