I’ve returned three pairs of lug sole high-shaft boots like those Shana, Amy and Emily rock. And I’ve been puzzled as to why I don’t like them on me.
The boots are amazing and look extremely chic, but as you may have concluded with other things, sometimes what you love on someone else, you don’t love as much on you. Like the first pair I ordered, the Sam Edelman Laguna, they’re stunning, and I adored the brown small touch, but I put them on and said “no.” My sister, however, got a big satisfying smile when she saw herself in the mirror with them on.
She kept those (thank God cause my husband threw the box away. Why husband, why? Do you forget your wife is a fashion blogger and returns a LOT of things?)…and I kept searching.
Vagabond Knee-High Boots vs. Chunky Chelsea Boots
Suddenly, I started seeing tall lug sole boots on my IG feed, even ads. Game on!!, I said and started looking for a pair that didn’t cost over $700, like the ads I saw. And guess what, Vagabond, the brand that makes those amazing chunky booties, also makes a knee-high version — they’re almost gone, but these are super-similar and I will share more brands at the end.
Vagabond Cosmo 2.0 Chelsea Boot | Vagabond Kenova Knee High Boot (very similar pair here)
Lug Sole Chelsea Boots: Vagabond Cosmo 2.0
Let’s start with these booties. Not my favorite on me…
Why The Vagabond Chelsea Boots Don’t Work:
- I’m petite with short legs and thick thighs. I love my thighs, not so much my leg length, but I have my preferences on what to wear.
- While the high shaft boot would hit a taller person lower on the leg, on me they come almost to my calves and squeeze my leg. The shaft also hits my lower leg starts widening, making me look shorter. This is extremely important when you’re petite; find things that hit at your narrower parts.
- Visually they’re not terrible with dark pants, but I’m not happy with the feeling of tightness around my leg. They don’t pass the skinny jeans or leggings test. I would consider them more if they had a wider leg opening.
Let’s See The Chelsea Boots With Straight-leg Jeans
Better, yes, but I still don’t like my feet looking so big because of the narrow opening. I also prefer a heeled boot to give me some elongation when I wear my straight-leg jeans cuffed or cropped.
Knee-High Boots: Vagabond Kenova Chunky Lug Sole Knee-High Boots
First, I must admit I was hesitant because of the same aforementioned issues: petite with short and thick legs, the boots come up higher on me than they would on a taller person. This means the narrow under-calf area comes up almost to my mid-calf, feeling a little tight on that part. But it wasn’t terrible, and I knew that with some wear, the leather would stretch.
Why The Vagabond Knee-High Boots Work:
- First, the boot comes down to just under my knee where the leg narrows, elongating my figure.
- Second, the tall boot thickens my lower leg, balancing my thighs and hips. I’ve noticed I need shoes that can visually hold my legs.
- Third, they look great with both skinny and, of course, with my straighter leg jeans. This is something I love; I stick my jeans in a high-knee sock and put the boot on. I love the relaxed feel of the loose knee.
- Lastly, my style personality. This is a tiebreaker and explains why even two people with similar body types will choose different things. The knee-high boots give me a put-together/more sophisticated feel, which is part of my style personality. Meanwhile, my sister’s style personality is more dramatic, creative and sporty.
Let’s remember they are waterproof, comfortable, and provide more warmth with the tall shaft. They’ve been perfect for all the snow we’ve been getting.
Not sure yet? Here’s another side by side.
Your Body & Personality Are Unique
It’s ok if something you had high hopes for doesn’t work out as you thought. There’s a difference between fashion and style. “Fashion is ephemeral, dangerous and unfair,” as Karl Lagerfield said. But style? It’s all about knowing yourself, what works and suits your lifestyle. Knowing what to grab from the latest fashion and making it blend with your style effortlessly. I felt I was trying too hard to make the high-shaft boots work, I kept trying to wear them for a month, but I took them off every time. The knee-high felt seamless, becoming some of my most worn shoes at the moment.
Shop More Chunky Lug Sole Boots
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Besos,
Julieta
For more casual-chic outfits, you can find me on IG (@julietatorresd). I often post what I wear for this home life. Some days it’s sweatpants, other days pretty button-downs and faux leather pants. I hope to see you there.
Thank you for your post, Julietta! This was VERY helpful. As someone who is also a petite size (not quite 5’2″ tall) and similarly-shaped, I have often been disappointed with things that other contributors have posted that I thought looked great, but after I try them on, find myself thinking there must be something deficient about my body size or shape. Your post was SO helpful since jeans/boots/leg things are always hard for me to figure out and the way you framed it really resonated.
Nothing deficient about you. I’ve felt that way too, but it has nothing to do with our bodies being wrong. I’m so glad this post was helpful to you. Thank you for your comment