The Duchess of Edinburgh has cracked dressing for the cold and she reaches for one footwear option more than any other. Knee high boots are a staple in Sophie’s wardrobe no matter whether she’s attending a daytime engagement or the Princess of Wales’s annual carol service.
The best knee-high boots already tick the boxes for style and warmth, but at the Together at Christmas service in 2024, the Duchess showed that they also fulfil another function. The royals don’t typically wear shorter hemlines or designs with splits, yet she made an exception here.
Sophie wore gorgeous tan knee highs by Gianvito Rossi to the event and paired them with a paisley dress and white blazer. The dress was maxi-length and had a split - something that might be considered "daring" in royal circles. The boots made all the difference, though.
Shop Knee-High Boots Like Sophie's
The Dune Tayla boots are a classic style they bring back year after year - and for good reason. You can't go wrong with a design this timeless and the boots have a low block heel that's manageable for the daytime and evening. They're made from suede and have a stretchy back.
The buckle that runs around the ankle of these knee high boots makes them feel a little different and yet they're still so easy to style. They have a pull-on design, medium-height heel and a rounded toe. Pair with your favourite dresses and skirts and these will be a great finishing touch.
Crafted from suede in a colour reminiscent of Duchess Sophie's Gianvito Rossis, these boots are currently reduced in the sale. They feature a contemporary square toe and the side-zip fastening makes them simple to get on and off.
Available in three different colours, these suede boots would be beautiful worn with a jumper dress for a smart-casual date night outfit. They have chisel toes and a chic, angled heel for a modern edge. Next's Forever Comfort® cushioned footbed is a handy detail too.
Currently reduced for Black Friday, these Aldo boots are an elegant option for evenings out in the colder months. They have a delicate stiletto heel and pointed toe which is very leg-elongating. The footbed is cushioned for comfort and these are pull-on.
You can get these for £90.30/$139.30 using the code MP4H at Boden and they're an ageless footwear style. Made from soft faux suede, they are set on a block heel and have a pointed toe. Wear with everything from midi skirts to dresses and even underneath wide-leg trousers.
Not only did they bring texture with their luxurious suede material, their length provided plenty of coverage. This balanced things out and also meant that the Duchess of Edinburgh’s legs were kept warm despite the December temperatures.
Taller boots work with so many winter outfit ideas and when a long skirt or dress is draped over the top, they form an unbroken, flowing silhouette that’s very leg-elongating. If you’ve ever picked up a design featuring splits or sheer material at the bottom and loved it, but been unsure how to style it in an understated way, knee highs are the answer.
They’re also the perfect pairing for shorter dresses and skirts thanks to the coverage they give. In 2019 Duchess Sophie represented the late Queen Elizabeth as Reviewing Officer at the Sovereign’s Parade and wore a long pastel blue coat with black knee highs and tights.
When a gust of wind blew the hem of her coat you could see that she was wearing a knee-length floral dress underneath. She’s also worn toffee-toned leather knee highs on Christmas Day with a blue coat dress and seemingly nothing else underneath.
Both times the boots brought a sophisticated feel to her ensembles and it doesn’t matter whether you go for high heels like she does, or flat knee highs, the effect is the same. If you prefer styling knee-high boots with tights, I’d recommend trying as much as possible to go for tights in a similar or the same colour as your footwear. This just helps the two to blend together seamlessly and appear more understated.
The Duchess of Edinburgh takes this approach too and whilst she has several different pairs in her collection, her most-worn are brown knee-high boots. She has leather and suede designs that range from a rich chocolate hue to tan like the ones she wore to Together at Christmas.
Brown is a softer alternative to black and complements both pale and dark colours, making it slightly more versatile. Sophie hasn’t yet been spotted out in public in tall boots this autumn/winter but now the weather has taken a turn, I’m looking forward to seeing her pairing them with plenty of different outfits.
