Cowboy boots were first designed to be tough and functional shoes to wear in hard working conditions – particularly those experienced by cowboys and ranchers out on the open prairies. Today, however, cowboy boots have become a popular style choice that many people wear for everyday work, formal events, and to concerts or parties. If you want to venture into wearing cowboy boots yourself but are not sure how to style them, you’re not alone.
Cowboy boots are typically worn with wider-legged jeans, but that doesn’t mean you cannot wear them with other styles like skinny jeans. Skinny jeans won’t be wide enough to fit over the tops of your boots like most other styles can. However, tucking your skinny jeans into your boots is perfectly okay for everyday wear in casual environments.
This article will explain exactly how you can style your cowboy boots and answer important questions like – can you wear cowboy boots with skinny jeans? We’ll also break down some of the other styles of jeans to consider pairing with your favorite pair of boots. By the time you’re finished reading, you’ll be an expert at wearing cowboy boots no matter the occasion.
Can You Wear Cowboy Boots With Skinny Jeans?
Skinny jeans aren’t one of the typical styles of jeans that you’d expect to see people wearing with cowboy boots. This is simply because the leg openings on skinny jeans aren’t wide enough to pull down over the tops of your boots. But that doesn’t mean you can’t wear cowboy boots with your favorite pair of skinny jeans!
You can wear cowboy boots with your skinny jeans as long as you tuck the jeans into your boots. Women who like to wear cowboy boots to concerts and parties often prefer this look. It is typically only seen in more casual environments and wouldn’t generally be worn to more formal occasions.
Keep in mind, however, that this will only work if you have a pair of boots that are loose enough for the pant legs to fit inside of them. If your boots are too form-fitting, the material will bunch up and look odd. The bunched material can also be incredibly uncomfortable and may make you sweat as you go about your day.
How To Wear Cowboy Boots With Skinny Jeans
The key to pairing cowboy boots and skinny jeans is that the jeans will need to be tucked into the boots. This is different from how cowboy boots are typically worn since jeans are usually pulled down over the tops of the boots. This isn’t possible with most skinny jeans because their leg openings are just not wide enough.
To make this pairing work, you need to choose a pair of skinny jeans that fit snugly to your calves. If they are too loose at the bottom, there’s a strong likelihood that the material will bunch up inside your boots.
You also want to ensure the skinny jeans are not too long since the extra material will also need to sit inside your boots. This extra material will be uncomfortable to deal with all day and may make your cowboy boots look lumpy or uneven. Well-fitting skinny jeans are a must for this pairing.
You also want to carefully select your boots. Many styles of boots are intended to hug your calves tightly, which may stop you from tucking in your jeans. If you have particularly wide calves, you’ll want to make sure that you have either purchased cowboy boots intended for wider legs or have gone a size up to add some extra room. Keep in mind that your boots will also need to be able to fit a pair of comfy socks along with your jeans.
Should Your Jeans Be Tucked Into Your Cowboy Boots? 3 Scenarios
One of the largest debates when it comes to wearing cowboy boots surrounds whether or not you should tuck your jeans into your boots. Some people strongly believe you should never tuck in your jeans, so they don’t approve of wearing skinny jeans.
However, most true cowboy boot lovers accept that there are certain occasions when it is okay to tuck in your jeans. Below, we’ve broken down three of the most common scenarios you may wear cowboy boots and whether or not it is okay to tuck in your jeans in each.
1. Everyday Work
It is absolutely okay to tuck in your boots if you’re out on the farm or the ranch working in dirty or muddy conditions. This can help to protect the bottoms of your jeans and keep them from getting wet or worn out. It can also help stop bugs and other critters from climbing inside your pant legs.
Most people aren’t paying much attention to how you wear your jeans with cowboy boots while you’re out working. The main goal is to get the job done, and how you are dressed doesn’t affect that much at all. Pull on your boots, tuck in your jeans, and get to work!
2. Formal Events
When it comes to wearing jeans and cowboy boots for formal events, many people strongly disagree about whether your jeans can be tucked in. Traditionally, jeans should not be tucked into boots for formal occasions. Only a small amount of the boots should be visible underneath your jeans.
There are several reasons for this. For starters, cowboy boots are not typically considered formal shoes. They are intended for more casual wear and everyday work. This is changing fairly quickly, however, as more and more boot designers create high-end designer cowboy boots that are intended for more formal occasions.
Even then, tucking your jeans into your boots typically isn’t the neatest look you can wear. The jeans will often bunch up and become wrinkled, two things you’ll want to avoid at your next formal occasion. To play it safe, wear jeans that can cover your boots for any formal events you plan to attend soon.
3. Concerts or Parties
Concerts or parties are much more relaxed environments than formal occasions. Because of this, you can probably get away with tucking your jeans into your boots. This is especially the case if you wear your boots to an outdoor event where there might be dirt, mud, or water to avoid.
Even then, whether or not it is okay to tuck in your boots often depends on if you are following traditional men’s styles or women’s ones. Women’s styles are usually perfectly okay, with jeans tucked into boots in most situations. In this case, you could easily tuck your favorite pair of skinny jeans into your boots.
However, opinions are a bit mixed when it comes to men’s styles. For men, it’s usually accepted that tucking in your boots is okay for when you are working but should be avoided any other time. Because of this, many men frown upon wearing their jeans tucked in, even when visiting casual places like a concert or a party.
Best Jeans to Wear With Cowboy Boots
If you’re still unsure about wearing skinny jeans with your cowboy boots or are looking for a better option, we have some recommendations for you to consider. Below are some of the best jeans to wear with cowboy boots for any occasion.
Boot-Cut
As the name implies, boot-cut jeans are specially designed to be worn with boots. This style of jeans flares out slightly around the ankle, creating a wider opening that a cowboy boot can fit inside. This makes boot-cut jeans an ideal style if you are hoping to hit the town in your favorite cowboy boots.
You can tell if a pair of jeans is boot-cut if you hold them up and the legs are not straight all the way down. The openings at the bottom of the legs should be slightly wider than the area above the ankle. If you try them on with boots, this style of jeans should fit easily over the top of them.
Wide or Relaxed Fit
Relaxed-fit jeans, also known as wide-fit jeans, are designed to fit a bit looser overall. These jeans will be loose in the legs and calves in particular, which makes them a good choice for wearing over boots. The jeans should not be baggy, however, nor should they sag.
If you’re not a fan of the flared bottom that boot-cut jeans have, a relaxed fit may be a good option. This style of jeans won’t fit quite as well over the tops of your boots but should still have plenty of room to be comfortable. The legs of this style should be fairly straight when you hold them up, which can help you to identify that you’ve found the correct style of jeans.
Regular or Straight Leg
Regular or straight-leg jeans are the standard variety you’ll typically find in most stores. They get their name because their legs are straight all the way down from the edge of your hip to the bottom of your leg. These jeans should not taper to fit the curves of your calves.
The openings on straight-leg pants are wider than you would see on skinny jeans but aren’t quite as wide as boot-cut styles. They should fit over the tops of your cowboy boots, though the fit may be a bit snug. However, this style is great to wear for all occasions and will be very versatile for the days you wear your boots and any days that you don’t.
What Should You Not Wear With Cowboy Boots?
Cowboy boots are fairly versatile and can be worn in various situations. Even then, there are some things you should avoid pairing with your cowboy boots.
Formal Clothes
From time to time, you might see somewhere wearing cowboy boots with a nice pair of jeans to a formal event. However, you should avoid mixing your cowboy boots with more formal pieces. Cowboy boots are primarily casual and for everyday work and will stand out sharply against formal outfits.
You should avoid pairing your boots with suit pants, a formal dress, or other similar pieces. Stick to more casual jeans and everyday clothes when breaking out your boots.
Athletic Leggings
All around the world, many people have begun to wear athletic clothes as they go about their day-to-day business. This trend is often referred to as “athleisure” clothing and doesn’t mix well with cowboy boots or other western elements. Athletic leggings are often made of synthetic fabrics that can appear shiny and plastic-like, which clash strongly with the more rugged look of cowboy boots.
If you love leggings and want to wear them with your boots, consider cotton leggings or another simple fabric. Steer clear of options with tons of pockets and embellishments – a classic look is the key to pulling off leggings with boots. You should also look into wearing a longer tunic or a dress over your leggings to complete the look.
Over-the-Top Accents
As we’ve said already, cowboy boots are meant to be rustic and a bit rugged. Because of this, they can strongly clash with over-the-top accents like sequins, glitter, rhinestones, or other embellishments. Your best bet for pairing cowboy boots is to stick to simpler pieces that have the same overall vibe and appearance as the boots do.
Keep in mind that the only time true cowboys will wear these embellishments is at rodeos and other competitions where they like to show off a bit. Those styles are not intended for everyday wear and will stand out like a sore thumb if you do so. Keep it simple and play it safe.
Too Many ‘Western’ Pieces
Another mistake that people sometimes make is that they get too excited to fully embrace the ‘western’ look. They may pair their boots with western-looking pants, shirts with lots of fringes, a cowboy hat, and any other western-inspired pieces that they can find. Most of the time, this style ends up looking more like a costume than an everyday outfit.
If you dress in too many ‘western’ pieces, you’re almost guaranteed to stand out in a crowd – and not in a good way. Most true cowboys dress fairly simply, often sticking to jeans and a button-down shirt. The last thing you want is for people to assume you’re trying out your Halloween costume whenever you’re doing your daily business.
Can I Wear Cowboy Boots If I’m Not a Cowboy?
Many people have mixed opinions on whether or not you can wear cowboy boots if you aren’t a cowboy. Some people see them as work boots only and find it a bit silly that someone might choose to wear them as a style choice. However, opinions about this have changed over time, and more people find it perfectly okay.
If you find that you like the look of cowboy boots, don’t be afraid to try them out, even if you are not a cowboy. Just make sure that you follow the tips we’ve given you already to make sure that you don’t stand out. If you wear them incorrectly, it may be obvious to the people around you that you aren’t a cowboy.
To ensure you’re wearing your cowboy boots correctly, always pay attention to where you are wearing them and whether or not it is okay to tuck in your jeans. You should also not style them incorrectly- especially not with too many other western-inspired pieces. These types of mistakes will almost certainly make you stand out in a bad way.
Regardless, it is still perfectly okay to wear cowboy boots even if you are not a cowboy yourself.
Is It Okay to Wear Skinny Jeans With Cowboy Boots?
Yes, it is okay to wear your skinny jeans with a pair of cowboy boots. While opinions may vary from person to person, cowboy boots have gained popularity in recent years and can be worn in many styles and with many types of jeans. There aren’t many hard and fast rules to follow for these types of outfits.
To sum it all up, skinny jeans aren’t the traditional style of jeans worn with cowboy boots, but they are accepted in many situations. This is especially true if you wear your boots to work or casual occasions. It is also particularly true if you follow women’s styles rather than men’s.
Your personal style choices are up to you. If you like the look of skinny jeans with a pair of cowboy boots, then there’s nothing stopping you from wearing them together. If you prefer the look of wider-legged jeans, then that option is also available. We can’t wait to see what styles you come up with!