Casual vs. Formal: How To Style Ankle Boots For Any Occasion

If there’s one thing to know about ankle boots, it’s that they stick by your side through any condition, just like your best friend. Think about it, is there ever an occasion when ankle boots won’t come through for you?

Whether it's a night out, a formal occasion, an elaborate party, or any event at all, ankle boots are sure to elevate your style on a whim. They're always ready to complement your style and have fast become a dependable addition to any fashionista's wardrobe.

In summary, it's a fact that ankle boots are one of the most practical, fashionable, and versatile footwear options any girl can boast of. However, you still need to know how to style them with different types of outfits for every occasion. The good news is, that's where we come in.

Find all the essential styling tips you need to effortlessly nail any look with ankle boots below.

The ROAST:

Ankle boots are versatile footwear choices that can be styled to suit any event and outfit at any time of the year
The key to selecting the perfect ankle boots is to factor in the types of heels, colors, and shapes that you feel comfortable in and align best with your style
Essential ankle boots to own and complement your wardrobe at all times include flat, winter, and heeled ankle boots
Have ankle boots in different toe shapes (like round, square, and pointed-toe) to match more outfits for various occasions

General Tips on Styling Ankle Boots

As we mentioned earlier, you can wear women’s ankle boots with every outfit — that's how versatile they are. So, you can decide to have fun experimenting with different combinations to find out what works best for you. However, whether you want to go on a fashion adventure with ankle boots or play it safe, these essential tips will serve as a useful guide:

Understand The Various Types of Ankle Boots

The first step to pulling off any look with ankle boots is understanding that there are numerous types of ankle boots. Plus, each one of them is suitable for various purposes. For example, wearing dramatic ankle boots to a corporate event will turn heads your way — for the wrong reasons. Dressier boots are more suited for parties, dinner dates, theater, etc.

Know Your Style

More than just wearing ankle boots, you'll want your overall appearance to resonate with your personality. Otherwise, you may end up in an outfit that isn't authentically you or diminishes your confidence.

So, if your preference is classic and timeless, you'll feel most comfortable in Chelsea boots. Wearing embellished ankle boots instead may cramp your style. Wear flat ladies ankle boots for a laidback look and buckled or lace boots for an edgy appearance

Consider Your Frame

One mistake women make when styling ankle boots is disregarding their frame. Sadly, this one error can significantly affect your proportions, making you look shorter than you are. So, if you have a petite frame, flatter your silhouette with heeled or pointed-toe booties that elongate your legs. However, as a tall woman, low-cut ankle boots work best with your frame.

Dress for the Weather

For many women, ankle boots are the ultimate winter and fall footwear. However, there's no rule that forbids them to be worn in spring and summer too. As always, all you have to do is understand how to pair them to suit the current environmental conditions. For example, wearing ankle boots with a lot of fur screams “winter” and may seem out of place during summer.

Play With Textures

If you want to make a lasting impression with ankle boots, learn how to mix and match textures. Playing with textures helps make your appearance more interesting by adding character and depth to your overall look. For example, simply pairing suede ankle boots with silk or patent leather may be all you need to take your outfit from basic to awesome.

What Kind of Dresses Go With Ankle Boots?

Women ankle boots and dresses can be a match made in heaven, offering you comfort, elegance, and balance if you know how to put them together. In fact, they’re the go-to boots to style with any kind of dress

Like with every other outfit, the key to rocking any kind of dress with ankle boots is finding the right balance between the dress length and your ankle boot’s style. With this goal in mind:

Pair bohemian-style maxi dresses with ankle boots for a feminine look
Heeled ankle boots look amazing when worn with midi gowns, especially because midi dresses can make you look shorter
Whenever you want the focus to be on your dress, go for ankle boots with low heels or flat soles
Combat boots will add edge to a floral mini and elevate your summer style while pointy-toe boots are great for contrast
Wear rugged ankle boots to dress down your frilly or girly gowns
Chunky ankle boots go well with mini flay dresses and tights
Don’t be scared to play with textures; for example, jewel-toned velvet dresses and studded boots are a contrasting but chic combination
Leather ankle boots go well with fancy mini-dresses

How To Style Ankle Boots With Dresses for Over 50

The main focus when choosing the right ankle boots over 50 is comfort. No matter the kind of outfit you hope to pull off, always ensure that they have a supportive sole, a comfortable fit, and a manageable heel height. You should be able to walk gracefully at all times with the ankle boots you choose.

When wearing a dress, go for ankle boots with narrow and short shafts to create the illusion of long legs. For midi dresses, pointed-toe booties will do the perfect job. Finally, when wearing dresses with tights, endeavor to match the color of your tights to that of your ankle boots for a safe, monochrome look. However, if you want to look more daring, pair your ankle boots with bright-colored tights.

Can You Wear Boots to a Formal Occasion?

Of course, you can strut to any formal gathering in a pair of ankle booties if you want to look sophisticated, polished, and chic. If you love your suits, suede ankle boots can help spice up your outfit for a corporate dinner or award ceremony. Pencil skirts or tailored trousers with blazers also work well with mid-height heels to make you look put-together and refined.

Although pairing ankle boots with cocktail dresses can be tricky, they’re amazingly elegant when done right. To be on the safe side, wear ankle booties with thin heels in a similar shade as your gown for a harmonious look.

How To Style Ankle Boots With Jeans

It’s no news that ankle boots and jeans were made for each other. However, how you style the inseparable pair can easily make you a fashion icon or completely ruin the look. For example, while scrunched-up jeans with ankle boots can give off a sloppy vibe, rolled-up denim, and ankle boots make you look relaxed but organized.

Here are essential tips to ensure that you always look chic when you wear ankle boots with jeans:

The primary goal when styling ankle boots and jeans is to balance out proportions, so, never pair wide-leg jeans with wide-leg ankle boots, for example
For casual and edgy looks, go for chunky boots; for a relaxed and effortless vibe, choose flat-ankle boots
If you want to look sophisticated, ankle boots with stiletto heels will do the magic
Show some skin between your boots and ankles to keep your legs from looking shorter
If you must tuck your jeans into your boots, ensure that your ankle boots rise significantly above your ankles and your jeans aren’t wrinkled or scrunched up when tucked in

What Color Boots Are in Fashion in 2024?

The color of your ankle booties can significantly brighten a dull color palette or tone down an overly bright outfit. In other words, your choice of colors can help to create an overall harmonious look.

A good rule of thumb is to always consider your wardrobe’s color palette and ensure that your ankle booties align with it. Usually, this will mean going for blacks and nudes that go with everything.

However, if your goal is to look trendy, ankle boots in pops of colors will be in fashion in 2024. So, don’t hesitate to add visual interest to your appearance by pairing yellow, red, and magnificent green booties with neutral-toned outfits.

Wrap Up

Ankle boots aren't reserved for the cold months alone. You can make them an all-year trend, pairing them with every outfit you own if you know how to do it right. Fortunately, this article has provided you with everything you need to know about styling ankle booties for every occasion. From dresses to jeans, corporate wear, etc., you too, can create magic in the fashion world with your favorite pairs of ankle boots.

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