With the first splash of fall color on the landscapes, ponchos are back on the fashion runways and city streets. If you remain hesitant about donning this fashion trend, you are not alone. Crafted from cozy and luxurious materials, such as cashmere, ponchos can bask in the style spotlight when paired with the right accessories and legwear. A wrong selection, however, can leave you looking more like a hobo than a Bohemian trendsetter. Discover how different boots, from stiletto ankle booties to women's faux fur boots, can punch up your poncho outfit's look for every occasion.

Elongation with Legs

The first rule to remember when wearing a fashion poncho is to streamline the rest of your look. Since a poncho is essentially an oversized pullover that drapes over your arms, it can make you look boxy and top heavy. To counter this appearance, draw some visual focus away from your upper half and create the illusion of length by emphasizing your legs for an overall look that is sleek and stylish.

Casual Choice

Ponchos are becoming a popular choice when it comes to dressing for a fall weekend outing. Still too warm for a heavy jacket, yet cool enough to layer knits, pairing a poncho with pants, boots and a fashion scarf is at once stylish and comfortable for a jaunt through the city for some shopping, a drive to the country for apple and pumpkin picking or meeting your friends at the neighborhood coffee house. Choose skinny jeans or leggings to combine with tall boots, such as riding boots. Keep the following points in mind when making your selections:

• If your poncho is brightly colored or displays a bold pattern, opt for neutral colored boots.
• If your poncho is a solid neutral color, such as cream, add a pop of color to your legs by choosing a pair of tall boots in one of the season's trending bright hues.

To wear your coveted leather mini skirt with your poncho, choose a pair of neutral tights to pair with the tall boots.

Mad About Maxis

If you prefer to hide your legs entirely, maxi skirts pair perfectly with ponchos. The columnar shape of a maxi skirt offsets the voluminous poncho. To create more contour to your overall look, wear a wide stylish belt with the poncho. A scarf or a long chain necklace adds an extra facet of focus for a fashionable finishing touch. The apparel combination can be worn with any of the following footwear:

• High-heeled high boots
• Flat high boots
• High-heeled ankle boots

In other words, maxi skirts are highly versatile when it comes to pairing with footwear, so any boots from your closet will work with your maxi to enhance the cool weather fashion appeal of your poncho. Even when a stray warmer day rolls around during the fall season, consider wearing the gladiator boots that you didn't expect to see again until next spring.

Evening Appeal

When the sun retreats and you want to shoot for a touch of poncho sophistication, start with a black mini skirt and a black poncho. If you are comfortable sporting last summer's tan au naturel, then bare your legs. Otherwise, a pair of natural pantyhose will do the trick. Nothing says dressy like a pair of black stiletto ankle booties to continue lengthening your lower limbs. Add pops of pizzazz to the outfit with a gold or silver evening clutch, belt and statement jewelry.

Bohemian Chic

If you love the carefree comfort of the true Bohemian chic look when browsing your local bookstore, reach for a pair of flat booties or ankle wedge boots to sport with boot cut jeans. Add a floppy hat and a hobo handbag for a final touch of oversized casual style. Alternately, combining your poncho with a pair of skinny jeans, faux fur boots, a faux fur infinity scarf or long chain necklace and a baggy beanie hat is a perfect choice for evening relaxation around the fireplace with your friends at the ski lodge.

Wearing a poncho does not mean that you have to look like a giant bat poised to take flight. Turn to your favorite boots and embrace the aforementioned tips to take your poncho look from baggy and lackluster to effortlessly vogue. Check out a store like Velvet Bungalow for more great ideas.