As the name suggests, combat boots as a fashion statement evolved from the boots worn by men in the military. They became popular for women in the 1960s and ’70s in the United Kingdom. The trend spread to the United States in the ’80s thanks to popular punk rockers like the Sex Pistols and The Clash. During the 1990s, combat boots appeared on the runway as well as in the newly forming grunge scene. From then on, they have maintained a constant presence.
Over time, women’s combat boots branched out from basic black to become available in colors including brown, white, gray, pink, and green. The most common design laces up at the front. Current combat boots are usually either white or black, and their material is either matte or patent.
Doc Martens and Steve Madden have been in the shoe game for decades, and have especially made a name for themselves for their combat boots, offering all kinds of silhouettes, such as tall, short, chunky soles, and so on. Here are a few ways to add style to your outfits by throwing on a pair of boutique boots.
Tip 1: Pair Combat Boots with Jeans
Jeans are as casual as an outfit gets, though combat boots can make a difference. The best thing is that you can wear them with any kind of jeans. Choose silhouettes such as cropped, full-length, skinny, or loose-fitting.
How to wear combat boots with skinny jeans? Try these tips:
- Rolling up the ends of your jeans into a cuff just above or at the top of the boot.
- Picking a pair of socks to wear over your jeans so that they’re visible above your boots.
- Tucking your jeans into the boots.
- Leave the jeans to lie over the boots.
Finish off the entire look by putting on a cropped T-shirt or a bodysuit if you’re wearing high-waisted pants. Throw on a midi-length cardigan and a jacket to layer if it happens to be cold outside.
Regardless of whether they are baggy or slim, straight jeans are a top choice to pair with combat boots. They can simply be worn over the boots, however, if you want to go for a more casual look, you can go ahead and roll up the jeans. Depending on the length, you’re safe doing a single or double fold.
Complete the look with a shirt of your choice. There are lots of trend-setting options to choose from when it comes to what to layer with. Channel your inner soccer mom with a nice cardigan or give a nod to punk roots with a classic denim jacket.
Tip 2: Wear Combat Boots with Leggings
Leggings essentially go with everything and anything, so pairing them with combat boots isn’t too hard. If you’re looking for a more casual look, go for a simple pair of black leggings. For your combat boots, choose a dark or neutral color like black, white, or even maroon for a pop of color. An oversized graphic tee will properly pull the look together. You can also pair black combat boots with bright, patterned leggings to make a statement.
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Tip 3: Pair Combat Boots with Dresses and Skirts
Dresses can be worn with combat boots. Blurring the line between masculine and feminine clothes and shoes is a common trend. To make this look especially playful, it’s great to go for softer dresses, like sweater dresses, mini dresses, and slip dresses.
Sweater dresses are an excellent choice when it’s cold outside. Pick a knee-to-calf-length dress and then pull your combat boots on to level up your style. You could also wear a pair of tights under the dress, depending on how cold it is. Then, layer with a warm trench coat and you’re good to go.
Slip dresses are as feminine as it gets, so it’s surprising how beautifully they can go with a pair of combat boots. For a little edge, throw on a leather jacket. But if you want to keep it cute, go for a cardigan, a pashmina shawl, or a cropped sweater. A slip dress with a slit can do wonders for your evening, breezily taking you from cocktails with friends to a dinner date.
The little black dress and combat boots go well together, too. If you’re planning to enjoy a night out dancing, be sure to pick a silky dress and pair it with some patent combat boots that will keep you fashionably and comfortably on your feet all night.
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Tip 4: Pair Combat Boots with Cute Tops
Just as dresses have that feminine touch to balance out an outfit including combat boots, cute tops can easily have the same effect. Combining a cute top with skinny, straight-leg jeans tucked into your combat jeans would be a killer casual look.
You can have fun wearing cute tops with elements like glitter, animals and rainbows. The tops that work for this look are often cropped tees. Pair them with brightly colored tights or fishnet stockings to complete your outfit.
Feminine camo tops can highlight the origins of the combat boot in a whimsical way. Choose a feminine silhouette, or opt for pink camo. If this isn’t your favorite pattern, you can also wear shirts with the names of different branches of the military to achieve the same effect.
Final Thoughts
Doing the unexpected is always a fine way to create a memorable fashion statement. By pairing combat boots with your more feminine pieces, you can do this effortlessly and discover lots of fun new looks.
