Do you keep to any rules about the appearance of boots with trousers and skirts

[RememberBeKindWithKaren]

I bet I've not worded this well. Also must preface this to say I'm quite ancient and have never followed fashion as such.

In general if I wore a skirt or dress with boots, the boot would be knee high, or if an ankle boot, then it would be relatively smart. As in a bit of a heel, they'd fit round the ankle and probably not betoo loose at the top.

If I wore a boot with trousers, again they'd be smartish if with smart trousers, or more loose/ clumpy, perhaps mid-calf height etc if with jeans or casual trousers.

But now, going by images on shoe websites, anything goes at all. Which is fine if you're ok with that.

So, do you apply any rules still? Guess I'm more interested in the boots you wear with smart clothes.
Thanks in advance

I don’t follow the kind of rules you mentioned OP but I definitely think about what kind of shape, heel height or toe shape would go with an item of clothing. I’ve got some ankle length kitten heeled boots for example that I would wear with a cropped jean or long satin skirt but never with a shorter skirt. Some flat ankle round toe boots that worth with a mini skirt but terrible with trousers or a longer skirt.

My rule is no dark shoes, including boots, against my white pasty skin. Thick tights or trousers only. I also won't wear thick tights outside of October - April or thereabouts.

Anything does go nowadays, but when I saw those boots straightaway I thought either corduroy trousers, a knitted dress with thick tights or either a leather look skirt or full dress with opaque patterned tights

You're welcome.
Get some confidence in yourself, it's free.

I agree with @Floisme - lots of women don’t have the confidence to look in the mirror and know what suits them. It’s taken me ages (couple of years) and a lot of thought to pin down my sense of style and it’s still
a work in progress, but I’m getting there. Kind comments from strangers on here has definitely helped. Now I don’t have to seek outside validation to work out if my outfit works. For some this ability comes naturally, but not me. The whole proportion, silhouette and colour issue was/is a complete mystery but when sense of style starts to click it’s like a muscle, it gets stronger the more it’s practised. Like OP I still find the whole boot/trouser/skirt issue tricky. Some
women look fantastic with a big gap between boot and hemline, but not me. It may be to do with width and/or length of calf - proportion perhaps.

@LarryIsMyRomanEmpire I usually don’t get involved with unpleasantness, but that was plain nasty. You must be an unhappy person. I feel sorry for you.

Put your energy into being kind and the world will become a better place.

This is the thing, it’s about how you feel. Also surely a persons age makes a difference. Young uns can wear anything and look cool.

It really wasn't nasty,
I just can't imagine living a life where you worry about what others think of your clothing.
As I said, the best thing you can do is gain some confidence, the fact that you think it's nasty just shows your lack of self esteem.
Get help, I mean that kindly.

Thanks to everyone who has posted comments in good faith, ( and that's all bar one so far).

I'm really interested seeing everyone's views. Yes I can see things like your feelings about your own legs can change things. Also skirt length etc I don't actually need to be told these rules to live by because I will know the minute I can see the look of an outfit plus boots but it's still helping me to read your messages. I wouldn't say I'm particularly well off, have quite a bit going on at the moment
and can't afford to try out a lot of different outfits. So it's all interesting to see how others see things.

Thanks again.

( And if anyone feels offended by the question you don't need to engage.).

I ware Doc's with everything except joggers but I only ware them in the house. Skirts & dresses no issues about length but with either skinny jeans tucked into the Doc's & loosely tied (easy to get on/off) or flairs near touching the boot soles. Since I was i kid I couldn't stand trousers ect flapping at my ankles

I'm not sure I understand the question- are there rules?

I have these boots in black and burgundy

https://www.cheaney.co.uk/anna-d-balmoral-boot-in-burnished-burgundy-plum-suede-p867

And these in black
https://lanxshoes.com/collections/womens-boots/products/chipping-black?_pos=18&_fid=45150954a&_ss=c&variant=44184259985646

I also have 2 pairs of very flat suede over the knee boots, green and black and 1 pair of very flat black leather over the knee boots.. I wear all of them with dresses and skirts. I don't wear trousers.

I don't like Chelsea boots or heeled boots, I wouldn't wear those sock boots.

Age has nothing to do with it.

I used to never wear ankle boots with dresses or skirts but do now. I think they look fine. I wear either with trousers

i too am older. I was young in the seventies and flared triusers were all the rage and I d I swore I would never wear them. Going to keep my skinny jeans!,!

My rules only apply to skirts and dresses as I do not wear jeans or trousers.
I never wear trainers ( unless for sport) and only wear shoes once in a blue moon - it's sandals in the summer and boots in the winter.
I'm short but with longer legs proportionate to my body, and I don't carry extra chunkiness on my legs.
My boot rules are that they must be round toed, flat, and chunky whether knee high or ankle high. Mid calf only look good on me if they fit close.
I personally feel that delicate, slim heeled or pointed toe boots are old fashioned and the proportions look wrong to the rest of the body.

Same, I just can’t pull off this look.
i wear knee high boots with skirts or dresses.

My only rule is whether I think it looks ok. I don't wear them at all in summer. Generally I get on better with a boot heel than one in shoes and find boots more comfortable. I don't do thin heels, even kitten heels feel odd and uncomfortable. Always feels like I'm playing dress up or in drag.

The other complication with boots is tights and socks. If you manage to pull off the ankle boots with skirts look, do you only wear them with longer skirts, or also with knee-length skirts? And do you wear visible socks? This seems to be more of a thing now, including quite brightly-coloured socks! Flesh-coloured sheer tights don't seem very popular any more, but it's sometimes hard to choose colour of opaques to go with both the skirt and the boots.

I definitely want to wear my ankle boots with skirts, but I put them on and go... nope! I don't really do dainty boots, or anything but flats though. Maybe that's why. I definitely see others in chunky boots that look good with skirts though.

I love those boots! I would wear them with straight and wide cropped trousers. Or long skirts. Anything where you want a slim ankle.

I’ve always thought what happens at the ankle makes or breaks an outfit.

I don’t wear skirts or dresses. They neither feel or look right. A mini is the best but still not great and I’m really not a fan of tights which make me feel like a sausage.

I don’t wear black boots.

I don’t wear square toed boots. Or boots with a heel more than about an inch.

I have a range of different trousers and jeans that I mix and match with my four pairs of ankle boots (some pair better than others). I do also have an ancient pair of knee high boots, and a pair of skinny jeans to wear them with.

I think boots can easily look old fashioned in a world where everyone seems to wear trainers all the time. I don’t like very chunky boots but they seem more modern. I really dislike DMs, always have.

Most of my rules are related to my very short legs, relative to the rest of me.

@FindingMeno , ooh interesting! Thanks. I get what you're saying about mid -calf, although ages ago I did frequently used to wear jeans ( tight or skinny) ,tucked into a pair with a small ISH heel and I liked the look..Since then, can't imagine wearing mid-calf at all although I see some with flowy skirts and mid -calf boots. I probably wouldn't go for the look though.

With the boots OP posted, I would only wear a midi dress/skirt or longer, or cropped jeans. I don’t think those boots work with wide or straight leg jeans. I’m sure people with a figure like the model can pull of shorter skirts with them

@MagicLoop not sure if this was clear or if it matters, but I've been talking about ankle boots that I wear to work. I haven't worn a winter skirt so far this winter but when I wore them with the ankle boots, the skirts sit on the knee or , just marginally above the knee. Got a nice wool black and blue one from Boden which I wore quite a bit like this. Thick opaque tights ( thinking I should explore thermal ones this year). Boots zip up and there's no gap , or very very little, between top of material and my leg ( i expect there's a better way of putting that but you get the idea). Maybe to some, it isn't a good look but to my mind it keeps the smart vibe going without it being too formal.

I don't see many women in real life with ankle boots but I know these look fine and they keep my feet warmer than ballet flats. warmth is a big issue where I work.

I feel dreary in court shoes, ok I guess with some flats or brogues and don't very much like anything too chunky with a skirt. So they are the first boots I knew I liked to go with my work skirts ..wore them quite a lot last year. This year, somehow I thought I'd ask people their views. Of course it is all personal. But I'm still enjoying seeing people's thoughts.

I'm not often in the shops, hate buying on line so this could be a way to sharpen my ideas a bit. We'll see.

No need to be nasty.

I'm wearing a mid-calf length jersey dress today over leggings. About to go out so putting on my only pair of boots. Ankle height flat black ones. It has never occurred to me that there are "rules" about whether a length or colour of boot is correct with a particular skirt or anything.

Later on I'll be swapping the boots for walking shoes to walk the dog.