Over the knee boots are, by their very nature, a statement piece.  The real question is how much do you want to turn up the volume on that statement.  I’ve styled these perfect faux suede OTK boots from Lane Bryant three ways: A Little, A Lot, and The Most.

A Little

With black tights and a muted palette, you get the full effect of the boots without exposing much skin.

For my first look, I went for something a bit more covered up, perfect for easing into the OTK boot lifestyle.  This brocade print mini shift dress from Boohoo Plus is intricate without being loud, and pairs perfectly with the softness of the suede. With dark lipstick (Kat Von D Studded Kiss in Mercy), I felt perfectly autumnal.  I wore semi-opaque tights, but you can wear fully opaque ones for more coverage (I highly recommend Hue Super Opaque tights – they last forever and have a great high waist that never rolls down).  If a mini and tights is too big of a jump outside your comfort zone, try leggings and a short tunic sweater – also a great option for colder days!

A Lot

Layer on the prints, colors, and accessories – the goal is bold!

The retro boho trend is still going strong for Fall/Winter 2016, and luxe suede OTK boots are the perfect way to bring the look into autumn.  I went for a more vibrantly colored print dress here, and layered it over a high-neck top for the pinafore look that is so big this year.  This is a cute and easy way to bring your favorite summer dresses into the fall.  Topping the outfit off with a wide brim hat from my Popsugar Must Have Box is the polar opposite to the less is more approach, and I love it.

The Most

Practicality is overrated – sometimes you just have to aim for over the top.

Part of the joy of fashion is the ability to transform into the person you want to be on any given day.  I bought this lace up bodysuit shortly after I got these amazing OTK boots, and immediately thought about wearing them together with an oversized fur coat – so impractical, and SO much fun.

This shoot was both a ton of fun (all my teenage Lil Kim aesthetic goals realized!) and very empowering.  I loved the idea of this look in my apartment, but started to feel nervous as we hiked through the park to find the perfect location.  This outfit breaks so many of the traditional fashion rules – something actually I love doing – and it does nothing to hide the parts of my body that I still struggle with insecurity about (especially my belly and my dimply thighs).  Even within the body positive community, some still get hung up on having preternaturally smooth skin and only the “right curves in the right places,” so the thought of posting these definitely gave me pause at first.  But as the day went on, I felt more and more confident.  I’ve seen gorgeous bloggers of all shapes and size embracing their bodies as they are, and that was a big reason I started blogging.  I know representation matters, so I just went for it, and it felt great.  We definitely got some looks while shooting, but sometimes you just have to scandalize some bird watchers in the park (though I’d say that the men’s underwear shoot happening just up the path was arguably more risqué!)

I also love that these boots exist in my size – just a few years ago, nothing like this existed unless you had major $$$ for custom calf sizes.  Even “wide calf” boots were often way too narrow, and forget about fitting my actual thighs.  When I launched the #plussizeplease movement tons of women chimed in that they wanted boots like this, and it makes me so happy that brands are listening.  The fit is fantastic too:  These boots have great stretch and an adjustable top opening, so you can cinch them right where they need to be (and they actually stay up when you do!)

Shop the featured boots here!