It's Settled—These Shoes Complement Long Dresses the Best

Wearing a dress with any of your shoes is kind of a guessing game. We don't know why it is, but it seems every dress we own has a different pair of shoes that look best with it. Take midi dresses, for instance, whose below-the-knee length almost never looks good with anything ankle strap (it's the quickest way for calves to appear stumpy)—we love the dress instead with mules. The same general rules apply to long dresses, too. Which is why we thought it best to settle the matter once and for all: Knee-high (particularly slouchy) leather boots are the shoes that look best with long dresses.

Whether paired with a floaty, printed, or asymmetrical dress, their substantial weight is what grounds the pretty frock and creates a cool contrast. The combination works with any dress and any pair of boots, too. Just ahead, fashion girls are showing us seven cool ways to wear the two. As long as the weather permits, we'll still be wearing our slouchy boots with long dresses.

A minimal color palette works incredibly well here.

Neutral beige boots complement a pretty patterned frock.

Let the boots take center stage in your outfit by opting for a colorful or printed pair.

Try a tonal look like this one that plays off of different shades in the same color family.

Our favorite outfit yet: chunky knit sweater over ruffled dress with slouchy knee-high boots.

Black leather boots are the ideal match for a fun bright dress.

This season, Western boots are the style that's winning over fashion girls everywhere. Team yours with a breezy embroidered dress.

Shop more boots:

Ready to branch out of just long dresses? See all the shoe-and-dress formulas that go together like, well, gin and tonic.