StyleAdvice: The Right Shoes for Different Body Types - The Boot Rules!

There are rules for crossing the street, making instant oatmeal, and for picking the best boots for your body. One pair has the potential to be unbelievably versatile, but only when the pair in question is perfectly suited to your personal style and physique!

Roughly the same general rules for pumps apply to boots, so watch the heel width when picking a pair. If you plan on tucking your jeans into them, be wary of your own proportions, as this will make your hips appear wider.

Try a pair with embellishment around the calf, like these Missoni beauties, to balance out your hips and counteract the inverted triangle effect.

Flat boots that aren't too tight around the calves are very flattering, not to mention comfortable, and look effortlessly chic with minidresses and tights. Check out this pair from Frye. The cracked, aged leather adds intrigue to an otherwise ordinary boot, and the generous calf area gives you many options. The tallness of this particular boot draws the eye upward, adding height to your look.

Ankle boots look best with shorter hemlines, but again, will cut off your leg line at the ankle, so be sure your legs are in tip top shape before slipping into this style.

Do: invest in a pair of skinny jeans if you plan on tucking them in to your boots
Don't: wear boots that squeeze your calves

left to right: glazed leather boots by Frye, rope detail boots by Missoni, ankle boots by Miu Miu.