With the ever-impending return of the skinny jean, the knee-high boot has never felt like a better idea. Go ahead and tuck into a pair for some layering that can go from Princess Diana off-duty to sleek equestrian with one well-appointed tailored blazer. While we’re on the subject of ’90s style icons, the knee-high boot also looks incredibly chic styled with a pencil skirt à la Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. What we’re getting at here is that this style is incredibly versatile—especially once you consider its many iterations.
From leather to suede, kitten heels to flats, and details like hardware and croc-embossing, your boot options are nearly endless. And there’s always a great pair of biker boots to consider— they re-entered the style chat after Miu Miu’s Fall ’22 runway and have remained wonderfully relevant ever since. They were a fixture on the fall 2024 runways—we especially loved the sleek simple stacked heels at Prada, second-skin white boots at Dior, and Gucci’s classic riding boots. Once you invest, your knee-highs will take you from bohemian chic with long dresses to smart and tailored with suiting and casual and cool with a sweater and jeans on Saturday. What else could you ask of a shoe?
The Best Knee-High Boots, According to Vogue
Leather
It doesn’t get more classic than a pair of knee-high leather boots. Whether you embrace flats for stomping around the city with ease or a heel for an elegant take, these fall in the rare “forever” category.
Suede
If TikTok is the ultimate authority, suede is the only way to go for fall. If you don’t listen to content creators, Ralph Lauren and Isabel Marant also cosign the sentiment. The textural, rich suede is the perfect counterpart for all of your autumnal denim.
Stacked Heel
It’s a simple fact, if you want a little height, but you still want to be able to walk miles in your boots, a stacked heel is the only way to go. Beyond comfort, this streamlined style offers all of the ’70s cool icons like Bianca Jagger and Jerry Hall embodied.
Kitten Heel
Doesn’t just the word kitten sound perfectly demure? While a kitten heel sling-back pump is often reserved for a certain type of lady, a kitten heel boot appeals to a much more diverse set. Namely: anyone who prefers a more graceful heel on their knee-high boot, and never anything too high.
Croc Embossed
Sometimes a girl just need a little texture in her life. Even the staunchest minimalists can’t deny the appeal of embossed leather. Nothing looks more luxe than all-black with a pair of statement croc (faux, of course) boots. Consider it your first line approach to rich girl fall.
Biker
The runways of Loewe, Coach, and Miu Miu are all in the biker gang for fall. A little hardware and a stacked heel lend just the right edge to anything you pair them with. We’re loving them with everything from LBDs to gray flannel trousers.
