There is something about the first cool morning that makes me want to forget sandals ever existed and start shopping for boots. Fall fashion may bring us gorgeous sweaters, jackets and layers, but the right pair of boots can change the entire outfit. And at this stage of life, I am absolutely not choosing between looking fabulous and being able to walk.
At Salty & Stylish, we’re all about finding ways to Discover the salt of life, and sometimes that means discovering that your favorite jeans and sweater suddenly look a whole lot better with a great pair of knee-high boots. This fall, tall boots are giving us everything from Western stitching and moto buckles to fold-over silhouettes and classic riding styles.
The best part is that you don’t need a closet filled with designer boots to get the look. These eight DREAM PAIRS styles give you plenty of ways to update what you already own while keeping comfort and walkability in mind.
DREAM PAIRS Fold-over Knee High Boots
If your fall wardrobe needs a little attitude, these are the boots I’d start with. The fold-over silhouette and three metal buckles give them that moto-inspired look that makes even a basic outfit feel intentional. Throw them on with jeans and an oversized sweater and suddenly you’ve done something with your outfit without really doing much at all.
The 1.77-inch chunky heel is another reason these caught my attention. It gives you some height without venturing into the territory of shoes you regret wearing halfway through dinner. The relaxed pull-on shaft also makes them easier to get on and works with different calf shapes.
A molded TPR outsole adds traction and durability, which matters when these become the boots you keep reaching for. Wear them with denim, dresses, leggings or one of those oversized fall jackets we all seem to collect. They’re especially good when you want your boots to be the statement rather than an afterthought.
DREAM PAIRS DALLAS Cowboy Boots
Western boots have officially escaped the ranch, and I’m not mad about it. The DALLAS gives you that Western influence with a pointed toe and knee-high silhouette that can look surprisingly sophisticated when styled with pieces you already own.
They have a three-inch layered heel, but DREAM PAIRS balances the height with a durable TPR rubber outsole and cushioned latex insole. There’s also soft lining inside, plus stretch panels and a side zipper that make getting them on and off considerably easier.
I wouldn’t save these for a country concert. Wear them with skinny jeans and a jacket, a denim skirt or even a fall dress. They add just enough Western personality without making you look like you accidentally wandered out of a costume department.
DREAM PAIRS Araminta Knee High Riding Boots
The Araminta is what happens when a traditional riding boot gets a little rebellious. Multiple buckle straps give the classic tall silhouette an edgier personality, while the square toe keeps the look modern and gives your toes more room.
A 1.97-inch block heel provides a little lift while keeping your stride stable. There’s also a chunky TPR outsole designed to provide grip, which makes these much more realistic for an actual day out than some of the gorgeous-but-impractical boots tempting us every fall.
Most colors have a straightforward pull-on design with a straight-cut shaft, while the Black-zipper version has, as the name suggests, a zipper. I’d wear these with slim jeans, leggings or a shorter sweater dress and let all those buckles do the accessorizing for me.
DREAM PAIRS Coraline Chunky Wide Calf Knee High Boots
Can we talk about how difficult it can be to find tall boots when your calves and the boots apparently have very different opinions about sizing? The Coraline is a wide-calf option with a roomy square toe, making it especially interesting for women who have struggled with narrow knee-high styles.
The chunky block heel gives you height without a skinny heel to balance on, and the boot is designed to stay in place rather than gradually migrating down your leg. The silhouette has a definite retro gogo-boot influence, which is part of the fun.
These are the boots I’d use when I want a simple outfit to feel more fashionable. Pair them with knit dresses, skirts or layers over jeans. They can easily move between daytime and evening, which means one less pair of shoes to pack when you’re heading away for a fall weekend.
DREAM PAIRS Fold-Over Knee High Fashion Boots
These are for the woman who loves the fold-over boot trend but doesn’t necessarily want buckles and moto details. The cleaner silhouette feels a little dressier and gives skirts, dresses and jeans an instantly updated look.
Instead of a chunky heel, this pair has a walkable 1.57-inch kitten heel. The material has a soft, supple feel while still holding the shape of the boot, and the flexible TPU outsole is designed with different zones of firmness to balance flexibility and support.
There’s also textured tread for better traction on everyday surfaces. I can see these becoming a dinner, theater and date-night boot because they give you that elongated, heeled silhouette without asking you to spend the evening wondering why you wore them.
DREAM PAIRS Lariat Women’s Stitching Vintage Knee High Boots
If you like Western style but want something different from the traditional pointed cowboy boot, take a look at the Lariat. A structured square toe and embroidered stitching give these plenty of personality while maintaining a clean knee-high shape.
Inside, there’s an ultra-soft lining and a 5mm high-density foam insole designed to provide cushioning without requiring a lengthy break-in period. They’re also slip-on boots, which keeps the overall silhouette clean and makes them easy to grab when you’re heading out.
The shaft is designed to hold its shape, and the materials are made to resist scuffs and clean up easily. Wear them with denim now, then start pairing them with sweater dresses and longer skirts once temperatures really drop.
DREAM PAIRS CHAI-1 Women’s Chunky Heel Knee High Tall Boots
This is the pair for the woman who refuses to let cold weather ruin a good outfit. The CHAI-1 combines a slouchy knee-high shape with a cozy faux fur lining, giving you the warmth you want once fall starts edging toward winter.
The three-inch chunky block heel sounds substantial, but a 0.70-inch platform helps balance the height. A non-slip TPR outsole provides a more secure step, while the cushioned insole adds support when you’re going to be standing or walking for longer periods.
With a 15-inch shaft and zip-up design, these can work for daytime, work or an evening out. They’re particularly good with leggings, slim pants and sweater dresses when you want a little height without pulling out a pair of delicate heels.
DREAM PAIRS UTAH Women’s Knee High Riding Boots
Some trends come and go, but a classic riding boot earns its closet space year after year. The UTAH has the traditional knee-high silhouette with moto-inspired buckled straps at the ankle and a quilted zipper accent that keeps it from looking too basic.
The synthetic leather upper gives it a polished look, while faux fur lining adds warmth for colder days. A TPR outsole provides traction and wear resistance, and the side zipper means you aren’t wrestling with your boots every time you leave the house.
This is probably one of the easiest pairs in the group to integrate into an existing wardrobe. Jeans, leggings, sweaters, quilted jackets and casual dresses all work. When you want a boot that won’t look dated next fall, or the fall after that, a riding style is hard to beat.
Boot season should be fun. We have enough things in life that require suffering, and footwear does not need to be one of them. A good fall boot should make an outfit look better while still allowing you to walk from lunch to shopping to cocktails without plotting where you’re going to sit next.
The bigger trend here is choice. Western boots are back, moto details are everywhere, fold-over shafts feel fresh again, and classic riding boots never really left. You don’t have to reinvent your wardrobe to participate. Sometimes changing the shoes is enough.
So pull out the jeans, unpack the sweaters and give yourself permission to buy the boots. Fall doesn’t last forever, and neither does my patience for wearing shoes that hurt.
