Ladies wear boots for reasons that stretch beyond style. The onset of the cold and rainy season has put an end to sandals and open toe high heels and caused a demand of warm boots.

They come in options of knee length and ankle length with ankle length being the preferred option amongst most ladies in Kigali.  

Amongst boots’ advantages is that they can be worn with pants or dresses and skirts and that they are both casual and official.

Knee length boots or biker boots as they are commonly referred to as are said to be for the bold and daring. They either go mid-calf or slightly below the knee.  A fashion faux often committed when wearing the boots is not tucking the pants into knee length boots. Knee length boots look great when worn with tight pants or a short skirt. Being monochrome makes it easy for the wearer to match the boots with the rest of the outfit.  

Knee length boots take care of high heel lovers and those who prefer flat shoes. Most are made of pure easy to clean leather which makes them water proof and easy to maintain. Caution should however be taken when purchasing boots with fur or suede on them. "They are hard to maintain and not ideal when going out doors,” Donata Umurugi, a lover of boots says.

Ankle boots on the other hand are easy to pair with most outfits and can be worn with longer skirts and baggy pants. Ankle length boots are mostly high heeled. Unlike knee length, they come in different colours, designs and not always made of leather. Caution should be observed when purchasing the boots as some of them are made of phony material. 

A spot check around major boutiques and shoe stores in Kigali showed that brand new knee length boots are hard to find. They are however available in secondhand stores and go for about Rwf 7000 upwards. Ankle boots are available in most shoe outlets in different designs and priced accordingly.