I am definitely excited to see thigh-highs and over-the-knee boots making a splash this season. They are super hot and make every woman look good. I mean, it's the perfect way to "cover up" if you feel that your dress or tunic is a little too short (for you) or to spice up an outfit and add some flavor to it. I remember seeing some shrinking hemlines during the Ungaro March 2009 runway show and although over-the-knee footwear wasn't featured, I know they would lend themselves well to Ungaro's funky new line. I was actually very impressed with the level of youth that shined through in the iconic brand's new designer duds. This is my favorite thing to see, new trends and a breath of fresh air provided by the brands we love. Life is Fashion!

**SmiLeZ**

My own general theory about Boots as Women’s fashion is that, Boots are likely to be worn during Progressive periods. Women choose to wear Boots as a symbol of Power. They are, after all, the footwear of choice for dominatrixes and superheroines.

In the early part of the twentieth century, Boots went out of fashion more or less as soon as Prohibition started. The style didn’t come back into popularity until the very Progressive sixties.

As a life-long Boot fetishist, I have also studied the history of the Thigh-boot as Women’s fashion. The first examples were found in the early sixties as the Paris fashion shows. These were derided as ‘sewer boots’ by some, but obviously made a huge impression on others. These included the fashion designers of the TV series ‘The Avengers’ in which Honor Blackman, as Cathy Gale, appears in truly knee-high Black Leather Boots. As well as a full black leather outfit to match. For the year 1963, this was pretty shocking television.

In the U.S., the Thigh-high style really took off in 1965, some say as a result of the success of the then blockbuster film ‘Dr. Zhivago’. From the second half of the sixties and especially throughout the seventies, ThighBoots ( even Thigh-high Frye Boots ) were a must have in a Woman’s footwear collection. Many of the era’s actress, including Faye Dunaway, Jamie Curtis, Jane Fonda, Dianna Rigg, Sally Fields and Rachel Welsh would often appear on film in tall or over the knee boots.

Thigh-highs were to stay fashionable until the year 1980. Right at the time when Progressivism was in freefall and Reagan and Conservatism began to Rule. Anyone stating that thigh-highs were still part of the fashion scene in the ’80’s is distinctly incorrect. In 1980, the de rigueur style was ankle low and flat-heeled. In anything, the popularity of Punk meant that combat boots were also the new sensation.

Today, the longevity of the ThighBoots style is likely a result of the explosion of adult images on the web, particularly the number in which the female subjects are clad in over-the-knee footwear.

A final note: Ladies reading this rant might be interested to learn of the many Thigh-high boots available from Pleaser. These can be found at snaz75.com and include the legend 8868. At around $60 - $90, the 8868 is hundreds of dollars less than most other ThighBoots.