The Unexpected Hit Shoe of Summer? Saint Laurent’s Saucy Thigh-Highs

This week, the weather in New York City—and many surrounding regions—could only be described as one visceral word: sauna. The sweltering, humid conditions are making it virtually impossible to get dressed in a chic way. Basically, you want to wear as little as possible, and in the lightest and airiest materials, too. Can you imagine trying to sweat and squeeze your way into a pair of thick leather thigh-high boots while waiting for the 6 train? Well, call the impossible possible, because the trending shoe of the summer just so happens to be that—a pair of thigh-grazing wader boots from Saint Laurent. Yes, really.

The over-the-knee boots, dubbed the Joe boot, first debuted at the Saint Laurent fall 2025 menswear show at the beginning of the year. On the catwalk, they were all styled with sleek suits, the models’ pleated dress pants tucked into the boots to let them truly shine. (And considering they retail for a whopping $4,500, we would hope they do shine.) While they lend themselves more to fall-winter dressing, the boots have already had a surprising summer kickoff: A number of celebrities are currently rocking them—in the midst of some serious heatwaves, no less.