How to Wear Thigh High Boots Without It Looking Too Much
If you've hesitated over thigh high boots because you're worried about how they'll come across, you're not alone, and the fix is more straightforward than it feels. How to style thigh high boots comes down to a handful of choices, mostly around hemline, colour and material, that shift the whole look from statement to simply well put together.
Hemline is the biggest lever
A thigh high boot paired with a very short hemline leaves almost no fabric between the two, which is usually what tips a look into "too much" territory. A longer skirt, a midi dress, or trousers worn over the boot changes that balance completely. Across the UK, the boots themselves rarely cause the problem. It's almost always what's worn above them.
Suede softens the whole look
Leather thigh high boots have a more structured, polished finish. Suede has a softer texture, and that difference alone tends to read as more relaxed and less of a statement, even in an identical silhouette. If you're easing into this style for the first time, suede is usually the gentler starting point.
Colour does some of the work for you
Black is the most versatile choice, but even within black, a plain leather boot reads differently to one with heavy studding or embellishment. Keeping the boot itself simple, and letting the rest of the outfit carry the interest, is an easy way to wear over the knee boots casually without it feeling like a costume.
Saint Ophelia Tan Stretch Suede Above The Knee Boots — £167
Tan suede is a good example of how material changes the read of the same silhouette. It's softer in tone and texture than black leather, and pairs easily with denim or knitwear for a look that leans everyday rather than statement. For anyone across the UK trying this style for the first time, it's a lower-pressure way in.
Saint G UK's full range of thigh high and above the knee boots is designed in Milan and sold directly across the UK, in leather and suede, so there's a version of this silhouette that suits however confident you're feeling with it.
For guidance on wearing this style for work specifically, see are thigh high boots office-appropriate.