Fall Bootcamp: How to Wear Different Styles of Boots

Fall means boot season. Today I’m sharing different styles of boots and how to wear them during the fall! 

I love boot season – ankle boots, tall boots, heeled boots, western boots, and more. Today I’m partnering with Nordstrom to share different styles of boots and how to pair them with your fall outfits.

Nordstrom has tons of great brands of shoes, and they’re one of my go-to’s for good quality shoes. You can see all of their boot options HERE.

Different Styles of Boots 

Today we’re going to cover 5 styles of boots that I love to wear in the fall:

1. Over the knee boots
2. Knee high boots
3. Block Heel ankle Boots
4. Western Style Boots
5. Chelsea Boots

1. OVER THE KNEE BOOTS

Over the knee boots are a really fun style of boot that can feel intimidating, but are so chic and elongate your legs.

I’ve tried a few colors over the years, but black was the pair I hung on to because they’re most versatile and classic.

How to wear them:

• I’d recommend wearing them with leggings, skinny jeans, or a shorter dress. You don’t want to wear them with looser fitting jeans or pants that will cause bulging and bunching. Also I’d recommend wearing them with dresses where you can show at least an inch of leg (or tights/leggings if it’s cold) between the hem of the skirt and the top of the boots.
• When wearing them with jeans, I think having at least a little contrast between the pants and the boots looks best, so it doesn’t look like you’re wearing giant pant-boots. You don’t need a ton of contrast (no need to wear super light wash jeans) but a little contrast so there’s a differentiation between the pants and the boots is great.

2. KNEE HIGH BOOTS

I love knee high boots for fall with skirts and dresses. I think they can easily look a little dated worn with jeans, so I stick to them with dresses and skirts only for now.

How to wear them:

• I like to have a couple of inches of knee showing, and if it’s cold, I’ll wear tights underneath to fill the gap.
• I have this tan suede pair and find them super versatile with dresses and skirts, but you could do a darker brown, black, or any color that works best for your wardrobe.
• Riding boots are another classic option that you could try, although they’re a little preppy for my taste. I prefer this suede style for now, but I’ve linked some options below!

Shopping options for knee high boots

3. SUBTLE WESTERN BOOTS

Western boots are VERY trendy this year, and I see lots of women wearing full on cowboy boots with their outfits. That feels a little too trendy and gimmicky to me, but I like an ankle boot that has a western feel in the right circumstances!

How to wear them:

• If you’re going to wear full on western booties, I think you have to embrace the cowgirl feel, while still keeping your outfit modern. I’d pair them with a denim skirt or shorts and a classic blouse or tee. Also, most western boots are a little taller, and that can make your ankles look blocky, so I’d recommend choosing shorter lengths of skirts and dresses so you see more of your leg line.
• If you’re doing a more modern/subtle western boot, like the two I’m wearing above, you can wear them with jeans and tees or sweaters, and dresses.

Shopping options for subtle western boots

4. BLOCK HEEL BOOTIES

These are my favorite dress up/dress down kinds of boots. They’re great for everyday but also work and also somewhat dressier occasions.

How to wear them:

• The important thing is choosing a pair that has a narrow shaft so it doesn’t make your ankles look bulky. The shaft height should also hit just above your ankle bone for the most flattering cut.
• Wear them with dresses and skirts, wear them with skinny jeans or straight leg jeans, or honestly whatever you want. They’re so versatile!

Shopping options for block heel booties:

5. CHELSEA BOOTS

I bought these Chelsea boots last January (2021) and they’ve been my go-to for an everyday cold weather boot since then. They’re fantastic, less trendy than other ankle boots, super easy to style in lots of ways, super comfortable, and very flattering.

How to wear them:

• I have lots of posts about how to style these:
  • 4 outfits to copy with Chelsea Boots
  • How to wear skirts with chelsea boots
  • How to wear dresses with chelsea boots
  • How to wear straight leg jeans with boots

Shopping options for chelsea boots

I hope that’s helpful as you wear and shop for boots this year!

this post is sponsored by Nordstrom

IF YOU LIKED THIS POST, YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

• How to Wear Straight Leg Jeans With Ankle Boots

• 4 Easy Chelsea Boot Outfits

• How to Wear a Dress With Boots