“A few days ago I was at the airport, and I was wearing my Highland black boots and security was like really busy so once I got through security I had to run like 70 gates to catch my flight and I ran in my highlands and it didn’t kill my feet So I think that’s a pretty good test of comfortable shoes.” (Gigi Hadid, 2015)
The Highland, a thigh-length boot with a 24″ shaft, 3.25″ heel, and a frankly challenging 14″ circumference (definitely at the very low edge of regular), is very much the celebrity’s boot of choice this season. It comes in stretch leather, but it seems like almost everyone of note has gone for suede, in black, grey, burgundy, or beige.
The secret to its legging-like fit is that the suede or leather is pliced and backed with Lycra. People magazine declared it to be the off-catwalk choice of the Victoria’s Secret Angels, picturing Lily Aldridge, Izabel Goulart, Sara Sampaio, Devon Windsor and Rachel Hilbert in the slim line boots, to say nothing of the aforementioned Ms. Hadid.
The Highland has been around for a few years now, but it really does seem to have taken off this fall, in part because of the enthusiasm for “lampshading” that we discussed in the previous post. It also obeys one of the “rules” for wearing thigh-length boots, in that it combines a high heel with “soft” texture, thus avoiding Vivien type fashion calamities.
Of course, at nearly $800 a pair and with a look that you can only really carry off if you have legs like Gigi Hadid, it’s questionable whether this is one for mere mortals. Plus the low-heeled version – called the Lowland, of course – is a bit easier when it comes to running for that soon-to-depart flight to Aspen. But it’s caused enough of a splash for me to waste a little time writing about it, which means it’s probably earned a historical footnote, at least.
Image Sources:
- The Highland Boot: Stuart Weitzman
- Gigi Hadid, black suede Highland boots: via whowhatwear.com
- Gigi Hadid, taupe suede Highland boots: via Pinterest
- Iza Goulart, black suede Highland boots: via footwearnews.com
- Kate Moss, Highland boots: via Pinterest
- Rachel Hilbert, burgundy Highland boots: Glamour.com
- Kourtney Kardashian, black suede Highland boots: via whowhatwear.com
- Kate Moss, Stuart Weitzman ad: via Classy & Fabulous
Selected References:
- Henning, Kristen, 2015.Celebrity Shoe Trend: Stuart Weitzman Highland Boots. Footwearnews.com, Dec 9, 2015. Retrieved Dec 30, 2015.
- Payer, Alison, 2015.The Boots Every Celebrity Has Worn Lately. WhoWhatWear.com, Nov 6, 2015. Retrieved Dec 30, 2015.
- Talarico, Brittany, 2015. Boots All the Victoria’s Secret Angels Are Wearing (Pre-Runway Stilettos and Wings, Obvs). People, Nov 10, 2015. Retrieved Dec 30, 2015
- Talarico, Brittany, 2015. Gigi Hadid, Lily Aldridge and Joan Smalls Go Completely Naked in New Stuart Weitzman Campaign. People, Dec 1, 2015. Retrieved Dec 30, 2015.
MFW on Pinterest: The Highland Boot
Made For Walking 
