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• March 12, 2009
• Under The Influence

Get High: A User's Guide to Walking Tall in the Season's Thigh-High Boots

By Xiyin Tang

We called the thigh-high boot craze during the New York shows, and from London to Paris, Alexandre to Tim, designers have been continuing to turn out plenty of versions in luxe leather, suede, and everything in between. Not only does this inspire us to start hitting the stair-master now, but it also left us with the burning question: How do we look less streetwalker and more Barberella? After sifting through more than 20 shows' worth of thigh-highness, we've come up with a virtually scientific scale of boot looks that go from bad to amazing. Get a leg up now with our fool-proof guide.

Do Not Trespass



Above, from left:
Giles: No caption required.
Alexandre Herchcovitch: There's no faster route to hookerville than pairing your thigh-highs with fishnets.
Jean Paul Gaultier: Ditto to the above, except Gaultier was kind enough to build in the fishnets for you. Kind of a 2-for-1 deal in Bad Taste.
Prada: Ideal for luring the kinky fisherman into your wading pool.


Slowly inching our way to the stunners after the jump...

Tread Lightly



Above, from left:
Hussein Chalayan: We knew garter belts were big this season, but really now...
Ohne Titel: We're torn. The cinching is cool, but looks good only if your thighs are the width of a pencil.
Marc Jacobs: The patent leather finish is slightly tacky, but when paired with a retro frock, it's kind of amazing.
Lacoste: Like a slightly perverse schoolgirl, these boots look like thigh-high socks. Ingenious.


We Would Walk 1,000 Miles...



Above, from left:
Tim Hamilton: Utterly modern (or mod), especially when paired with the Edwardian hat and white tights.
Rodarte: Take some of the heat off your legs with a little minidress so amazing that they won't know which one to gawk at first.
Chloé: Okay, these are technically knee-high, but this burnt orange shade looks so unbelievably crisp and sophisticated when paired with silk pants and capped with gold.
Stella McCartney: Basically, these are tights, but much warmer and oh so much cooler. We are in love. Pass along the studded pair and the $1,600 to go along with them, and we'll be in business.


Photos via Style.com.


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