What Boots Are Best For Petite Women?

Fashion reporter Teri Agins 

Tall boots are now seasonless fashion basics. Stylish women have many boots with a variety of heel heights and jazzy details, including trendy versions with cut-out "peep toes" and lacing, in materials from leather to stretch nylon and denim fabric.

Always wear your preferred skirt length or your skinniest jeans and leggings when you shop for tall boots, so you can study which silhouettes look the best. Boots should elongate your legs with an unbroken line, and shouldn't be too tight or too loose.

Shorter women will find the most-flattering versions are the sleekest, such as styles in stretch nylon. Avoid boots that bunch up around the ankle and those with a lot of embellishments, such as buckles and straps, which can make legs look thicker and shorter.

As you expand your boot wardrobe beyond black, try brown, burgundy and charcoal shades, as well as tan suede. Super-stiletto platform boots will make you taller, but the trade-off is loss of comfort. When a woman teeters around in too-high heels, she loses as much as she gains in height.

Boots should reach the lower edge of your kneecap. Avoid those that are shorter, such as mid-calf lengths that visually cut off your leg, or bridge the gap of exposed skin with black tights. Before buying thigh-high boots, spend a few minutes walking around the store and getting out of chairs to make sure they stay up without your having to constantly tug at them.