Boot season is here. And while knee-high boots are a popular footwear choice for date night, parties, and beyond, we can certainly all appreciate the relative versatility of an ankle boot moment. They’re easy to slip on, not overly cumbersome, and able to be effortlessly styled with everything in your closet for casual and fancy outings alike. They work well paired with everything from suits to miniskirts, but denim looks especially chic. And there are endless combinations for how to wear jeans with ankle boots.
Whether you’re thinking of how to wear ankle boots with straight-leg jeans or with their wide-leg counterpart, the styling advice is pretty flexible. In some cases, it may be better to tuck your jeans into the tops of your boots, like when wearing skinny styles. If you’re going for a wider fit, you can let them fall above to elongate your leg even further. If you have an ankle-boot style you’d love to show off, a cropped jean that shows off your shoes in all their fashionable glory is key. Or you can slip chunky ankle boots underneath a longer pair of jeans to give you a little bit of lift without any extra bulk.
We turned to street style stars for a little bit of extra inspiration for wearing jeans with ankle boots. And there’s not only a look for every style point of view but also for every time of day. Whether you love a skinny jean or prefer a wide-leg flare, scroll through the following outfit ideas for how to wear jeans with ankle boots.
Getty / Edward Berthelot
Jeans and Ankle Boots Outfit Idea: Cuffed Jeans
Cuff up your straight-leg jeans to show a little skin between the top of your ankle boots and the hem of your jeans.
Getty / Christian Vierig
Jeans and Ankle Boots Outfit Idea: Boyfriend Jeans
Keep it slouchy with a pair of boyfriend jeans, mixing in some edgy details like a top with cutout sleeves.
Getty / Claudio Lavenia
Jeans and Ankle Boots Outfit Idea: Go White
Go light and airy like Caro Daur with light-gray-wash jeans, styling them with bright-white ankle boots, even as the temperature begins to dip.
Getty / Edward Berthelot
Jeans and Ankle Boots Outfit Idea: Go For Color
While you might always tend to reach for black footwear, consider a pair of burgundy leather ankle boots this season. They offer a brighter base for your ankle-crop denim and more colorful jackets and tops.
Getty / Edward Berthelot
Jeans and Ankle Boots Outfit Idea: Monochrome
Elongate your legs like Cindy Bruna with a pair of black skinny jeans and block-heel booties in the same dark hue, mixing in printed tops with ease.
Getty / Edward Berthelot
Jeans and Ankle Boots Outfit Idea: Pops of Color
Take a cue from Jeanette Madsen this season with a black and white look, styled with red ankle boots for just the right amount of color.
Getty / Edward Berthelot
Jeans and Ankle Boots Outfit Idea: Keep It Classic
Mix all the classics together this season, with a Breton stripe, a leather jacket, straight-leg jeans, and – of course – the perfect pair of black leather ankle boots.
Getty / Edward Berthelot
Jeans and Ankle Boots Outfit Idea: ‘90s Edge
Go edgy like May Berthelot with ankle-crop jeans with a raw or cutoff hemline. Then slip into chunky motorcycle boots for a true ’90s vibe.
Getty / Raimonda Kulikauskiene
Jeans and Ankle Boots Outfit Idea: Elevate It
Style winter whites to cozy perfection, adding flatform moto boots for a chic contrast.
Getty / David Dee Delgado
Jeans and Ankle Boots Outfit Idea: Add Some Flair
Whether you shop embellished jeans or DIY a pair, style them with classic leather ankle boots that keep the spotlight on the feathered hem.
Getty / Edward Berthelot
Jeans and Ankle Boots Outfit Idea: Let Your Boots Do the Talking
Style your casual fall staples with boots that really pop, like a pair with a fun buckle, strap, heel detail, or print.
Getty / Edward Berthelot
Jeans and Ankle Boots Outfit Idea: Detailed Kicks
Style your classic all-blue outfit with a pair of ankle boots that boast a subtle pattern, bright pop of color, or metallic sheen, like Veronika Heilbrunner did.
Getty / Edward Berthelot
Jeans and Ankle Boots Outfit Idea: Mix Leathers
Mix up your leather hues by topping your denim look with a brown midthigh coat and black leather ankle boots that peek out from underneath the hem of your jeans.
Getty / Edward Berthelot
Jeans and Ankle Boots Outfit Idea: Play Into the Bulk
When opting for oversize silhouettes – think loose jeans, a boxy denim top, and a belt or jacket tied around your waist like Yoyo Cao – choose a slightly chunkier ankle boot to keep the theme going strong.
Getty / Edward Berthelot
Jeans and Ankle Boots Outfit Idea: Let Your Boots Shine
Even with a pair of classic black heeled booties, choose pants that allow them to peek out from under a rolled hem or similar style.
Getty / Edward Berthelot
Jeans and Ankle Boots Outfit Idea: Opt For Oversize
With a pair of looser jeans, slip into ’90s-inspired lug-sole ankle boots, and top it with an oversize midcalf coat.
Getty / Edward Berthelot
Jeans and Ankle Boots Outfit Idea: Wide-Leg Jeans
With wide-leg jeans, slip into contrasting ankle boots, and throw on a luxe suede jacket. While you might not be able to see much of the ankle booties, the unrestrictive height of the boot shaft allows for easy layering without the bulk.
Getty / Edward Berthelot
Jeans and Ankle Boots Outfit Idea: Winter Whites
Ankle boots are a great way to lean into winter whites, as demonstrated by Astrid Boutrot. When styling a leather jacket and jeans, opt for a pair of white boots to brighten up your overall outfit.
