What to Wear With Knee-High Boots: 9 Outfits

What to wear with knee-high boots comes down to one rule: let the hem of your skirt, dress and coat meet the top of the boot, so the leg reads as one long line. Midi skirts, slim jeans, knit dresses and cropped tailoring all do this well, and our edit of designer knee-high boots has the pairs to build on.

Below are nine outfits we return to every winter, built mostly around ME+EM, the London label Clare Hornby founded in 2009, and its new Stretch Knee-High Boot in Tan, cut in stretch lamb Nappa with a slim square toe and a low flared block heel. The same boot in Black is already on Coveti.

The proportion rule

A knee-high boot works with three hem lengths. A hem that covers the top of the boot by a few centimetres gives the cleanest line. A hem well above the knee, worn with opaque tights, gives a sharp, graphic look. A floor-length hem with a split lets the boot show as you walk. The length to avoid is the one that stops a hand’s width above the boot and leaves a band of bare leg.

Nine outfits with knee-high boots

1. Midi skirt and a boyfriend jumper

The default. The ME+EM AM-PM Midi Skirt in Dark Chocolate with the Ultimate Boyfriend Jumper in Dark Chocolate Brown makes a tonal base, and a tan boot adds warmth without breaking the line. Tuck the front of the jumper only.

2. Maxi skirt with a side split

The new ME+EM Lace Trim Maxi Skirt in Black is a straight maxi in satin-backed crepe, with an elasticated waistband, lace along the hem and a side split. The split shows a flash of boot as you walk. Keep the top simple: a fine black knit and a cropped jacket.

3. Slim jeans tucked in

Tuck the ME+EM Slim Crop Jean in Authentic Mid Blue Wash into a stretch boot and add the Crop Swing Coat in Camel. A stretch shaft holds a slim jean flat without bunching at the knee.

4. Mini dress and opaque tights

A short hem is the second proportion that works. The new Twist Front Mini Dress in Bay Green, in silk-blend velvet with long sleeves, takes black opaque tights and a dark boot for evening. For day, the Knit Mini Swing Dress in Charcoal Melange does the same job in wool.

5. Cropped tailoring

The new Slim Crop Tux Trouser in Black has a slim leg and a cropped length, and ME+EM cuts it in two leg lengths. Worn over a slim black boot with a crisp shirt, it suits the office.

6. A longline shirt, belted

The new Relaxed Forever Shirt in Soft White/Navy is longline with a curved hem. Wear it loose over slim trousers tucked into the boots, then belt it at the waist with the Reversible Belt in Chocolate/Black, brown side out to echo a brown boot.

7. Boucle jacket and a full skirt

The new Straight Crop Jacket in Black, in short-pile wool boucle with contrast binding, sits at the waist. Over the ME+EM Full-Length Skirt in Black and a black boot, it makes a polished evening look.

8. Wide trousers over the boot

Under a wide trouser, a close boot becomes a hidden layer of warmth and only the toe shows. The ME+EM Heritage Barrel Trouser in Pecan Brown Multi has the volume to sit over the shaft. Our barrel leg trousers guide explains the shape.

9. High neck knit and a flared midi

The new High Neck Relaxed Jumper in Black is pure cashmere with dropped shoulders. Over the Fit + Flare Midi Skirt in Warm Chocolate Multi and a tan boot, it is a soft, warm look for weekends.

The Coveti hem length matrix

To help you judge where each hem will fall against a knee-high boot, we pulled the published measurements for the new ME+EM pieces in this guide.

How we measured: All figures are ME+EM’s own published size-chart values in centimetres and its composition notes, from the product pages on meandem.com. Sizes are those listed for each piece on its ME+EM page. ME+EM does not publish a shaft height for the boot, so measure your own leg from floor to the back of the knee to compare.

Knee-high boot outfits around the world

United States. Search demand for what to wear with knee high boots runs at about 590 a month, matched by about 590 for how to wear knee high boots, with a November peak near 1,600. American shoppers also say tall boots.

United Kingdom. About 590 searches a month, plus about 320 for how to wear knee high boots. Opaque tights are the British default from October, and a midi skirt with boots is office wear as much as weekend wear.

European Union. In Paris, Milan and Copenhagen the look leans to slim jeans tucked in and long wool coats, worn from autumn through spring on cold, dry days.

GCC. Winter evenings in the Gulf are mild, so knee-high boots tend to be worn with long skirts, maxi dresses and wide trousers that cover the shaft, which suits modest dressing and air-conditioned interiors.

Caring for the pieces

ME+EM labels its stretch Nappa boot wipe clean: a damp cloth after wear, then air dry away from heat. ME+EM marks the Straight Crop Jacket, the Slim Crop Tux Trouser and the velvet mini dress dry clean, and the satin-backed crepe maxi skirt cold hand wash. Hang skirts by the waistband so the hem stays level, since a dropped hem changes where it meets the boot. Store boots with shapers to keep the shaft upright.

For more ideas, read our guides to the best designer knee-high boots, how to wear slouchy boots and over-the-knee boots.

Frequently asked questions

What length skirt looks best with knee-high boots?

A midi that covers the top of the boot by a few centimetres gives the longest line. A mini with opaque tights also works. Avoid a hem that leaves a gap of bare leg above the boot.

Can I wear knee-high boots with jeans?

Yes. Tuck slim jeans into a stretch boot, then wear wide and barrel jeans over the boot so only the toe shows.

Do knee-high boots work for the office?

Yes, with a midi skirt, a cropped tailored trouser and a shirt. A low block heel and a smooth leather keep the look professional.

What tights go with knee-high boots?

Match the tights to the boot for a seamless line. With a dark brown boot, choose chocolate tights; with black, choose black.

Can I wear knee-high boots with a dress in winter?

Yes. A knit dress, a velvet mini and a long jersey dress all pair well. Add opaque tights and a long coat that falls past the hem.

How do I wear knee-high boots if I am petite?

Keep the boot, tights and skirt in one colour family, and choose a hem that just covers the top of the boot. A low heel and a square toe keep the line clean.

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