And we mean, any outfit. There’s an art to nailing ankle boot looks. Read on.
It comes as no surprise that the ankle boot is being hailed the ‘footwear of the moment.’ Functional, comfortable, stylish: the shoe has it all. And while they may be having their moment in the spotlight, in truth, ankle boots have always been a perennial wardrobe essential, and we predict always will be. So, if you haven’t been maximising yours to their full potential, it’s time to start.
“What can I wear with ankle boots?” we hear you ask. We’ve put together some winter outfit inspiration that will show you how to work ankle boots style into your everyday repertoire. Oh, and when we say winter, we really mean anytime; really 12 months of the year. Because there are no rules when it comes to seasons, just great adaptable hacks that will help you make the most out of your fashion purchases – plus help prevent you avoid making costly mistakes – it’s called smart shopping. Buying what you love and making the most of it. We are all smart women. So, let’s shop smart.
We all know a shoe can make or break an outfit. If you didn’t know that you do now. And in the case of the ankle boot, it helps to work from the ground up. Starting with the boot means you can get creative up top and plan your outfit around the proportions of your shoe rather than trying to make the shoe fit as an afterthought. Many elements factor into a successful ankle boot outfit combination, but we’ve boiled it down to just three: style, hemline and heel height. It doesn’t matter whether you’re dressing up for a night out, heading to the office or hanging out in denim. The principles remain the same.
The style of ankle boot you choose is a biggie. Taking your time and running any prospective purchase through a checklist is paramount. Trust us when we say it will save you time and heartache down the line. Ask yourself, where are you wearing them? Do they work back with wardrobe items you already own? Will they suit your lifestyle? If you’re dashing from planning session to school pick up, the boot you need might differ from someone spending their days heading from boardroom to wine bar. Or maybe you’re doing both, in which case perhaps a combat boot and a stiletto heel lie in your style destiny.
When it comes to ankle boots, whatever style you choose, prepare to look at your hemlines in a whole new light. Whether you’re teaming ankle boots with a skirt, ankle boots with a dress or ankle boots with jeans or work pants, it’s going to matter where that hemline falls. As a general rule when it comes to longer dresses, skirts or pants, you’re going to want to see a sliver of skin above the top of your boot. If the hem is too long, you lose the effect, which is a shame after all the trouble you’ve gone to in nailing the style. Too short and the proportion becomes awkward – unless of course you’re teaming your boot with a mini, and then there is a whole new set of rules involving heel height, more on that later.
You only have to take a look at ankle boots street style images to see that there is a myriad of ways to wear them. From low-key and louche to luxe and loud. It all comes down to personal choice and what you feel good in. If you feel like you look great, then you will feel great: it’s that simple. Our how-to-wear ankle boots guide below is designed to give you the confidence to step (or stomp) out, knowing you’ve nailed your look in a shoe and outfit that is flattering, practical and packing a punch – or kick. If we still haven’t sold you on ankle boots, we’ve included some higher alternatives, too!
Outfit Ideas: Ankle Boots
Witchery are here to help you master true, 24/7 style; we’ve put our heads together to come up with a list of scenarios and solutions for wearing ankle boots this season. While it’s not a definitive list, there are plenty of outfit ideas here to get you started and a few tips and tricks to take forth for your own experimentations. You’ll notice there’s a focus on proportion, because so much of winning, wearable style relies on getting the right balance. And we’ve stuck closely to a palette of the new neutrals because quality pieces in refined materials and a spot-on cut speak volumes, without the need for traditionally bold pattern or colour. Let the understated elegance of your pieces do the talking. Walk this way…
Brown ankle boot
outfit inspiration
We’re calling it: brown is the new black. A boot in tan or a deep camel provides a feature colour to your outfit without having to opt for an actual statement colour that, let’s be honest, you may wear a few times and then tire of because you’ve been-there-done-that so-last-season. That’s not to say we’re ditching our black boots – as you’ll see throughout this guide, they are still totally relevant. But while black is your classic faithful, brown changes things up for a refreshing new look that feels smart-casual, but cool. You’ll find brown goes with almost as much as black, but in a suede finish – which we would recommend every time over leather, in this instance – they tend to bring a slightly softer edge to winter or transitional outfits. Brown boots look striking when teamed with cream, beige or black, and there’s a relaxed confidence about them that means you don’t have to try too hard with your outfit up top. And, they team particularly well with knitwear and denim.
Opting for a heel on your brown suede ankle boot will give your outfit (and your legs) a lift, taking you from the weekend into any day of the week with ease. A mid-height block heel stays in keeping with the not-too-casual, not-too-dressy vibe of the shoe, and a flattering, ankle-skimming cut is perfect for teaming with a narrow cropped or rolled pant to dark-wash jean, making sure a hand’s width of skin is showing in between for maximum leg-lengthening power. Wearing your knitwear, shirt or jacket extra roomy on top makes for a fun proportion play and is right on trend with the hugely popular move towards cosy-cropped combinations.
How to wear
ankle boots with
work pants
Impossible, right? Well actually, it has become a favourite way to wear ankle boots to the office and it isn’t as fraught with style missteps as it seems. Not only are ankle boots just acceptable at the office, but they also have of late become an indispensable element of winter workwear. Comfortable, practical, smart, and built for your commute. It all relies on achieving a put-together look up top to ensure your ankle boots are business-appropriate. Oh, and choosing the right boot to start with. A well-maintained (read: clean and unmarked) glossy leather is the way to go to ensure a flawless aesthetic. And you’ll find black is the most versatile shade to ensure you can wear your ankle-grazing footwear multiple days of the week in variously enviable ‘how-does-she-do-it’ ways. A note on the work pants: tailored, pleat-front styles that are cut straight through the leg and preferably have pockets will be your new best friend. Choosing them in a dark neutral shade like black or charcoal with maximise their usefulness, enabling then to be paired seamlessly with a dark boot, leaving room to experiment with muted colour up top.
If you keep your look polished and professional, a flat boot and will work equally well with a suit, tailored pant and knit, or a mid-length dress. Keeping your hemline low, almost touching but not covering the boot will create a flattering continuous line that will offset any shortening effect the flat boot might create. Likewise, keeping your waistband high and your top tucked in, however loosely. Every inch will count for those on the shorter side.
Urban hiking
boot hacks
Think of hiking boots as your elevated alternative to sneakers. Hold up, we’re not suggesting you part with your beloved kicks. Not exactly. But where sneakers can sometimes make you appear short and almost appear awkward with some ensembles (not to mention making you feel like you’ve just bounced out of a sweat sesh), hiking boots have a utilitarian edge about them that means they can play a similar role to sneakers while feeling a bit more, dressed. And look, anything you can wear with a pair of chunky push-down socks is a winner in our book. The key here is to wear them with something coolly casual but still fashion-forward. So, for example, you can team them with a basic sweatshirt, as long as you layer an on-trend anorak over the top. There needs to be a fashion element to ensure the functionality of the hiking boots is well-balanced.
This look is one for the weekend and it pays to note that hiking boots work best for women when the hemline is high. If you’re open to it, a pair of cute shorts or a mini skirt will offset the chunky masculinity of the boots. Just remember your warm hat for winter days and keep in mind that this trans-seasonal look will come into its own in spring and serve you well into summer when your sweats and parka can be swapped out for a print dress and denim jacket.
The new
combat boot
These boots are made for walking yes, but also, they really are made for walking; all day if you like. With their flat, tyre tread soles and secure lace-front closure (with a handy side-zip option), they’re potentially the most comfortable boots you’ll own. Like hiking boots but more slim line on the foot and better able to be elevated to dressy status depending on how you style them. In a rich texture like soft suede, this luxe boot looks awesome toughening up a miniskirt or knit dress (see model Bella Hadid for the masterclass), yet just as cool with tucked skinny pants or a flowing dress.
Even if there is a long expanse of leg in between, toning your combat boots in with your bottom half is essential in tying your look together; black boot goes with a black skirt or trouser: beige boot pairs back with shades of beige or cream. If you break your look up with a non-complementary colour in the middle, the eye must jump around meaning your outfit will look haphazard instead of harmonious. Haphazard is fine if that’s what you like, but there’s something to be said for a little harmony.
Ankle boots with
a dress in winter
There is no single accessory that can better take a dress from warm weather to winter than an ankle boot. A basic black bootie, preferably with a biker edge, is hands down the best way to style a dress, especially in the cooler months. Take a neutral sweater dress: a simple, unassumingly elegant piece on its own. Pull it on with a pair of sturdy black boots and suddenly it becomes an interesting fashion piece that holds its own under a black aviator jacket. Here is a case of not being afraid to try something outside of the box. A dressier update on your fall-back ankle boot and denim combinations, it’s a sleekly sophisticated look that could easily cross over from day to night with the switching out of a bag and jewels. Just remember to hold back from over-accessorising – three key elements – dress, boot, jacket – with understated extras are how best to work it.
A midi dress is the perfect partner for an ankle boot with a blocky heel. Something with some movement through the shirt, or better still, a side slit, will give just the right flash of skin on the lower legs to keep the look from becoming too heavy. But if the dress is bare up top, layer a fine turtleneck underneath to add warmth and finish the look.
Black ankle boot
outfits
While we’re on the topic of black boots, let’s delve a little deeper into how exactly to style this old faithful to show just how versatile, modern, and un-boring they can be. Sure, when held up against your showier boots, a classic black bootie may seem a little on the reliable (read: predictable) side. But therein lies their strength. This boot won’t ever dominate an outfit. Rather it’s there in a support role to ensure your entire look can shine. And be assured, they will never go out of style, at least never for very long. The formula to building on this footwear staple is to choose crisp, of-the-moment pieces that benefit from a solid foundation. Right now, the colour palette we can’t go past is made up of what can best be described as subtle tones in particular, an off-shade of khaki that, teamed with black in various washes, gives a luxurious, elevated appearance that brighter or paler hues may not be able to achieve. Work an army-style drill jacket over a skivvy and rolled black jeans and all of a sudden, your trusty black boots look fabulously stylish and bang on trend.
A higher ankle boot can give you a boost and prove easier to style with pants and longer dresses. Remember though to only go as high as you feel comfortable in as a mid-to-lower heel can have a more flattering effect if you feel at ease and confident wearing them.
How to wear ankle boots with jeans
Some will tell you that wearing ankle boots with jeans is a sure-fire bet. We’re here to tell you, it’s not always the case. Not that we want to scare you away. It’s an excellent, perfectly matched pairing; they’re both classics with casual connotations and the ability to cross style borders. But just like all perfectly matched pairings, it’s great when it works but devastating when it doesn’t. It may seem like an effortless combination, but there are a few things to keep in mind. And it comes down to having a point of view – knowing your own style. In terms of wash (one of the most important factors, always, when it comes to denim) you want to choose one and commit. There’s no good opting for an ‘80s stonewash if you’re working with a minimalist ‘90s boot, or a ‘70s indigo flare if you’re building on a western boot, not that we’re advocating the wearing of a costume. Your pieces have to speak to each other. Right now, we’re gravitating towards tailored jeans in a vintage wash with front seaming detail (no distressing in sight) so they call for an equally polished boot with a pointed toe that complements their slim cut. They are both statement pieces with a fashion edge, but they work together to form a clean, modern outfit which only needs a classic V-neck knit, worn one size too big to complete the look.
Cropped jeans work brilliantly with ankle boots. Pay special attention to where your jeans end and the boot begins – remember, you’re aiming for that sliver of skin. If your jeans are too long and interfere with the line of the boot, simply cuff them to the appropriate length.
The Western
ankle boot
Pragmatic and pure fashion all at once, the Texas tuxedo teamed with a Cuban-heeled suede bootie is the ultimate way to tap into this season’s Western trend. This is one situation where you can bend the rules of proportion (big balances out the little) and double up on cropped proportions with a hip length jacket topping off a waisted and cropped jean. The vintage blue perfectly plays off the brown suede ankle boot, while a textured knit warms the look up for winter. The element that prevents this combination from looking like you’re heading for the Wild West is the chic neatness of the outfit.
It really comes down to how this look is styled. The loose tuck of a sweater into the waistband, a pushed-up sleeve, a popped collar or just the right number of buttons buttoned (note: two at the most), and the stitching on your boots could mean the difference between a Western style and just another suede bootie – so watch out for the details.
The Western
ankle boot
Pragmatic and pure fashion all at once, the Texas tuxedo teamed with a Cuban-heeled suede bootie is the ultimate way to tap into this season’s Western trend. This is one situation where you can bend the rules of proportion (big balances out the little) and double up on cropped proportions with a hip length jacket topping off a waisted and cropped jean. The vintage blue perfectly plays off the brown suede ankle boot, while a textured knit warms the look up for winter. The element that prevents this combination from looking like you’re heading for the Wild West is the chic neatness of the outfit.
It really comes down to how this look is styled. The loose tuck of a sweater into the waistband, a pushed-up sleeve, a popped collar or just the right number of buttons buttoned (note: two at the most), and the stitching on your boots could mean the difference between a Western style and just another suede bootie – so watch out for the details.
A note on high leather boots
By now we’ve convinced you that there’s an ankle boot for you, right? But we understand there will always be a place for the high leather boot and if you’re a die-hard fan with a weakness for a trouser tuck, then there are some excellent options for you this season. And hey, the leg warmth they provide can’t be overlooked. There is a definite ‘80s thread running throughout the styles on show and whether you opt for high or low heel, second-skin or slouchy around the ankle, leather or suede, you can be assured they will elevate a boxy blazer, denim or print to more than acceptable levels of chic.
Don’t be afraid to partner your high boots with a dress or skirt. It’s worth noting that the sliver of skin rule does not apply here so layer away. Mini or mid lengths still work best.
