The thigh high boot

There is something that will always be endlessly seductive about the thigh high boot. As trends fade away, and come back reinvented – the thigh high is no different. Now, with a fresher term “over-the-knee” boot, the thigh high is coming back onto the fashion scene. We are seeing subtle yet distinctive changes for the thigh high boot. French shoe icon Christian Louboutin, famously known for the bright red soles of his shoes, designed a sky-highplatform pump with a leather rise that reaches almost a foot over the knee. The 6”inch stiletto heel makes this shoe one of the most striking designs. American designer Stuart Wietzman has created a favourite over-the-knee shoe. The flat boot features a leather front and a stretch back, allowing for a comfortable fit for a variety of leg sizes. Although he has sold thousands in the classic back, this year he updated the shoe with a glitter front, adding a bit more pizazz to the design. Belgian designer Martin Margiela, who studied under Jean Paul Gaultier and is famous for his unique approach to design, created a black leather thigh high. The toe of the boot falls between and almond and round toe, and he incorporated a wedge instead of a heel, making this boot much more wearable for longer periods of time. Celeb favourite, Brian Atwood, took a more gothic approach to the thigh high with strips of suede fabric interlocking over a mesh base. The boot also features metal studs dispersed throughout the calf and thigh. This is the most dramatic of all the designs this season. And lastly, Italian icon Valentino brought the brand’s famous feminine approach to the style. Valentino’s boot features five leather bows cascading down the back of his over-the-knee boot. For a softer look, Valentino is the way to go. Celebrities are exploring this trend for both day and night. Rihanna, scooping up a Grammy on Sunday for her album Unapologetic, recently wore black and white Tom Ford thigh high boots. She paired with a subtle while silk tee and black leather cuff bracelets. Olivia Palermo, known for her role on The City as well as for her fashion blog, wore heeled Stuart Weitzman grey suede pumps. She paired with a navy blue tartan mini dress. To dress down the look her hair was tied in a loose side braid. And the former Victoria Secret model, Miranda Kerr, recently split from actor husband Orlando Bloom, wore classic black leather thigh high Hermes boots. She paired with a silk geometric Egyptian inspired mini dress. She incorporated a thick black leather belt and dark aviator sunglasses. This trend is stunning on many figures. Because of the thigh high boot, it is best to pair with a mini dress or skirt. To keep the look from becoming too risqué, make sure your dress or skirt is not fitted, and ensure you have sleeves. For a more daytime look, go with suede fabric on the boot, and choose grey or brown. For a nighttime look, go all out with black leather. That’s the fashion scoop for this week. Got a thought? Trend? Style you hate? Send it my way. Rachel Breaux is an American living in Rwanda