How to Wear Ankle Boots & Booties - Everything You Need to Know

The Ultimate Guide To Styling Booties: From Casual Chic To Elevated Elegance

How to Wear Ankle Boots & Booties - Everything You Need to Know

By  Mr. Ray Blick

Booties. They're comfortable, cute, and undeniably chic. More than just a fleeting trend, these versatile footwear heroes have cemented their place as a cornerstone of any well-edited closet. Unlike their knee-high sisters, booties possess an unparalleled adaptability, seamlessly transitioning through all four seasons and countless occasions. If you're looking to elevate your everyday style or simply need fresh inspiration, you've come to the right place. This definitive guide will walk you through how to wear booties with virtually everything in your wardrobe, ensuring you make it a fashion "do" every single time.

Why Booties Are Your All-Season Style Secret Weapon

Before diving into specific outfit ideas, let's appreciate why booties are such a powerhouse. Their ankle-grazing height offers a unique balance, providing more coverage than a flat or pump while remaining lighter and less imposing than a full-length boot. This makes them incredibly adaptable. Whether it's a crisp autumn day, a cool spring evening, or even a breezy summer night, there's a bootie style and an outfit waiting to be paired. They can instantly add an edge to a feminine dress, polish to a casual denim look, or a touch of sophistication to tailored slacks. They are, quite simply, key for a well-edited closet.

Mastering Booties with Denim: Jeans for Every Cut

Pairing booties with jeans is a classic combination, but there's an art to getting it just right. The main goal when it comes to pairing booties with jeans is to try and keep the leg line long and streamlined. This goes for every cut of jeans, ensuring a cohesive and flattering silhouette.

Styling Booties with Skinny Jeans

Skinny jeans are perhaps the most straightforward to pair with booties. For a clean, elongated look, you have a few options:

  • Tuck Them In: If your skinny jeans are snug enough at the ankle, you can simply tuck them directly into the shaft of your booties. This works best with booties that have a slightly wider opening.
  • Cuff Them: For a more relaxed vibe, or if your jeans are a bit too long to tuck, a small cuff above the bootie's shaft works wonders. Aim for a cuff that sits just above the bootie, creating a small gap.
  • The "No Gap" Look: Some prefer skinny jeans that meet the top of the bootie without any gap or bunching. This creates a continuous line, especially effective with dark wash jeans and black booties.

For a cute, casual look, consider pairing a burgundy blouse and ripped blue jeans with nude peep toe booties. This combination offers a fresh take on the classic denim-and-bootie pairing.

Booties with Wider Leg Jeans: Mom Jeans, Straight Leg, and Wide-Leg

Styling booties with wider leg jeans requires a slightly different approach to maintain that coveted long, streamlined leg line:

  • The Under-the-Hem Trick: For straight leg and mom jeans, allow the hem of your jeans to fall naturally over the top of your booties. The bootie should be slim enough at the ankle not to create too much bulk under the denim. This creates a continuous, clean line from hip to foot.
  • Subtle Cuffing for Straight Legs: If your straight leg jeans are a bit too long, a small, neat cuff that sits just above the bootie can work, but be mindful not to create too much volume.
  • Bootcut Bliss: For a trendy vibe that's making a strong comeback, choose bootcut jeans. These are designed to flare slightly at the bottom, perfectly accommodating the shaft of your booties underneath the hem. This creates an incredibly flattering and long leg line.
  • Wide-Leg Wonders: With wide-leg jeans, the goal is for the hem to just skim the top of your booties, or even cover them almost entirely. This creates a dramatic, flowing silhouette. Ensure your booties have a pointed or almond toe to peek out stylishly from underneath.

Remember, the best ways to style your outfit with different types of booties often comes down to playing with proportions and finding what makes you feel best.

Elegant Pairings: Booties with Dresses and Skirts

Booties are not just for casual denim days; they can effortlessly elevate dresses and skirts, adding a touch of edge, sophistication, or relaxed charm. They are rugged yet refined, making them a versatile choice for a variety of dress styles.

How to Wear Booties with Dresses

Whether you're going for a casual or formal look, booties can complement your favorite dresses beautifully:

  • Midi Dresses: A midi dress paired with booties is a match made in heaven. The length of the dress allows the booties to be fully visible, creating a balanced and chic silhouette. This combination works well with both fitted and flowy midi styles.
  • Mini Dresses: For a youthful and playful vibe, pair mini dresses with booties. This can be dressed up with heeled ankle booties or kept casual with flat or low-heeled styles.
  • Flowy and Bohemian Dresses: Booties, especially those with a slightly Western or distressed feel, can ground a floaty bohemian dress, adding a touch of cool-girl edge.
  • Tailored Dresses: To dress up your booties, wear them with a more structured or tailored dress. This creates a sophisticated yet modern look, perfect for the office or an evening out.

Styling Booties with Skirts

Similar to dresses, booties can transform your skirt outfits:

  • Midi Skirts: Just like with midi dresses, a midi skirt with booties is a fantastic pairing. A pleated midi skirt with a sleek ankle bootie creates an elegant and fashion-forward ensemble.
  • Mini Skirts: For a playful and chic look, pair mini skirts with booties. This works especially well with tights in cooler weather.
  • Trendy Skirts: Don't shy away from pairing your booties with your trendy favorite skirt, be it a slip skirt, a faux leather skirt, or a denim button-front. The contrast often creates an interesting and stylish dynamic.

Beyond Denim and Dresses: Other Chic Bootie Combinations

The versatility of booties extends far beyond just jeans and dresses. They can be integrated into a multitude of outfits, offering comfort, cuteness, and a chic twist to timeless trends.

Booties with Overalls

One particularly fun and stylish combination is booties with overalls. Take inspiration from fashion-forward looks, such as Alexa Bagshaw's really fun fall outfit. She styled her black heeled ankle booties with rust colored skinny overalls and a black and white striped t-shirt. What makes this look particularly appealing is the little gap between the end of her overalls and the top of her booties, creating a visually appealing break that highlights both the footwear and the garment.

Booties with Leggings and Slacks

Booties go incredibly well with leggings, offering a sleek and comfortable option for everyday wear. Whether you're running errands or meeting friends for coffee, leggings paired with a stylish bootie (especially a combat or chunky-soled style) create an effortlessly cool vibe. For a more polished or business-casual look, you can absolutely wear booties with slacks. This combination works best when the slacks are tailored to fall neatly over the bootie, or if they are cropped to show off the bootie's design.

Choosing the Right Bootie Style for Your Outfit

Not all booties can be paired with the same outfits. Understanding the different types of booties available can help you make the best styling decisions.

Heeled Ankle Booties

These are perhaps the most versatile, capable of dressing up almost any outfit. Their heel adds height and elegance, making them perfect for pairing with dresses, tailored trousers, or even skinny jeans for a more elevated look.

Peep Toe Booties

Ideal for warmer weather or transitional seasons, peep toe booties offer a unique blend of boot and sandal. They can be styled with a variety of outfits, from casual to slightly dressy. For instance, a burgundy blouse and ripped blue jeans with nude peep toe booties create a stylish and comfortable ensemble.

Wedge Booties

Wedge booties provide the height of a heel with the comfort of a flat, thanks to their stable wedge sole. Discover how to style your favorite wedge booties with the perfect outfit, whether you're going for a casual look with jeans or a more formal ensemble with a dress. They offer great support and are a fantastic choice for all-day wear.

Final Thoughts: Your Bootie Style Journey

Booties are truly a fashion staple that transcends seasons and trends. They offer endless possibilities for creating stylish, comfortable, and chic outfits. From keeping your leg line long and streamlined when pairing with jeans to adding a touch of rugged refinement to your favorite dresses, booties are here to stay. Whether you're looking for inspiration for a casual weekend look or need to dress up for a special occasion, there's a bootie outfit waiting for you. Use these tips as your how-to guide to wear the style and wear it well. Experiment with different cuts of jeans, lengths of dresses, and styles of booties to find combinations that speak to your personal aesthetic. With TOMS offering booties that fit every mood and outfit, and countless other brands providing diverse options, you're sure to find the perfect pair to complete your wardrobe and elevate your style like a pro.

In summary, booties are an indispensable, year-round footwear choice due to their unparalleled versatility and ability to complement a vast array of outfits. This guide has explored how to seamlessly integrate them into your wardrobe, from achieving a streamlined look with various denim cuts like skinny, straight, and bootcut jeans, to elegantly pairing them with dresses and skirts of all lengths. We also touched upon unique combinations such as overalls, leggings, and slacks, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right bootie style—be it heeled, peep-toe, or wedge—to match the occasion and desired aesthetic. Ultimately, mastering the art of styling booties is about understanding proportions, embracing personal style, and leveraging these chic boots to enhance every look, ensuring they remain a comfortable and fashionable cornerstone of your closet.

How to Wear Ankle Boots & Booties - Everything You Need to Know
How to Wear Ankle Boots & Booties - Everything You Need to Know

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