Question:
I have some questions before shopping for the perfect pair of black
boots. Of course I want them to fit well, but I also would like a pair
in a classic yet stylish look that will be presentable for more than
one season.
What type and height heel is good?
Are ankle boots worn with slacks or are tall boots acceptable with
slacks?
Suede or smooth leather?
What's a good brand?
Answer:
I am wearing my ankle high boots much less than the taller ones. I don't
like a gap between boot and pant leg when I sit down. If you want a
relatively inexpensive black leather boot begin with Franco Sarto. The
fit is generally quite good. I would also start with black smooth
leather and then the possibilities are limitless.
If you are going to have just one pair, definitely knee-high, smooth
leather. I have a pair of Sarto boots that I'm loving, as well as one or
two other pairs of black boots--ankle and knee-high--with varying heel
heights and styles, toe shapes, etc. I think they're a lot like potato
chips--or kittens--it's impossible to stop just one!
Even if you don't want to buy your boots online, I recommend you start with
some window shopping at zappos.com. You can narrow your search to
knee-high, black leather boots. That should narrow it down to mere hundreds
of options.
Either are acceptable with slacks. Tall boots provide more warmth than
ankle boots, when worn under slacks. But the slacks need to be loose
enough and the boots tight around the calf - otherwise the pants may
not fall right. For example, my tall boots work just fine under dress
pants, but don't work under my jeans. For jeans, I wear ankle boots.
