One item that every woman has to have in her wardrobe is a wonderful pair of boots. This season if you want to be on trend then the boots you own must be slouch boots. This fact may bring a groan from some women who think they are too tall; short; thin; fat; old; young; or whatever for this style, but actually there are so many different types of slouchy boots that anyone can wear them. It is just a question of finding the right pair for you.

First let’s talk about length. There are short slouch boots which only just cover the ankle to thigh-highs and every length in between. The most difficult to wear are probably the shortest and the longest. You do need to be above average height to carry off a pair of thigh-highs with style but they can be the most visually stunning of all.

Several celebrities have been spotted wearing thigh-high suede slouch boots such as the ones made by Joie and Michael Kors. The color of choice for rock chicks is a deep rusty brown.

The motorcycle style slouch boot as worn by Miley Cyrus can be worn as she does with a very short skirt and oversized top. Or for those of us with less perfect legs, these boots also look good over a pair of jeans.

Apache style slouch boots with tassels are another celebrity choice. Joie Apache Tassel flat boots are an easy to wear pull-on style that looks great with a sweater dress.

The knee high slouch boot, that is not too slouchy and is either flat or has a low heel will suit most heights and figures. If you team your slouch boots with a pair of leggings or opaque tights of the same color, it gives you a longer, leaner look.

As for color – slouch boots don’t have to be black! There are some gorgeous soft dove grays, browns, rusts and tans which are equally flattering and go with just about everything. Browns look particularly good with denim so wear dark brown slouch boots with your skinny leg jeans or denim skirts.

One thing you can’t fail to notice on many of the new slouch boot styles is how many of them have straps and buckles. This is an eye-catching feature and some designers have gone to great lengths to include as many straps and buckles as possible in their designs. With some you can tighten the straps up if you feel that the boots are too slouchy or alternatively loosen them a notch or two if they are too tight around your calves.

A compromise if you really can’t see yourself in a pair of slouch boots could be the new designs that have a normal shoe, often with a high heel and then a slouchy upper or leg. These give you the best of both worlds. Marc Jacobs ‘Ruffle Slouch’ knee boots are smart enough to wear anywhere but slouchy enough to be stylish.

• Cowboy

The traditional cowboy boot is actually quite slouchy, and there is a whole new range of cowboy slouch boots to pull on over your jeans and for a really retro look wear with a fringed jacket and check shirt. Dingo’s Cowgirl slouch boot, Charlie One Horse by Lucchese and Jessica Simpson’s Lyra are three to look out for.

• Apache

Lovely soft, slouchy, fringed, Apache boots are a hot look this season and so easy and comfortable to wear. Joie Apache Tassle Flat Boots are gorgeous and Neiman Marcus Aquatalia Jeweled Fringe Short Boot has a fun, young look.

• Motorcycle

Heavy duty, biker style, black leather slouch boots are a popular look, but it takes a good pair of legs to show them off to advantage with a short skirt. Matisse Chopper boots are very reasonably priced and have the look. Rag & Bone Motorcycle Boots are the more expensive designer option.

• Smart but Slouchy

Slouch boots don’t have to look grungy. You can look smart but fashionably slouchy too. Frye’s Cindy Slouch Boots, Michael Kors Lucille Suede Slouch Boots and Marc Jacobs Ruffle Slouch Knee Boots all fit this mandate.

• Sheepskin

Though not strictly speaking a slouch, Bearpaw’s Pasador Ii boot is a stylish snugly warm boot for those cold winter days.

• Colorful

Make a real statement with your outfit by going for an unusual, brightly colored pair of slouch boots. alice + olivia for Payless Sunset Slouch Boot is a brilliant scarlet; Steve Madden’s Tyller boot comes in a beautiful blue and Nordstrom’s Tall Green Suede Slouch Boots are um.. green!

• Straps, Buckles & Zips

Slouch boots are very forgiving about the size of your calves and having them adjustable makes them even more so. Not all styles with straps and buckles are adjustable but many are. The fashion is for as many straps and buckles on your boots as possible – or some with lots of zippers as in Balmain’s Zipper Boots recently seen on Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas.

If you have a Fergie sized budget and you like plenty of buckles then Giuseppe Zanotti for Balmain Multi Buckle Boots are for you. Tapeet Three Strap Slouch Boots are high heeled slouchy suede boots with toning leather straps and Jeffrey Campbell Woodsuede Slouch Flat Boots look like they just stepped out of a Lord of the Rings movie.

With all the incredibly different styles of slouch boots available you could find it difficult to decide which ones to choose. Think about the look you are trying to achieve. There is no point in buying Motorcycle slouch boots if you want to look elfin. If you really can’t decide, well you can always get out your Uggs!

Today’s slouch boots have grown up a little and there are a lot of sophisticated and gorgeous styles to buy.  If you want an authentic 80s look then you can even buy vintage slouch boots but I prefer something that hasn’t been sitting in the bottom of someone else’s wardrobe for the past 25 years!

The idea of slouch boots is that they do just that…slouch.  There are many different degrees of slouchy-ness from the rock chick style thigh-high suede slouch boots that slide down to half-way down the calves, to the just slightly slouchy leather boots that are a pleasure to pull on over your jeans.

Many of the celebrities who are photographed on a daily basis now wearing their new designer slouch boots, were not even born when everyone was wearing them in the 80s.

The slouch boots worn in the 1980s tended to be shorter, around mid calf length and often had very pointed toes and little kitten heels, pixie boot style.  A search through the auctions for vintage slouch boots on eBay will not produce many above the knee or longer boots. Now designers are taking the slouch to extreme lengths, with a huge variety of styles, colors and shapes.  The multi-buckled and strapped slouch boots popular today are more reminiscent of the punk era of the late 70s early 80s.

There does not seem to have been the same resurgence of men’s slouch boots which were worn by some new romantics bands in the 80s, with baggy harem style pants tucked in and flowing lacy shirts.  There are few men now who would be happy to dress like that, unless it was for a costume party.

Some designers do not call their new designs slouch boots even though that is undoubtedly what they are.  Take Kurt Geiger.  His Valentina boot definitely looks like a slouch to me and his black velvet knee highs with tassel, look as if they would slouch when worn even if they don’t in the photos.  In fact, there could be even more slouch boots around today than we think!

If your budget won’t stretch as far as a new pair of designer slouch boots, why not try faking it?  Put on a favorite pair of shoes and a matching pair of leg warmers, slouch them down a bit then find two narrow belts, wind them around your legs over the leg warmers and buckle up.  Instant slouch boots.

The main trend is for the flat thick soled type of slouch but there are many different degrees of slouchy and every heel height and color imaginable, with or without straps and buckles.

There are so many different styles of slouch boot that you can find a pair to wear with just about anything.  Knee-high or shorter, flat slouch boots in softer materials, leathers or suede are just perfect for the boho look.  Team them with a short denim skirt over opaque tights or leggings, a long ‘grandad’ shirt and a waistcoat.  They can look equally gorgeous with a floaty longer skirt and chunky sweater.  Add ethnic beaded necklaces or a scarf.

Wear firmer leather slouch boots over your skinny jeans or leggings and a long sweater.  There are some great styles of slouch boot with heels – go as high as you dare!  The cowboy style slouch with a low heel are also easy to pull on over your jeans.  If your slouch boots have lots of straps and buckles these are better over jeans or leggings as they may catch on a floaty skirt. You could carry on the strappy theme by wearing two or three narrow belts or carry an oversized bag with buckles.

For a sexy look how about over the knee slouch boots with shorts or a really short skirt?  You can wear these over a pair of opaque tights if you prefer not to show too much leg.  Or go for a retro look with a long, below knee to floor length, cardigan unbuttoned as high as you feel comfortable with.

Marc Jacobs has gone with a slouch boot this season that resembles a baggy suede sock under a pair of high-heeled patent shoes and mainstream stores have followed his lead with this type of slouch boots.  These are a bit more dressy than other styles and go well with a knee length skirt or dress, although slouchy boots are probably a bit too informal for the office.

Slouch boots are not just for winter.  Many styles go well with colourful patterned summer dresses or shorts and a t-shirt.  For warmer days and nights there are some beautiful cream and pastel colored boots or brilliant bright reds, blues and greens.

Thigh-high slouch boots look incredible if you are tall.  The most stunning sight I saw recently was a tall girl wearing a pair of tan leather thigh-high slouch boots over her skinny jeans with a plain white shirt and her hair tucked under a cap.  Everyone in the room turned to look, men and women.  They certainly create an attraction.

Really, the only thing that doesn’t look good with slouch boots is wide leg pants and you can even do that if they are three quarter length or thin enough material to tuck in.

The top fashion designers all seem to be making boots in all lengths, however for the coming year they are concentrating on just two types of heels; either ankle-breakingly beautiful stilettos – with or without platforms, or low and clumpy.

Pocahontas, Uggs and Minnetonkas continue to be popular and with good reason, not only do they look great with everything from skinny leg jeans to a mini dress; they are also extremely comfortable! Some of the new Uggs have a knitted leg rather than the traditional suede, sheepskin and shearling.

Celebrities can be seen wearing boots with even the most minimal evening wear. These are boots with a difference, shiny patent or soft creamy suede with peep-toes and cutaway heels. Short floaty patterned and polka-dot dresses look amazing with over the knee boots in figure-hugging or slouch styles.

Cuff boots are a hot trend, with even short boots having attached or separate cuffs. Knee-length boots with a full length cuff do look better on slender legs. If your legs are less than perfect; how about Victorian style lace-up boots for a slimming effect? Just don’t try getting into or out of them in a hurry.

Thigh-high boots are difficult to wear. Not many people can get away with shiny, tight, patent thigh-high boots without looking cheap, especially those with stiletto heels. However, the sky high Cavalier or Buccaneer style boot, with flat heels and an open cuff which you can wear turned down, or pull up as high as you like, look terrific over skinny jeans.

There is a large range of riding boots and even waterproof boots in the stores this winter. These are being worn by the fashion conscious who have never even been near a horse, but like the style and the functionality of these boots. Juicy Couture are making rubber rain boots in a biker style with logos and studded straps. These rubber boots are also available in a mock crocodile skin design and with a rubber foot but a leather leg, for more comfort and added water resilience.

Motorcycle boots are just a slightly more heavy duty version of the riding boot, but often in a shorter, more masculine style. These can incorporate the current trend for straps, buckles and stirrups. A boot style that looks like the most heavy duty of biker boot but in rubber is the engineer boot.

The cowboy boot never goes out of style. Modern varieties feature a multitude of studs, concho straps and even spurs. Heel heights vary from flat to low stacked heels to three inch high. There are also variations in toe shape from the very pointed to round and square toe.

Whatever style of boot you prefer, you cannot have too many pairs in your wardrobe.