Fall Trends: 4 (Petite-Friendly) Ways to Style Over The Knee Boots

casual fall outfit idea apple pear picking boston

Here in New England, apple picking gets all the love but my personal favorite has to be pear picking! We went for the first time last year and I couldn’t wait for the crisp, sweet and juicy pears to come back in season. Our favorite farm for this is Honey Pot Hill…their pear harvest might be dwindling down for the season, but I’d highly recommend it for next year, if you live in the Boston area!

dsw marc fisher over the knee otk boots

For today’s post, I’ve partnered with DSW to share styling ideas for one of my favorite Fall pieces: over-the-knee (OTK) boots! This particular pair I’m wearing is a good option for shorter women – the block heel is low & stable, and the shaft hits me right above the knees (for reference, I’m about 5 feet tall). A style like this is a great way to dip your toes into the trend if you’re not ready for the thigh-high styles yet.

fall outfit jcrew camel blazer nordstrom plaid blanket scarf

I often hear from petite women who shy away from OTK boots, but I personally find them to be flattering and leg-lengthening, not to mention warm. Here are 4 easy outfit ideas that I love for this style of boots:

1. For a chic cold-weather look, wear a simple tee or sweater dress that’s slightly shorter in length, so there’s at least an inch or so of gap between the top of the boot and the bottom hem of your dress. Add tights in the winter, and a long cardigan or jacket for a layered look. If your boots tend to slip downward against bare legs, try wearing thicker socks or leg-warmers inside of your boots to help create traction.

over the knee otk boots dress wrap jacket fall outfit

Marc Fisher boots (similar), Boohoo fleece wrap (similar and similar but heavier) + swing dress (similar), Baublebar necklace

2. For a cozy and weekend outfit, pair stretchy leggings with a longer tunic top, oversized sweater or poncho:

fall casual outfit anthropologie poncho sweater tall boots

Marc Fisher boots (similar), Vince Camuto leggings, Anthropologie poncho (4 similar options in this blog post)

3. For a casual everyday look, wear your OTK boots with tucked-in skinny jeans and a sweater or tee. I like using the zipper opening right by the ankle of the boots to reach in and pull down my jeans all the way and avoid bunchiness. For additional print and texture, layer a plaid shirt either underneath (letting the collar, sleeve cuffs, and bottom of the shirt peek out) or tie it around your waist.

fall outfit idea OTK boots cable sweater plaid shirt

Marc Fisher boots (similar), Rag & Bone jeans, Ann Taylor sweater (similar), Old Navy flannel shirt

4. For a super simple and quintessentially Fall outfit, pair your boots with dark jeans, a basic tee and soft patterned blanket scarf. Layer on a blazer for a preppy look like I did here:

fall style plaid blanket scarf white tee tall boots

These Marc Fisher boots come in four colors (I’m wearing the olive) and both regular and a wide calf fit. I get reader requests for extended calf just as much as narrow calf boots, and rarely see it offered in smaller sizes like these are. I have on the size 5.5 regular which are on the narrow side in the calf, with a looser fit on me in the lower thigh area due to a slit in the upper back shaft. Sizing feels true to size, and they were comfortable with no breaking in required. Here’s two other styles that I found at DSW, available in smaller sizes like 5+ and with narrower calf measurements:

Aldo faux suede heeled boots – Under $100, listed with 13″ calf and 22″ shaft height

Charles David flat faux suede boots – listed with 12″ calf and 21.5″ shaft height

fall fashion blazer blanket scarf over the knee tall boots

Here’s a Pinterest-friendly summary of my favorite looks from above!

how to style_ways to wear over the knee OTK boots


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52 Comments

  1. Bhavika wrote:

    Hi Jean, which would you recommend between the Charles David Gunters or the Blondo Eden OTK? Do you have any pictures wearing either?

    Posted 11.14.16 Reply
  2. The Legatowicz wrote:

    Your post made me run out and buy these boots! Unfortunately, DSW was completely sold out of the olive color but I found them at Macy's for under $100! They are absolutely gorgeous and fit perfectly! Thanks for the awesome post. Your style is impeccable and you are stunning in everything! : )

    Posted 11.11.16 Reply
  3. Sara Eckert wrote:

    The Escape style is 2 inches longer, which I don't want at 5'2. I'm so frustrated that I can't find the Epic in olive green anywhere in my size! It looks like DSW is the only place that even sells that style.

    Posted 11.1.16 Reply
  4. mayu from japan wrote:

    Hi, Jean(o^-^o)

    I paired H&M; sweater dress from your recent post with Boohoo wrap and Marc Fisher boots.

    What I like the most is Marc Fisher boots!
    They elongates my legs and are soooo comformy…I can walk all day(o^-^o)

    I do appreciate your post !!!

    Posted 11.1.16 Reply
  5. Sara Eckert wrote:

    Are you wearing the wide calf boots in these pictures? I can't believe most sizes are sold out everywhere in this color!!

    Posted 11.1.16 Reply
  6. Unknown wrote:

    I was wondering that too!! They look so similar and I can find them in a 6!

    Posted 10.27.16 Reply
  7. Carol wrote:

    What color are your Marc Fisher OTK boots? Thank you for writing this post. I think these boots are great but never really knew how to style them! Will try those ideas. You are amazing and beautiful! Thank you for sharing 🙂

    Posted 10.26.16 Reply
  8. Peggie Louis wrote:

    Pls mention me the name of that boots & where can I get those Marc Fisher OTK boots ???
    I can't find on their official web !
    Thanks u soo much :-* xoXo

    Posted 10.21.16 Reply
  9. Robin Sanchez wrote:

    Hello Jean, I absolutely love these Marc Fisher Epic OTK boots in olive however they are sold out in my size, 6, everywhere. I did find a pair of Marc Fisher Escape OTK boots that look identical, do you know if these are the same boots? Thanks for you help and have a great day!

    Posted 10.11.16 Reply
  10. Robin Sanchez wrote:

    Hello Jean, I absolutely love these Marc Fisher Epic OTK boots in olive but unfortunately my size, 6, is sold out everywhere. I did find a pair of Marc Fisher Escape OTK boots that look identical, do you know if these are the same boot? Thanks for your help!

    Posted 10.11.16 Reply
  11. mayu from japan wrote:

    Hi,Jean!
    I got these boots in olive, boohoo wrap, and old navy shirt.
    I'm a big fan of your outfit, they are comfy but cute !
    I also feel happy in sweet colors.

    Thank you for your posts (o^-^o)

    Posted 10.10.16 Reply
  12. Maine Girl wrote:

    I called DSW today, and they said there's a possibility that they will get re-stocked. I was so disappointed too 🙁

    Posted 10.9.16 Reply
  13. Jessica wrote:

    After reading this post, I was very eager to go to DSW to try on these boots. I am about 5'1" and petite like you and have a terrible time finding boots that fit snug in the calves. The Marc Fisher boots were too loose, not at all how they seem to fit you. The Aldo boots are very slim, but also very tall. They came to about mid-thigh on me. How would you wear those boots? Would they make me look too short wearing them under a dress without any space between the dress and the boot? I think they are too snug to wear over jeans, maybe leggings. What would you suggest?

    Posted 10.9.16 Reply
  14. Sara Bolanos wrote:

    These are sold out but I love what you did! (I'm 4'11) and have been scared to try OTK! do you think you could link similar styles/brands that are also petite friendly and wont break the bank =(

    Posted 10.8.16 Reply
  15. Amanda Irel wrote:

    I absolutely LOVE that camel blazer! Beautiful! I tend to shy away from anything that's not a black blazer but the camel still looks crisp and sophisticated.

    Posted 10.8.16 Reply
  16. Jean wrote:

    Oops, thanks for pointing out my typo of 11.5 instead of 21.5 (big difference, so I hope no one actually thought it was 11 as that would definitely not be OTK!). I tried those boots on myself and did find them to be petite-friendly. Many OTK boots are designed to hit higher at the thighs not like the Marc Fisherers. The Charles David ones are narrower than most boots I've tried on, and measure just like my Stuart Weitzman Lowlands both in shaft height and width.

    Posted 10.8.16 Reply
  17. Anonymous wrote:

    As a petite/narrow calf gal and DSW Rewards Premier member familiar with DSW.com's selection of suede OTN boots, I was surprised to see a link posted for Charles David Flat Faux Suede Boots. Product details list a 21.5" shaft height and a comment from a 5'9" reviewer mentioning how these boots go well over her knees. You may want to revisit the website to confirm having these posted as petite friendly OTN boots.

    Posted 10.7.16 Reply
  18. Jean wrote:

    SW has lots of OTK styles…the 50/50 have around the same shaft height, the highland/midland/lowland are higher, and the all legs are lots higher.

    Posted 10.7.16 Reply
  19. Jean wrote:

    Hi Justine! this older post has some of the steps I use to add volume to my ponytail: https://www.extrapetite.com/2015/06/easy-formal-hairstyle-tutorials-from.html

    Posted 10.7.16 Reply
  20. Jean wrote:

    Oh no! Unfortunately I don't … maybe apply leather conditioner and then stuff them in the sagged area? The conditioner moistens the material so maybe the drying process will aid in some re-shaping, but that's just a guess!

    Posted 10.7.16 Reply
  21. Jean wrote:

    Hi! It's from Boohoo petites but sold out. They have similar still but only in regular sizing, I believe

    Posted 10.7.16 Reply
  22. Anonymous wrote:

    Hi Jean, just wondering where you got your short swing dress from? Or if you could provide more details. Thank you!! I love it

    Posted 10.7.16 Reply
  23. Myra Jean Lerma wrote:

    Love this look!! I just brought out my OTK boots to see if I could recreate with my beige blazer…and sadly my beautiful boots got squished in my closet over the summer season. I now have a saggy crinkled look near the ankle on one of the boots. Do you have any tips on how to reshape boots (not just the reshape inserts but something to give them a "wrinkle face lift").

    Posted 10.7.16 Reply
  24. BW02 wrote:

    #1 is the main use I see for OTK boots. So you can wear dresses in the winter!

    http://www.dressupchowdown.com

    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  25. Maria Khalid wrote:

    Jean, great post as usual! I got inspired by you to order the boots myself in olive 🙂 FYI for the other readers, if you are a dsw member, you can apply two different codes at the same time for a total of $40 off your purchase. The codes are 'fallsavings' and 'fall2016' (you do have to be a dsw rewards member which is not a credit card, just a rewards card)

    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  26. Mei Liang wrote:

    I really like the short dress and the leggings with looser tunic look! I used to shy away from OTK boots as well since I'm petite but with the right outfits (like yours!), it really does elongate the legs. Thanks for sharing!

    Pieces of Mei

    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  27. Sharan Kaur wrote:

    Love your outfit and your OTK boots! I'll definitely have to invest in a pair this season!

    xoxo
    Sharan
    http://www.MyGoldenBeauty.com

    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  28. Robyn wrote:

    Super cute look! Love the boots 😀

    http://www.skinnybelle.com

    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  29. Ev wrote:
    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  30. abu wrote:

    wow! looks so nice and style…

    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  31. abu wrote:

    wow! looks so nice and style

    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  32. Em wrote:

    I absolutely love this!! I've been looking for a way to style my new OTN boots! Bought a pair for the 1st time which was super daring for me!xx

    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  33. The Brave Brunette wrote:

    I'm also 5 feet and I found I little bit hard wearing OTK boots, but I think I'm gonna try anyways. THANKS xx

    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  34. Rose Nika wrote:

    sooo many ways to wear those boots TALK ABOUT BEST DEAL EVER

    Life is just Rosie
    Instagram

    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  35. Julie Hiller wrote:

    All three of these looks are great. I think the first might be my favorite! Love the coat and the boots.

    Style by Joules

    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  36. Justine W wrote:

    Can you do a tutorial on how to put our hair up in a pony tail like yours ? Mine always turns out to be a flat flop. Thanks'

    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  37. Leeann Bienfang wrote:

    Those boots are so cute and I like that they have a heel on them for us short people! 🙂

    https://memoriesandmacchiatos.wordpress.com

    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  38. Tess Felber_Sequins are the New Black wrote:

    I LOVE your OTK boots! So chic, yet so versatile : ) Happy Thursday!
    xx Tess | Sequins are the New Black

    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  39. fabi Aguilar wrote:

    Love that kind of boots!!! classic for every winter!

    Your outfits with them are so cool!! <3

    Thanks for sharing 😉

    http://www.lacaleya.com

    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  40. Anonymous wrote:

    these boots are super cute!
    Fash 'n' fudge
    Fash 'n' fudge

    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  41. Mitch wrote:

    I love your style :). Thanks for sharing ;).

    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  42. Lady SAKINA wrote:

    These over the knee boots are made for you . OTK boots are my favorite style of shoes in fall to spring ! I'm in love with the tall lenght, so suede, vegan or leather are nice versions of my dressing. I like the chic way of the different combinations to wear them, you are so cute and so chic with them. ♥
    http://lolitafashionclub.blogspot.com

    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  43. Malu Swartjes wrote:
    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  44. La Bijoux Bella | by mia wrote:

    Such a cute look for Fall! 🙂

    La Bijoux Bella | by mia

    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  45. Susan Nguyen wrote:

    Those boots are gorgeous and the photo you took look cozy and have inspired me to recreate some of these looks.
    Thank you for sharing.
    Susan xoxo
    glamrituals.com

    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  46. Stylingsistas wrote:

    We sisters are petite and love your blog. This post really helped us and guess what we will get one of these beauties :)) ! Thanks for this post, looking forward for more such posts ! Hugs….

    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  47. Olyvia wrote:

    You look great in those OTK books! They look super warm too! Unfortunately for me, OTK emphasizes how very short my chubby thighs are, haha! Must be a proportion thang 😉

    Posted 10.6.16 Reply
  48. Sarika wrote:

    They are not same length as stuart weitzman otk. Correct?

    Posted 10.5.16 Reply
  49. April wrote:

    Those OTK boots are so pretty! I love OTK boots for all the reasons you mentioned (especially the comfort and warmth factors). I love all the different ways you styled them!

    April | http://thebluehydrangeas.com

    Posted 10.5.16 Reply
  50. Cam Nguyen wrote:

    Thank you so much for the tips, I recently purchase a OTK boots during the Nordstrom Anniversary sale and can't wait to get some use in them.

    Posted 10.5.16 Reply

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