Tips for Wearing Boots with Dresses

culled from:article city.com

 

Okay, enough with the convincing, let's get to the actual tips for how to wear boots with dresses: and, you'll be happy to find that there really isn't a lot to learn, but do know that experimentation is your friend.
There are so many different kinds of boots, dress styles and body types that it would be impossible to offer suggestions that would work for everyone. And besides, there aren't any hard and fast rules on this topic. However, I do have a few tips and suggestions for getting comfortable with the boot and dress combination, and advice on how to find that magical look that works for you.

1) Keeping it Simple

To simplify the process, start with a simple dress -- like a sweater dress, a wrap dress, or even a long tunic -- and pair it with a pair of simple, tall, flat boots. If you like tights or fancy stockings, feel free to add them into the mix for a bit of pizazz, but skip really trendy boot styles, or anything that's too defined -- i.e. don't start with a halter dress and a pair of cowboy boots. The reason behind going so simple is that this look is going to work for just about everyone. It's practically foolproof.

2) An Easy Balancing Act

The combination I described in step one is so simple and generally flattering that you could actually call it a day there. But if you're looking for ways to up the ante, then the next thing to try is the half and half approach: half of a dressy outfit, paired with something more casual; half-frilly with something more utilitarian; or half-glamorous with something really simple. Still no cowboy boots and sexy dresses, because both of those items fall under the "attention-getting" heading. You could, however, try a pretty cocktail dress with a pair of simple boots; or a pair of western boots with a plain but feminine dress.

  Additional Things to Keep in Mind

Though I said above that experimentation is the key to making boots work with dresses, there are a few words of caution that I'd like to pass along.
The main bit of advice being that sometimes you don't have to try so hard; a pretty pair of simple dress boots will work well with just about any skirt, suit or dress you might normally wear to the office, so you don't have to go all crazy and throw a pair of Doc Martens into the mix just to shake things up. Experimentation can be good, and is definitely fun, but it's also not always necessary.
And finally, I wanted to point out that you should try to find a pair of boots that work well with your body type -- and, since most boots do look good on most body types, I'm mainly talking about ankle boots and booties here. They're awesome, and anyone can wear them with jeans, pants, or maxi skirts. But there are a few caveats with ankle boots that you may want to be aware of if you're trying to pair them with shorter dresses, and aren't blessed with the height and legs of a supermodel. You can read more about these dilemmas in this article on what to wear with ankle boots.