Paris Fashion Week Confirms a Thigh-High Fall 2026 Boot Trend

a model on the fall 2026 paris fashion week runway wearing thigh high boots — (Image credit: Launchmetrics)

Most seasons, I watch Hermès fashion shows for the bags. Reimagined Kellys, Picotins, and Constances—and Birkins, always Birkins—always rank high on my list of the season's most splurge-worthy accessories. But at the brand's Fall 2026 Paris Fashion Week show, held March 7, my eye couldn't help straying to another leather accessory appearing in look after look. This time, it's confirmation that a major Fall 2026 boot trend is taking shape.

Models on the Hermès runway stomped through a twilight forest in a range of slick, thigh-high leather boots. Black pairs accentuated everything from belted zip-up jackets and a contrasting colorful turtleneck to eggplant purple leggings and a textured leather overcoat. Creamy tan renditions accompanied butter yellow playsuits and bomber jackets. If there was a slim pant leg, it was tucked into a towering boot shaft; if there was a short skirt or short short, it was only there to highlight how high these boots climbed.

Once I got back to my desk and reviewed my runway notes, I realized this wasn't the first Paris Fashion Week runway where girl-group, extra-high boots were stepping up their presence.

three models on the Hermes fall 2026 runway wearing thigh high leather boots — A trio of looks at Hermès Fall 2026 where thigh-high boots took center stage.

Between shearling-lined pairs at Chloé and slightly slouchy versions for Balenciaga, thigh-high leather boots are shaping up to be one of Fall 2026's breakout boot trends. After seasons of keeping silhouettes (mostly) below-the-knee, designers have declared it's time even our footwear reaches for the sky.

In some ways, it's a practical move. Pant silhouettes are getting narrower, and this is a statement boot style that fits the anti-wide-leg mold. (You simply can't appreciate a thigh-high boot under palazzo pants, can you?) But it's also a shoe trend that packs on the drama. When you're wearing a thigh-high boot, you're committing to making an entrance. No wonder Taylor Swift has been so loyal to her Gianvito Rossi pairs even when lower-profile styles were the boot of the moment.

three models wearing over the knee boots on the fall 2026 runways at Paris Fashion Week — From left: Sky-high boots at Chloé, Hermès, and Balenciaga Fall 2026.

With three more days left in Paris Fashion Week, I'm waiting to see the thigh-high boot trend's runway step count soar even higher. Chanel could try a quilted leather version on Monday; Zimmermann could pair its latest dreamy dresses with suede pairs on Tuesday. No matter what comes down the runway next, I know this: I'll be watching the boots as closely as the bags on the remaining fashion week runways.

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Halie LeSavage is the senior fashion news editor at Marie Claire, leading coverage of runway trends, emerging brands, style-meets-culture analysis, and celebrity style (especially Taylor Swift's). Her reporting ranges from profiles of beloved stylists, to exclusive red carpet interviews in her column, The Close-Up, to The A-List Edit, a newsletter where she tests celeb-approved trends IRL.

Halie has reported on style for eight years. Previously, she held fashion editor roles at Glamour, Morning Brew, and Harper’s Bazaar. She has been cited as a fashion expert in The Cut, CNN, Puck, Reuters, and more. In 2022, she earned the Hearst Spotlight Award for excellence in journalism. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Harvard College. For more, check out her Substack, Reliable Narrator.