How to style platform boots

Sign up for the weekly to learn more about Cut’s most popular fashion, beauty and home accessories Cut Shop Newsletter.

Fall is boot season. But before you buy another pair, we want you to consider the shape of the season: the platform boot. Why? It adds height while still being comfortable enough to hike around the city. This week, Cut fashion director Jessica Willis explains how to style them.

“The platform boot is for the person who wants to enjoy the drama of a tall boot without the pain of a high heel,” says Willis. Sky-high platforms were always seen on the runways of Marc Jacobs, Versace and Coperni. When it comes to style, the higher the better, notes Willis. Our hero piece comes from Dries Van Noten and doesn’t skimp on centimeters.

Try a dress with a high slit. Alternatively, you can combine the boots with an A-line skirt or long shorts that reach over the boots.

The fun of fall is choosing a rich color palette of warm yellows and browns to achieve this look. Willis loves contrasting prints and patterns: “The thing about it is that it contrasts in a good way,” she says of the Knwls dress and Dries Van Noten boots. “The dress and jacket have coordinating colors that work together.”

Go big or go home. Don’t slow down now; Grab some oversized jewelry to accessorize. Willis wore Cartier earrings and a large Panthère de Cartier ring, which also came in matching tones like gold to match the rest of the look.

Willis added this Gabriela Hearst clutch, which offers a surprising amount of space and features an easy-to-use handle. The unexpected blue color also matches the blue tones of the dress and jacket.

Here are five sky-high platforms to add to your closet.

With just as much height, this glossy black pair from Altuzarra is perfect for wearing with longer dresses and skirts.

This dramatic and even higher platform boot reaches above the knee, so feel free to pair it with your littlest miniskirts. It is also made from the brand’s signature vegetarian leather alternative.

Opt for a slightly more robust and chunky silhouette with just as much comfort and height.

Get inspired by the fall palette with this cognac color.

Create an interesting look with Peter Do’s structural platform sole and slightly squared toe.