Thigh-high boots are a bit of a conundrum. They’re a look that is mostly colonized by (and, let’s face it, a look that usually looks best on) the young, yet thigh-high boots are often among the most expensive of a designer’s offerings because of the large amount of material needed to manufacture a pair and the mechanical difficulties inherent in designing a boot that will cover almost all of the leg.

In general, even well-heeled (literally and figuratively) young fashionistas can’t afford $2300 boots that are so clearly intended for playtime only. Expenditures of that size are more often made by older, more established women who might not have the desire or need for a pair of sexed-up Christian Louboutin Gazolina Thigh-High Boots (right). And even then, how many women who can afford them have legs thin enough to fit them? The numbers seem like they’d be quite small, although I’m sure Louboutin doesn’t expect to sell these boots in massive quantities.

But no matter your age, if you’re on a bit of a budget and want a pair of boots which won’t require you to wear pants of any kind, Vera Wang has your back with the Vera Wang Lavender Label Vienna Stretch Boots (left) for a relatively reasonable $695.

The Christian Louboutin Gazolina boots are available via Saks for $2295. Vera Wang’s Vienna Thigh-Highs are available via Bloomingdale’s for $695.