2017 Update: We still think a lot of these are the best knee-high boots for commuting to work — but you may also want to check out our most recent thoughts on what boots to wear with tights to work.
Sure, we all know what basics professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have. Today’s hunt: the best knee-high boots for commuting, work, or more.
As work-appropriate booties have surged in popularity, we recognize that knee-high boots aren’t as strong a trend as they once were — still, I see a ton of women still wearing them, and I repeatedly see readers noting that they prefer knee-high boots for their lifestyle (or just for general personal style reasons). I mostly see women commuting in them and wearing them with skinny jeans on the weekend, so I thought I’d focus this Hunt on flat, low-heeled styles. An important caveat: I see a lot of women swearing by flat over-the-knee boots for commuting, but OTK boots are solidly in “know your office” territory — in our last poll most women didn’t think they were appropriate for their offices. If you are on the hunt for an OTK boot, I’d either go low (very inexpensive, like this $38 pair) or high (do the classic Weitzman OTK boot) and call it a day — or make an actual trip to the store to find a good OTK boot somewhere between those two.
As we’ve noted in our past roundups of flat knee-high boots for work, watch out for slouchy boots, heavy treads, or Western influences — and if you intend to wear them the entire day at the office, make sure your outfit is intentional (and not that “I never got around to changing my commuting boots” look).
First, some specialty styles to include in our roundup of the best knee-high boots for commuting, work, and beyond:
- Hall of Famers: Sam Edelman, Frye, Steven
- Under $150: Merona, Sam Edelman, Steven, Söfft, däv, Nine West
- Waterproof: Mephisto, Aquatalia, Givenchy, däv (see our recent roundup of weatherproof boots for the office!)
- Extended calf sizes: Merona, Naturalizer, Frye, Sam Edelman, Børn,
- Comfort: Mephisto, Børn, Söfft, (don’t forget to check out our entire guide to comfortable heels)
Pictured below: some of our Hall of Fame boots — the best-selling styles that have been around and loved for years!
Pictured above: one / two / three
Curious about our older roundups? Here are links to 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012 — and our last discussion on whether knee-high boots are appropriate for the office. (Do you still think this is a question at all, ladies?)
Today’s featured knee-high boots for commuting or work include:
