How to Wear Ankle Boots

This is a somewhat tricky trend to pull off. As I mentioned before, some attention should be paid to your body type as you put an ankle boots outfit together.


If you are short or have short legs, ankle boots worn the wrong way can make you look even shorter. To avoid this, wear ankle boots with dark tights or leggings. Better yet, match your tights with the color of your ankle boots. You can also pair ankle boots with Skinny Jeans. Just make sure the jeans are quite tight at the ankle so they fit inside your boots. If you wear a skirt, go for something fairly short with dark tights underneath to make your legs appear longer. If you’re feeling very daring, wear short shorts with dark tights.


If you are tall, you can wear ankle boots with pretty much anything. Tights, leggings and Skinny Jeans are all good. You can also wear ankle boots with bare legs or light colored tights. If you wear a skirt, choose something that falls midway between your hips and your knees.


Regardless of your height, do not wear ankle boots with skirts that fall below your knees. This look is super frumpy and a bit cat lady-ish.


If you are plus size, pair ankle boots with an A-line dress that hits midway between your hips and knees and dark tights. You can also do Skinny Jeans and an empire-waist top with ankle boots.

So Many to Choose From…

Ankle Boots Under $40

Shown: Nicole Tailored Boot ($24.99), Tripp Tailored Boot ($19.99), Sienna Tailored Boot ($37.99)

Ankle Boots Under $100

Shown: Type Z I Can ($89), Bullboxer Slouch Boot ($59.50), Sole Marty Boot ($49.50)

Ankle Boots Under $200

Shown: Fitzwell Rina ($119), Dolce Vita ($129.95), Jessica Simpson Saldro ($148.95)

Pigtail Braids

Pigtail braids are super casual. Try this look on the weekend, when you’re running errands, hanging out in the park, etc. Notice how both of these ladies’ styles are fairly messy. Messier is better with pigtail braids. This helps you avoid the Pippi Longstocking look. (Shown: Kate Hudson & Keira Knightley. Images from InStyle.com and lphouse.com)


How to: This style is incredibly easy to attain. Part your hair down the middle. Your part shouldn’t be perfect. You might even part in one place halfway down and another the rest of the way. Pull your hair into two sections. Beginning at the nape of your neck, braid each section. If layers fall out, that’s okay (see Keira’s look). Leave about an inch of hair unbraided and secure with a clear ponytail holder. For more volume, start by spraying and scrunching your hair with one of these products:

Shown: Frederic Fekkai Wave Creating Spray, Jonathan Product Spray Dirt, Frederic Fekkai Coiff Oceanique Tousled Wave Spray

Down

Lindsay Price adds just one little braid to her down do. It’s a nice detail added to her loose curls. This look can be achieved with more than one braid as well. The trick to this look is to make sure the braids are loose and blend into the unbraided hair. (Image from Style.com)


How to: For Lindsay’s look, start by curling the bottom half of your hair with a large barreled curling iron. Use a flexible hold hairspray to keep your curls intact, but still loose. Take a portion of your hair and loosely braid it, leaving 1-2 inches unbraided. To pull it back like Lindsay’s, attach with a bobby pin that’s close to your hair color. For other pieces that you leave down, don’t fasten at all. Spray the ends to keep the braid intact.
Try one of these flexible hold hairsprays:

Shown: Frederic Fekkai Sheer Hold Hairspray, Jonathan Finish Control High Shine Flexible Hairspray, Ojon Tunu Elastik Flexible Finishing Hairspray

Braided Bun

The braided bun can be worn sleek and sophisticated like Sarah Jessica Parker’s. Or, it can be worn messy and haphazardly like the photo at the start of this post. Either way, it’s a fairly easy style to attain. (Image from bellasugar.com)


How To: If you’re going to go for the messy, wavy look, start with one of the styling sprays listed for pigtail braids. Scrunch your hair and then make a few braids at the nape of your neck. Secure each braid with a clear rubber band. Then, weave them together and secure them with bobby pins.
If you’re going for a sleeker look, a little more preparation is needed. Start by blowing your hair out with a round brush. If you have naturally wavy or curly hair, take a flat iron to your hair especially from the roots to where the braid will begin. Then, use a glossing cream or gel on your hair. Do not use styling gel as that will look overworked and crunchy. Part your hair on the side and pull it back to the nape of your neck. Secure with a clear rubber band. Next, braid your ponytail into one or two thick braids. Secure the ends of the braids with clear rubber bands. Wrap the braids around the ponytail and weave them together. Secure the braids with bobby pins as you wrap and weave them. Make sure the ends are not exposed. Spray with a maximum hold hairspray.

Shown: Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream, Phyto Phytolisse Finishing Serum, Oscar Blandi Seta Silk Polishing Cream

Crown Braids

This braid style is definitely my favorite. It’s very romantic and sophisticated, but is still a tad bohemian as well. Both of these ladies were off to formal events, but the look can also be pulled off casually.


How To: For a more casual look, start by spraying your hair with one of the texturizing products listed for pigtail braids. Scrunch your hair and then begin styling.
For a sleeker look, blow your hair out and apply one of the smoothing products listed for the braided bun. Then, begin styling.
To get crown braids, give yourself a 1 to 2 inch part in either the center of your head or slightly to the side. Gather small pieces of hair at the top of each side of the part. French braid down past the ear to the nape of the neck. Keep the braids fairly small. Secure the ends with clear rubber bands. Then, gather the rest of your hair and the two braids and weave into a bun at the nape of your neck. Secure with bobby pins and spray with a shine mist.

Shown: Juicy Couture Hair Shine Mist, Frederic Fekkai Sheer Shine Mist, Rene Furterer Spray Gloss