Ask Belle: Flat vs. High Heel Boots

Oct 10, 2012

Hi Belle,

You posted today and sometime last week about knee high heeled boots with pencil skirts. Yet, you frequently extol the benefits of knee highflat boots on your site.  Can flat boots be worn with pencil skirts? With skirts at all? To work on non-casual days?  If we can only afford one pair of boots this season, should we opt for the flats or the heels?

Rebecca
Frankly, I like both flat and high heel boots.  I own both.  I wear both.  I wear them with skirts, with pants and with jeans.  Which pair I wear just depends on the day and how much walking I have to do.  
If you can only buy one pair, you need to buy the pair that you will wear most often.  So think about what kind of shoes you regularly wear (high or low?) and decide for yourself.  Now, if you’re trying to find black boots that are flat and work appropriate, try these:
 

Boutique 9 Zanny Boots ($225) // Enzo Anglioni Zemi Boot ($80) // Steve Madden Inspirre Boot ($140) // Nine West Subscribe Boot ($150)

When you’re looking for a boot to wear with pencil skirts (or just knee-length skirts in general), you need to look for a boot with no adornments and sleek style. This is not the time for buckles, bows or texture.  You should also look for something with a sleeker profile, no chunky riding boots.  A pointier toe or a slight wedge help with the sleek look.

Flat boots with skirts is not a look that is for everyone.  Shorter ladies or ladies with shorter legs may find this too big of a reach.  Women who work in very professional offices may also find the look to be too casual for their regular dress code.  But I think a sleek pair of black boots with black tights and a black skirt is a great way to wear business separates in a more relaxed way.

If you need a boot with wider calves, there are some brands you can try.  Gabrielle Rochas, Audrey Brooke, Ros Hommerson, Franco Sarto and J.CREW all make boots with extended calves.  But before you order a pair, you need to grab a measuring tape and find out what kind of circumference you need.  Just make sure to measure the widest part of the calf.  

Ask The Edit, Style

share this post

Leave a Reply to SLG Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Kate says:

    As someone with ridiculously wide calves (19in, thanks genetics and stairs at college), I highly suggest DuoBoots (https://www.duoboots.com/) out of England. You can order them custom to shoe size and calf width. They're not inexpensive: the pair I just bought was $280, but they're high-quality, comfortable, and fit me perfectly. They also have more style variety than other wide width sites I've looked at and ordered from.

  2. W says:

    I just bought the DSW Audrey Brooke Wynne suede heeled boot and they are GORGEOUS! They look like a million bucks but are only around $100 with online coupons. I highly recommend them!

  3. A says:

    Any suggestions for brands for someone with really skinny calves?

  4. Sarah says:

    The Nine West subscribe boots are no good. I bought a pair last week, wore them once, and noticed that the “leather” around the heel was peeling off. They're cute but apparently very poorly made!

  5. Rebecca says:

    Thanks for answering my question so thoroughly!

  6. Lauren says:

    In case any of your other readers have the problem of wide feet AND wide calves, I wanted to share this pair that I recently ordered, and love: https://www.naturalizer.com/en-US/Product/EC0210453-3011030/Naturalizer/Banana+Brd+Lth+Wide/Juletta+Wide+Shaft.aspx

    Beautiful worn-in leather, comfortable insoles, plenty of room for my calves in jeans. So happy with this find, and I literally tried on a dozen pairs to find these. Not dressy like the ones you recommend in this post, but still, a perfect boot find.

  7. SLG says:

    A: I have skinny calves, and I love Duo Boots (https://www.duoboots.com). You order by shoe size & calf size. They may set you back $300+ but they are totally worth it–I expect to wear mine for years. And they sometimes run specials with free shipping to the U.S.

  8. saramel says:

    Many boots can be taken in by a good shoe cobbler. If you find a pair you love it might be worth the investment to have them tailored to you. (But keep your receipt in case the shop recommends against it for a particular pair!)

Join The List

Stay up to date on the latest from Capitol Hill Style!

sUBSCRIBE

Ask Me Anything: March 2024

It’s almost the end of March, so let’s get to some of the reader questions that came in through Instagram last night. Time for Ask Me Anything.

3

READ MORE 

Recent Posts

The Find: A Cute Spring Dress

Need a cute dress for a spring event? Something simple and easy to wear, something you can dress up or down? This is the dress for you.

2

READ MORE 

Beauty Review: Bondi Boost

As I age, I notice many changes in my body. Most are fine. Some are frustrating. Like many women, I lost a lot of hair in my postpartum phase. Being anemic for more than a year after, it didn’t grow back in to its former glory. So I’ve tried any number of shampoos, pills and […]

2

READ MORE 

VIEW ALL POSTS

Ask the Edit, Style, Top Posts | March 28, 2024

Ask Me Anything: March 2024

It’s almost the end of March, so let’s get to some of the reader questions that came in through Instagram last night. Time for Ask Me Anything.

3

READ MORE 

Fantastic Finds, Posts, Style | March 28, 2024

The Find: A Cute Spring Dress

Need a cute dress for a spring event? Something simple and easy to wear, something you can dress up or down? This is the dress for you.

2

READ MORE 

Beauty, Posts | March 27, 2024

Beauty Review: Bondi Boost

As I age, I notice many changes in my body. Most are fine. Some are frustrating. Like many women, I lost a lot of hair in my postpartum phase. Being anemic for more than a year after, it didn’t grow back in to its former glory. So I’ve tried any number of shampoos, pills and […]

2

READ MORE 

Fantastic Finds, Posts, Style | March 27, 2024

The Find: Shirts That Don’t Gape

I remember when Rochelle Behrens launched The Shirt — a button-down blouse with anti-gape technology (a patented internal button that keeps the look smooth). The idea seemed brilliant, but at the time, my bust didn’t require an extra button. One baby later, I understand the need for some extra security.

6

READ MORE 

RECENT POSTS

©2023 CAPITOL HILL STYLE | SITE BY LEIGH THE STUDIO