Predator, master of your desires… wearing thigh high boots a woman gives the impression that she and only she chooses what she wants. For years the thigh high boot has been a symbol of domination with a very high sexual implication but this winter, the long boots are stepping out from the domination scene to step up the catwalks and going straight into main stream high street shops much to the delight of fashion lovers.

I have been wearing them for about two years now –Chanel brought them back to the fashion scene for its 2006/7 collection- but it is only this year that thigh high boots have become a real must have winter item for any fashion follower here in France. Almost every fashion designer has their own version of this classic and in only a couple of months the thigh high boot has become the must have item for this winter.

For those of you who are not familiar with shoe-lingo, thigh-high boots are the ones that extend above the knees all the way to the thigh. If they are only above the knee they are called over the knee boots and if they go over the thigh they are called crotch boots. In France they are known as cuissardes and they were the stars in the fall-winter 2009/2010 fashion shows in Paris. Whether they are signed Louis Vuitton, Hermes or Isabel Marant; the tall boots are here to stay and keep us hot all winter.

During the 60s thigh-high boots made their appearance on the catwalks under the signatures of Paco Rabanne, Pierre Cardin and Yves Saint Laurent who launched the leather and vinyl thigh-high boot for their collections. At the time Brigitte Bardot became the symbol of a generation when she wore a leather mini skirt and thigh high boots to interpret the song "Harley-Davidson" written by Serge Gainsbourg.

Since then, the thigh high boot appeared several times in the fashion shows from the year 2000. Chanel brought them back in 2006/2007 but it is only this fall/winter that the thigh high boot is really taking over as the winter must have fashion item. Roberto Cavalli showed in his collection matching small mini skirts and mini dresses. Pucci went further and gave us colourful boots, Prada surprised us with a fisherman look, LV added laces to them and Hermes offered them as a second skin. Click here for a peek into the best of the designers tall boots for this year.

Thigh-high boots are accessories to be treated very carefully. They can make you look trashy or they can make you look extremely classy and fashionable. In theory thigh-high boots can be worn with everything; it all depends on the effect you want to achieve.

When buying your tall boots think about where are you going to wear them. If you are going to wear them mainly for nights out in the city you can allow yourself any extravagance and choose any material and height of heels. On the contrary if you are buying your tall boots for every day use you must consider your main occupation. If you are a student and spend the day running from one class to another, your best option is to go for flat heel tall boots. If you are buying them to wear them at work, consider buying a classy pair of opaque suede thigh-high boots with a mid size heel.

To wear it at the office you can try to mix a very masculine tailored jacket with a pair of sexy suede thigh-high boots. You can also try a little wool dress very loose with your tall boots. The office rule is: If you are wearing sexy boots, wear something serious on top, wear opaque tights and monochromatic outfits. Masculine and loose cuts are better to balance the sexiness of your boots. If in doubt, follow Chanel who showed its thigh-high boots with extremely sober, modest and dignified dresses or follow Hermes avoiding any unwanted slutty look matching thigh high boots to baggy clothes and long jackets and cardigans.

For a sporty look wear your long boots over skinny jeans or leggings. The more daring and younger ones, can also wear them with shorts to embrace Prada’s Fall runway look. Just keep the shorts baggy and not too short if you don’t want to look tacky.

For a fun look you can get inspiration from Vivienne Westwood's Fall 2009 runway look matching long boots with understated mini dresses in neutral shades.

For a balanced look match your tall boots with a voluminous coat. 

Kate Moss wears hers with skinny jeans. The result, a very casual look.

Madonna wears them with an extravagant mini dress. The result, a pin pup look that only Madonna can carry.

Victoria Beckham wears hers like a second skin with NO heels!!! The result? I leave it to you to judge…

Love them or hate them, thigh-high footwear is having a fashion moment.