Of all the outfits in our wardrobes a well-fitting pair of jeans worn together with the right boots is surely our most versatile ensemble. Dressed up or dressed down this winning partnership is just perfect for a shopping trip, the workplace or a casual night out and I, for one, can’t imagine what life would be like without my favourite jeans and boots. However, as with everything else in the world of fashion, you can still get it right or get it horribly wrong with jeans and boots.
So what are the best ways to wear these perennial favourites? I guess in many ways this is a matter of personal taste but I do think there some looks that are best avoided!
Tucking In
If you are wearing skinny jeans then you can usually get away with simply tucking the lower legs into ankle boots. This look certainly doesn’t work with wider legs as you will be left looking like you are heading for the building site or an audition with Village People. Skinnies, on the other hand, will show off a great pair of boots, and if those boots have heels and are the same colour as the jeans then your legs will look longer. To pull off the tucked in look ensure that your boots are ankle grabbers as wide topped boots just don’t look right in my book and can make your lower legs look a little hefty. Jeans also look great with knee length boots if you can find a style that fits your lower leg well but that isn’t always easy.
Flying High
If you do want to show off those boots then your other option is to alter the length of your jeans so they finish above the boots. There are three ways to achieve this look and all can produce appealing results. Firstly you can roll the bottom of your jeans. Here the principle advantage is the fact that you don’t have to butcher them, enabling you to wear them longer when you wish. Secondly you can fold the hems up inside the leg neatly. This also means you can turn the jeans down again whereas your third option, cutting the bottoms off, is more drastic but great if you like a really casual feel.
Zipping Up
Skinny Jeans with zips at the lower leg are a flexible choice if you love your boots. Zip them up if you want to tuck in or leave them open to create a wider leg. Here you have the best of both worlds!
Going Wider
If you are not a fan of tucking in or flying high then you will have to choose jeans with a wider cut at the ankle. This does buck the current trend for skinny jeans but that doesn’t mean you should avoid the look. There is nothing wrong with setting trends rather than following them and if this is the most flattering cut for you then go for it. People with wide shoulders will find that a wider leg will balance their figure and you can be sure that at some point wider legs will be all the rage again anyway. Wider legs are often favoured by older generations but they can still cool. The debate over people of a certain age wearing jeans is an interesting one but that discussion is for another day.
Article by Sally Stacey