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DO YOU LIKE BOOTS? Do you enjoy wearing ankle boots with your favorite spring outfit and over-the-knee boots even when it gets cool enough to pull them out of the closet? Well, this boot style guide is for you! If you love wearing boots or want to wear them more often but need inspiration on the various ways to wear boots throughout the year, you’ll love this post!
In this ultimate guide to boot outfits, I’ll share with you the different types of boots, how to wear booties, how to wear a dress with boots, over-the-knee boot outfits, and of course, a roundup of must-have boots and shopping tips!
Before delving into wearing different types of boots, let’s first review the variety of boots you have available to purchase. This section will cover the different types of boots, which styles are essential, and what to look for in each different type of boot.
There are two ways you can approach boot shopping. Either you’re looking for a pair of boots to withstand a decade of wear and tear, or you’re seeking trendy boots that you might only keep for a season or two. Trendy or classic, each style comes in a variety of price ranges, so in the following sections, you’ll see shopping options for both trendy and classic. If you’re in the market for a trendy boot, it’s best to find a more affordable option if you don’t have a very large shopping budget, and invest in classic boots that you’ll wear for many years.
ANKLE BOOTS AND BOOTIES
These are probably the most popular type of boots for daily wear. They are generally easy to pair with a variety of outfits and are my favorite type of boots.
First, let’s go over what the difference is between booties and ankle boots. Booties end right at the ankle, while ankle boots can end one to four inches above the ankle. If the boots go any higher than that, they would be a mid-calf boot. It’s easy to remember, wherever the boot ends on that part of the leg is what it’s called. Ankle, mid-calf, knee-high, and thigh-high or over-the-knee boots are the main types of boots.
CLASSIC ANKLE BOOTS
Ankle boots and booties are definitely an essential footwear! If you’re looking for a classic ankle boot, opt for both a brown and a black pair. For classic brown ankle boots, look for them in leather or suede. Something like the forever-popular Marc Fisher Alva Boot in brown. This is an excellent classic option because it has a slightly pointed toe instead of a round toe, for classic boots that you’ll wear a lot, always go for a pointed toe as they are more flattering. That particular boot has a chunky stacked heel, which means you can walk a lot in them and not get as tired. And the side details on the boot add some interest and dimension without being too much. The same boot is available in black leather, black suede, and embossed black leather.
For your classic black ankle boot, look for high-quality black leather without all the bells and whistles. A chic style that you could wear to an evening date, hanging out with friends on the weekend, or even to work! When you put on these boots, they need to make you feel like you’re ready to take on the day! I’m here and don’t mess with me because I’m wearing my chic black boots today! Boots like the Gianvito Rossi Pointy Toe Bootie or these Marc Fisher LTD Ulani Pointy Toe Bootie, or Saint Laurent Kate Pointed-Toe Zip Booties.
Look for sleek black ankle boots that don’t have any crazy studs, contrasting zippers, or any accents that cause the leather to “break.” Clean simple lines are the goal.
TRENDY ANKLE BOOTS
Now that we’ve covered the two classic ankle boot styles, let’s review the trendy ones. When looking for fun trendy ankle boots, look for styles that are colorful, printed, patent, studded, zippered, or even sequined.
These boots are fun and add that pop to an outfit and showcase your personal style. These trendy boots will be influenced by runway trends and are mostly seasonal. Some trendy boots last for years, like the Valentino Rockstud styles, but that’s not the case for most trends.
If you have money to burn on boots, then go ahead and splurge on trendy designer boots, but if you’re on a budget, I’d recommend spending less than $200 on this category of ankle boots.
CLASSIC BOOTIES
As mentioned, booties end right at the ankle, so let’s talk about some classic booties. I love wearing booties with ankle skinny jeans or with a long flowing dress in the spring. You can also wear booties with tailored trousers and a button-down for the office.
When looking for classic booties again, black and brown leather or suede are the best options. You’ll get the most wear out of them, and you can even get away with wearing them year-round. There are two main types of heels I mostly see in booties. Most booties come in either a high thin heel or a low block heel.
You could go for these Christian Louboutin Red-Sole leather ankle boots or Saint Laurent Kate Pointed-Toe Zip Booties. Black booties are sleeker than brown ones, so keep that in mind. If you dress up often or want booties you can wear to events or to work, then invest in the black ones.
If you’re often dressed in casual attire and don’t dress up often, then I’d recommend brown casual booties as essential. These Vince Brannen leather ankle Booties are a great option if you want a bootie with a high heel. If you prefer a low heel, then these Acne Studios leather ankle boots are quite stylish.
SHOPPING FOR CLASSIC BOOTIES
When shopping for classic booties, look for high-quality leather or suede material. The stitching and seams should be perfect, and the sole quality must be top-notch! Yes, these booties will cost over $150, but look for sales! Try never to pay full price, always look for deals! You can find designer booties for 30% to 60% off! I love finding a good deal!
MID-CALF BOOTS!
Mid-calf boots! These are my least favorite type of boots. They end right at the thickest part of the calf, and if not worn correctly, they can make you look short, stumpy, and like you have big legs. Usually, you want boots or clothing to end at the thinnest parts of your body, it doesn’t mean they can’t end elsewhere, they’re just trickier to wear, doesn’t mean you can’t.
If you’re going to get a rain boot, of course, go with the Hunter boots in a neutral color. Or if bright colors are part of your personal style, then get rain boots in yellow, green, or even pink.
If you want some winter boots to keep your feet warm, then you gotta get a pair of Uggs. I’ve never personally owned a pair of Uggs, but I’ve bought some for my younger sister. The Bailey Button Shearling boot in Brown is the most popular among the styles.
Lastly, cowboy boots! I love a sleek cowboy boot, and I wish I could confidently pull them off, but it takes an extra flair to wear these on a weekly or even monthly basis. I live in Austin and see so many stylish outfits with cowboy boots, I can’t wait to add them to my wardrobe. Brown or black cowboy boots, of course, are classic! Ariat boots have some excellent classic styles that you can wear for years! If you want cowboy boots with lots of patterns and colors, get some Heritage Boots!
KNEE-HIGH BOOTS
I believe the taller the boot shaft, the sexier the boots. Now we’re up to knee-high boots. Knee-high boots are a thumbs up for me. I love a sexy pair of knee-high boots. Wearing them with super skinny blue jeans or a skirt creates a very chic and sexy look. My favorite type of knee-high boots, you guessed it, are brown and black suede or leather boots.
A super straight and rigid shaft with minimal design and no slouching of the fabric. The sleeker the boots and the straighter the lines, the better. I prefer a thicker stacked heel with knee-high boots instead of thin heels. The chunky heel balances out the tall shaft of the boot and looks balanced. These Naturalizer Kalina boots are a great option for a classic black knee-high boot.
You’ll also find that with knee-high boots you’ll see a lot more options with a low heel, one or two inches. If you like knee-high boots with a low heel, they’re a great option. But if you want a knee-high boot with a high heel, it will take some searching. But there are some really great options out there. Like these Kenneth Cole Edina knee-high boots in sleek black leather, they’re so stunning!