OTK Boots in a Very Public Setting

[Gige]

Not sure if anyone saw this but there was a rather public event regarding a male wearing OTK boots (but without a high heel). Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård was recently photographed wearing a pair of Saint Laurent thigh high boots (designed for men) on the red carpet at Cannes in the recent past. There was an interesting article that accompanied this "story" about how this may be the next logical step in men's footwear trends. I did some research on the boots but information was limited. Given the designer name, I am sure they cost as much as a small automobile. Just to clarify, the picture is not mine but posted for purposes only related to this discussion. 

[pebblesf]

They are nice boots, but sure don't fit his legs very well.  The important thing is that he is wearing them, perhaps helping to normalize guys wearing great boots

[Shyheels]

I saw that article too - or an article anyway. Perhaps there were others. I liked the tolerant tone of the one I read (on the CNN website) It was far from disparaging the notion of tall boots for men. I’m not a fan of the style - too much like waders - but to each their own. It was not outlandish. A positive response to them, as in the article I read, could well help to normalise the idea of tall boots on men. And that would be a great thing!

[mlroseplant]

I wonder what he's got on underneath those boots? I personally find that I cannot wear traditionally tailored suitpants with tall boots, because there is too much fabric there to stuff in, and it ends up billowing out in unflattering places after a bit of movement.

[Shyheels]

Yes, as someone who wears tall boots a lot I always wear skinny jeans so they can fit nicely in the boot shaft instead of ruching up and/or having the fabric billow out over the top of the boot. His boots are so high though - much too high for my tastes - and so loose (again, much too loose fitting for me) he could probably get away with wearing even zoot suit trousers under them.

[Gige]

Generally, I agree with the comments that have been added to this thread. The boots DO look like waders and as much as I appreciate the actor wearing thigh high boots in public, this outfit is somewhat of a mess. I also think the jacket is too long and should be cut off at the waist.  I, too, read the article on CNN and also appreciate the lack of judgement about the style choice. 

[Shyheels]

To be fair, there is so little style guidance out there for men in heels or tall boots. You can find no end of fashion stories and articles for women looking for inspiration  on what to wear with boots and heels, how to pair things up, but for men there is nothing and the few examples one sees, on Instagram or in the catwalk, are generally bizarre, androgynous, or overtly gay and thus offer little guidance for an average Joe who fancies adding a touch of theatre to his look without going over the top.

[pebblesf]

11 hours ago, Shyheels said:

To be fair, there is solittle style guidance out there for men in heels or tall boots. You can find no end of fashion stories and articles for women looking for inspiration  on what to wear with boots and heels, how to pair things up, but for men there is nothing and the few examples one sees, on Instagram or in the catwalk, are generally bizarre, androgynous, or overtly gay and thus offer little guidance for an average Joe who fancies adding a touch of theatre to his look without going over the top.

For sure.  Furthermore, these boots and outfit were probably just grabbed "off the shelf" and given to the model to wear, no time for custom fitting, etc.  

[Shyheels]

I suspect you’re right. They need guys like us on the carpet, who actually wear boots and heels!

[pebblesf]

19 hours ago, Shyheels said:

I suspect you’re right. They need guys like us on the carpet, who actually wear boots and heels!

Precisely.  Regular guys wearing nice boots and outfits that isn't some crazy over the top design for the runway.  But, I guess our "carpet" is our day to day travels going about our lives in public.  

[Shyheels]

Indeed walking a towpath in tall boots and jeans, jumpers and high heeled boots in the supermarket will never grab the headlines, but people here have grown used to seeing me in my tall boots - to the extent that one day when I was wearing hiking boots, one of the locals said he didn’t recognise me at first when he saw me from behind