Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Is there an age limit for over knee/thigh high boots?

53 replies

MissTMornings · 18/09/2015 22:57

I had a fabulous pair of bright red suede thigh high boots in the 1980's.

I would love to get a nice flat pair in black suede but is this one of those trends that you should leave well alone if you remember the last time it was in?

I'm a black or grey skinnies and biker jacket type but I'm 43. I'm being ridiculous aren't I? I'm worried about looking the same age from the back as I do from the front iyswim.

OP posts:
Lurkedforever1 · 19/09/2015 11:45

Think they're definitely something that depends on your legs/ silhouette etc as havalina says once you get past a certain age. And both the style of boot and what you wear them with. I'm early 30's and can't say I plan on stopping wearing stuff I do now in 10years.

FauxFox · 19/09/2015 13:04

I got some last year (black suede with a block heel) and wore them loads - but then I have no problem with looking a bit pirate-y Grin

FauxFox · 19/09/2015 13:04

Oh and i'm 37.

AmberNectarine · 19/09/2015 18:35

I have three pairs - flat black leather and flat black suede, both Dune and a pair of leather, pointy toed heeled Philip lim ones that come halfway up my thigh. The first two pairs I wear a lot, with skinnies or short dresses. The last pair need more care as they could be a little Pretty Woman but are fab with skinnies and an oversized white shirt.

I'm thinking of getting some burgundy 50-50s this year.

Bellatrixie · 19/09/2015 19:44

I don't think there's an age limit, it depends on what you wear with them. I've tried on a few pairs but am finding they are baggy at the ankle and make my legs look thick- is this just the style generally, or just the ones I've tried?

Everstrong · 19/09/2015 19:44

Do it!! Seriously!!

As long as they aren't white pic...then do it and work as a stripper!

I would love a pair but at a paltry 5ft 2 I would look like puss in boots

ToTheGups · 19/09/2015 19:50

I am 5ft 2 and I wear them. Usually with leggings and a longish top. I have had dick turpin comments, puss in boots comments, pirate comments. I don't give a stuff, I like them.

PetiteBateau · 19/09/2015 19:51

God no. Carol Decker.

50ShadesOfSummer · 19/09/2015 20:56

I'm mid forties and I have three pairs. I coveted the Russell and Bromley / Stuart Weissman ones but they are about £400. I settled on these similar ones from Dune.

I also have a pair with a small block heel and another with a bit of a platform sole. *The latter are definitely "going out" boots as they could slip into Pretty Woman territory. Wear them with skirts, tights leggings, dresses, shorts. Anything really.

PennyPants · 20/09/2015 09:06

I love clothing with a bit of theatrical about it. So it's a yes from me as long as everything else is quite plain to avoid the circus ringmaster/panto look. I wear mine with black skinnies mainly.

Nettletheelf · 20/09/2015 09:52

I'm saying no, but not on age grounds. It's because I find them quite difficult to match with clothes.

I have tried with over the knee boots, many times. I always admit defeat and send them back. The last time was about three years ago when Jimmy Choo did some black leather over the knee boots that were kind of elasticated around the knee joint. I didn't buy those (£850) but good old Karen Millen did an acceptable knock-off, so I ordered those.

No, just no. They looked like waders with trousers, and although my legs are quite thin they looked like black leather sausages; no matter how good quality the material, leather and suede are going to sag. I suspect that's what the elasticated bit was intended to counteract.

Couldn't get them to work with skirts either; you need a short-ish skirt to show off the boots, otherwise why bother having them, and you can only really wear those with boots if you have opaque tights on, otherwise you risk the Pretty Woman effect. I thought about how often I wear short skirts, and the list is (also) quite short: not for work (I am a similar age to the OP and I work in one of the professions) and not particularly for going out, either.

I quite fancied the piratical/dandy highway,an look but I couldn't fit it into my life, sadly.

My ex-chief exec met Teresa May about five years ago and told me that she had over the knee boots on. Black patent, worn with puppytooth patterned trousers (he was quite the sartorialist for a 57 year old Yorkshireman). Kudos to May for carrying them off but I admitted defeat.

BTW, OP, one of my first thoughts after reading your post was, "ooh she must have had loads more pocket money and/or Saturday job earnings than me". I'm your age and I coveted suede over the knee boots on the late 80s, but I could never afford any!

RudyMentary · 20/09/2015 10:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

50ShadesOfSummer · 21/09/2015 10:27

In honour of this thread I wore mine (black suede Dune ones) yesterday with a button-through, A-line denim mini and black opaques. Looked fine.

Although I agree with the posters above who say you do need to wear with a short dress, skirt to show the boots off.

MNetter15 · 21/09/2015 10:44

I noticed that Cheryl and Rita Ora were wearing them on the XFactor last night.
I'm on the fence about them, they can look great but my style is too conservative.

HesSpartacus · 21/09/2015 10:54

Oh dear, I am 41 nearly 42, gah! and have two pairs - one black suede with heels, worn with this at the weekend:

www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/clothing-427/dresses-442/striped-bell-sleeve-dress-4587887?bi=20&ps=20

And these for day wear:

www.zalando.co.uk/zign-over-the-knee-boots-beige-zi111m009-b11.html

I'm 5'7 and a size 8-10. I'm going to be thinking of T'Pau from now on (but I still love them)...

Totallyaddictedtoshoes · 21/09/2015 13:51

I like them :-) I've got 2 pairs, one a forest green suede with a block heel and the other a charcoal grey suede pair with a thinner heel. I wear with skinny jeans or a short skirt/dress with opaque tights. They're both quite "slouchy" so don't look too much in my opinion.

SuperFlyHigh · 21/09/2015 14:35

I think sadly you will look very much Heart/Tpau like or Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman Grin.

I did have an ex-boyfriend years ago when I got some nice Russell and Bromley ones, ask me when I was going fishing?! Confused - they were returned to the shop.

Itscurtainsforyou · 22/09/2015 09:37

I wear mine in a similar way to mother - with tights/leggings/jumper dresses.
I have long calves and knee high boots are mid-calf on me so this is my only option...
Mine are black leather with a one inch block heel. Bought from duo about 6 years ago to wear on my wedding day :-)

Notoedike · 22/09/2015 11:26

I fancy a pair of these

I don't mind a bit of theatrical dressing but I do mind dull and predictable and footwear has been too dull and predictable of late.

BIWI · 22/09/2015 11:28

How is 5ft 7in not tall?!

getoffthattabletnow · 22/09/2015 13:15

I'm 51 and 5 ft 3 and wear them.Mine are not the remotest bit risque,but are very flattering on my short stumpy legs.Seriously wear what you want - if it suits you.

Judydreamsofhorses · 22/09/2015 15:51

I hate the idea of age limits on things to wear - if you like them, wear them.

OneBreathAfterAnother · 22/09/2015 15:53

I've just bought myself some over-the-knee/almost thigh high suede black boots with a 4" heel. They are lovely. I'm 25 and today I'm wearing them over skinnies with a long vest, but I will get some short-ish dresses to wear with them too.

I'd like to think I'm not too old!

FiftyShadesOfSporn · 02/10/2015 12:48

I got the M&S ones and I'm fat and fifty. They are black suede and flat-heeled. I only plan on wearing them with black skinnies and oversized cashmere jumnpers / ponchos. So they'll be there, but not 'in yer face' there.

Not that I have dared to wear them yet ...

burnishedsilver · 02/10/2015 12:53

I feel I'm too old for them becasue they conjure up this image...

Is there an age limit for over knee/thigh high boots?