Hot Holiday Fashion: How to Wear Boots Winter 2015

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Boots and booties are the hottest trend in footwear right now. Long gone are the days where women had to spend hundreds of dollars to get a great pair of boots. They have become so affordable that women can have several pairs to wear with all types of outfits.


Popular Booties


One of the most popular styles of boots right now is the ankle bootie. These are short boots that stop right above the ankle. They usually have a strong heel and some details. These short boots look fantastic with jeans and leggings. In most cases, they should not be worn with socks showing out of the top. They should have a clean line between the top of the boots and the bottom of the pant legs. Some women will roll their jeans at the ankle to show off the booties. With booties, there is no need to perfectly color match them, but they should be matched based on the style of your outfit. For example, a rustic oversized sweater and jeans should be paired with booties with a distressed, rugged look. A polished work outfit should be paired with clean, professional looking booties.The only thing to be alert to is if your booties look like they belong in the marching band rather that on a fashion commercial.


Winter Boots with Knit Accents


Another popular type of boot for the holidays is the leather boot that is layered with knits. These boots often have some bulk to them. This type of boot resembles the suede boots with shearling insides, but the upper has a knit or fabric detail that gives them a rustic look. Sometimes the cuff designs can be removed and changed. These look great with leggings and a big sweater for a comfortable apres-ski look. It is important not to over-accessorize with these bulky boots, but they usually look great with a coordinating infinity scarf made from a chunky or fluffy knit.



How to Wear Thigh-high Boots


Thigh-high boots are no longer reserved for party dresses and sexy outfits. They can easily be worn with everyday skirts that stop above the knee. To tone down the boots, it is best to wear a skirt in the same color as the boots so they make a long clean line together. If you live in a colder climate, you can pair colored tights with the boots to keep your legs warm. When you pick a mini-skirt to wear with thigh-high boots, the skirt should hit below the fingertips so it not too short. It can be fun to pair the skirt with a tee with a bold statement on it and a traditional peacoat



Keep It Simple in Suede


Suede boots in a calm brown can look fantastic with leggings and a long sweater dress. If the sweater dress is long enough, tights in a complementary color can also accentuate the beautiful suede boots. Many women will add a pair of long socks or boot cuffs to peek out of the top for a little extra accessorizing.

No Longer a One and Done: Wear That Bridesmaid Dress Again

How many times have you been told that you can wear the bridesmaid dress again? How many times have you actually done that? Instead of shelving the bridesmaid dress, never to see it again, it is time to learn how to wear a bridesmaid dress again without looking like you just stepped from the dance floor at the reception.


Alterations Can Work


The first step to wearing a bridesmaid dress again is to look for the positives of the dress and what can be changed. Even though women are wearing maxi dresses, long bridesmaids dresses are often too dressy to wear to anything other than a wedding. If you want to wear a long dress again, it might be worth it to have it hemmed to a shorter length. Or, if the length is perfect, but the top is too dressy, a tailor can remove the formal aspects. After spending hundreds on a dress to wear once, it is worth it to spend a few more dollars to make the dress wearable during the day.


Accessorize to Perfection


Once you have altered the dress to fit your wearability rules and style, the next step is to look at the accessories you can pair with it. In many cases, you might not have to alter the dress at all if you can hide the unwanted aspects of the dress with a gorgeous scarf, a statement necklace, or a casual jacket or cardigan. When you use accessories to change the look of a statement dress, like a bridesmaid dress, it is important to not overdo it because you could run the risk of looking silly. You could pair a scarf or necklace with a cardigan, but not both the scarf and necklace. If you are using a statement piece, you should keep the rest of your jewelry subdued, too.


Casual Shoes Make the Outfit


Another way to get the bridesmaid dress to work outside of the wedding is to pair it with unexpected shoes. One of the best ways to “dress down” a dressy dress is to pair it with casual sneakers. Do not wear socks or hosiery and do not wear athletic shoes with your dress. You can also wear booties or casual sandals to dress down the bridesmaid dress. Do not wear pumps or dressy shoes because those shoes will immediately make the dress look like a bridesmaid dress again.


Be Yourself


Hats can make any dress look casual. Floppy sun hats, fedoras, and other casual hats can make a long dress look like it belongs at a cool outdoor concert. If you pair the hat with a long cardigan and subtle jewelry, no one will have clue that you are wearing a dress that celebrated a new marriage.


There are plenty of ways to change-up a bridesmaid dress to make it wearable on the street, at work, and while hanging out with friends. The key to being able to wear the dress is to style it your way so that you are comfortable.