The diminutive footwear that is running rampant in fashion is sometimes hard to figure out. How to wear booties? They look so adorable, these boots that stop right at the ankle. Who doesn’t love anything tiny and sweet? And the bootie is like a baby version of your favorite to-the-knee boot.
But the question remains, how to wear booties? Does the hem of the pant need to cover the bootie? And if so, does it negate the fact that you are wearing such an on-trend piece? (If a bootie is covered, does it still count as fashion forward?) Can you wear them with dresses–even if you are over 30? We solve all your bootie befuddlement by sharing everything you need to know about how to wear booties, the must-have accessory of the season.
Jean, yes? Genius!
The easiest way to wear a bootie is with jeans. Yes, you can wear them with a straight leg or boot cut denim and let the hem of the jean cover the boot. But these babies are meant to be shown off, not hidden under the hem.
Try your bootie with a skinny jean to give the footwear a bit more attention. The jean should never puddle or scrunch at the ankle. Instead, the hem should skim the top of the shank of the boot. Are your jeans too long? Roll them with a tiny cuff, leaving about a half-inch between the bottom of the jean and the top of the boot. The look feels intentional and plays well with the studied casual vibe that a bootie and jean evoke. If you have more than a few inches of denim to roll into a cuff, skip the bootie. You want a tiny, tight cuff, not a giant doughnut of fabric at the ankle.
Trousers trend
Pairing a bootie with a trouser is modern and fresh, though not for the faint of heart. The trouser should be at the ankle or grazing the top of the boot, with the most modern pairing one involving a menswear-style trouser with a bootie that reads more city-refined than cowboy boot.
Want to wear your booties with flat-front skinny pant or legging? Make sure you pair the pant with a longer jacket, tunic or sweater. Unlike a to-the-knee boot, which visually keeps the skinny pant/legging from reading as too revealing, the bootie needs a longer element to keep the silhouette in proportion.
Dress to the nines
Nearly every fashion magazine and style blogger is pairing the bootie with dresses and skirts. But it still feels scary to lots of women. And no wonder, since the bootie is a bit shocking in comparison to a sleek pump. But that is exactly the point of the pairing. Fashion is constantly challenging the eye, and pairing a short boot with a skirt is modern. From a refined pencil skirt paired with a 1940s-influenced bootie, to a floaty dress and bootie that mixes feminine with edgy, booties and dresses proclaim that you want to have fun with fashion.
The easiest way to wear a bootie and skirt or dress? Look for a bootie that has a low-cut front on the ankle. If the bootie goes up to or covers your ankle bone, it is going to dramatically shorten your leg. Also opt for a nude-colored bootie versus a stark black to soften the look.
And here are some nude booties, similar to the above photo, that we love.
The holy grail of wearing booties with dresses and skirts? A monochromatic look, with booties, tights and skirt all in one color for a perfect, uninterrupted line. Pairing a black pencil skirt, black tights and black booties is utterly sophisticated.
And here are some black booties, similar to the above photo, that we love.
Best buys
Three great options when shopping for a bootie? A 1″ bootie in a casual, wear-with-everything style or the stacked-heel booties featured below, with a bit more height. Lastly, the elegant stiletto heel bootie, which is a hybrid of a sexy pump and boot, a style that is by far the easiest to wear with dresses. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite options below.
Flat — 1″ Heeled Booties
2 — 3″ Heeled Booties
Pumps
2019 Trends
For those wanting to rock the current trends, white booties are at the top of every fashionista’s style list. There are several more accessible styles this year as opposed to when they were new on the scene in 2018. And don’t forget about the trend overtaking our summer and fall clothing — animal print. We’ve selected our favorites below that are still classic and wearable, while also being at the height of style this season.
White Booties
Animal Print Booties
So who can wear the bootie? Anyone who can wear a regular boot. The shortened footwear darling is a perfect addition to your wardrobe if you want to add an element of modern style to your look. Follow a few simple rules, get over your footwear fears, and embrace the bootie trend.
For more “how-tos” check out more of StyleBlueprint’s fashion posts featuring tips and advice.
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