I will forever be a knee high boot fan. Even more than ankle boots, I tend to gravitate towards knee high boots and how they can look so chic with a ton of different looks. And a pair of knee high boots are more versatile than ankle boots because they can be worn under jeans/trousers and look like an ankle boot and then also still be styled with short dresses and skirts too. I don’t always love the look of ankle boots with a shorter dress/skirt as I find it’s not as flattering and can make my legs look a bit shorter.

It’s great to buy colorful, trendy or unique knee high boots, but my preference will always be a simple pointy toe style in a neutral tone. I have both suede and leather in my closet and love both, though I always think suede looks a tad more elevated and polished. Especially in fall and winter when the added warmth is needed, knee high boots are a must have.

10 Knee High Boot Outfits

When choosing a knee high boot, I always prefer for a simple style with little to no details on them so as not to compete with my outfit. A pointy toe is also my preferred toe shape because it lengthens the leg and is a classic style that will can be worn over and over each season. A simple pointy toe boot will never go out of style and is something you can count on wearing for many years. If you want something with no heel, I love the look of riding boots. They can be simple and classic but still give you a chic polished look.  I’ve styled knee high boots a ton of different ways over the years and am rounding up a bunch of different looks to give you some inspiration on how to style your own knee high boots.

What To Wear With Knee High Boots

Knee High Boots with Skinny Jeans

Coat (similar) | Sweater (similar) | Jeans (similar) | Boots | Bag (similar) | Sunglasses

Sweater (similar) | Jeans (similar) | Boots | Bag (similar) | Sunglasses

I know skinny jeans have taken a back seat at the moment and straight leg/wide leg jeans are front and center but skinny jeans are still the best denim to wear with knee high boots. While you can tuck straight leg jeans into knee high boots, I don’t love the look as much as a skinny jean. When balancing out proportions for a skinny jean outfit, I will often keep the upper part of my look a bit more oversized. Wearing a super skinny top with super skinny jeans can be too much so balance out the look with a chunky sweater or slightly roomy blazer. Also a button down blouse would work well too as I have shown in the photo with the brown blazer.

Knee High Boots with Slip Skirt

Vest (similar) | Turtleneck | Skirt | Boots (similar) | Bag (similar) | Sunglasses

This is a perfect example of why I will always opt for a knee high boot over an ankle boot when shopping. When wearing a midi skirt, I like the skirt to go past the boot and create a longer silhouette. And if there is a high slit in the front like with the denim skirt I am wearing, a knee high boot works so much better than an ankle boot. An ankle boot cuts off the line of the outfit and can make the legs look shorter.

Knee High Boots Styled with a Dress with Slits

Dress (similar) | Boots (similar) | Bag (similar) | Sunglasses

Especially during the fall and winter, wearing knee high boots with a dress that has a high slit is necessary. It will help keep your legs warm LOL but balances out the slit only allowing for a small bit of leg to show.

Knee High Boots with Short Dresses

Dress (similar) | Boots (similar) | Bag | Sunglasses

Dress | Boots (similar) | Headband (similar) | Bag (similar)

A classic way to style boots is always with a shorter dress or mini skirt. I love the way this looks! For me the key to making this look polished and elevated still is to choose a slim fitting boot with a pointier toe. It looks more refined and understated and is easy to pair with a short sweater dress or skirt.

Another tip is to choose a skirt/dress length that hits above the knee. There needs to be a slight gap between where the boot ends and where the dress begins to balance out the look. Wearing knee high boots with a skirt or dress that hits exactly at the knee or slightly lower can be difficult to style. I prefer to either go with a midi length that completely covers the top of the boot and creates on seamless line or a shorter style which allows for the boot to be fully shown.

Knee High Boots with Dress Shorts

Coat (similar) | Sweater (similar) | Shorts (similar) | Boots (similar) | Sunglasses

This is definitely a more fashion forward way to style knee high boots but one that I will forever love. The best kind of shorts to wear with knee high boots are dressier shorts, something like this high-waisted style I am wearing in the above photo. Make sure the shorts are at least mid-thigh length but not a bermuda length that goes all the way to the knees. You want a bit of leg to show in order to balance out the outfit proportions.

Knee High Boots with Straight Leg Jeans

Coat | Jeans | Boots | Bag | Sunglasses

It is possible to style your straight leg jeans with knee high boots but it is definitely a bulkier look. You need to make sure your boots are wide enough to fit the extra fabric from the straight leg denim but this is a nice modern and updated way to style your denim with knee high boots without only wearing skinny jeans. The jeans may naturally bunch around the knees which is fine but trying to do this look with any jeans wider than straight leg may not work as well.

Outfits with Suede Knee High Boots

Dress | Boots | Bag (similar) | Sunglasses

Dress | Boots | Bag (similar) | Sunglasses

Suede boots are my preferred fabric if I had to choose between that and leather. I feel like suede instantly looks polished and more luxe. It’s a fabric that you can wear with any outfit regardless of the material or texture of the clothing you are pairing with it.

How to Style Knee High Boots

Slim Fitting Pants/Jeans

If you plan on tucking your pants or jeans into your boots, it’s best to do that with slim fitting styles. Anything too bulky won’t fit easily into your boot.

Midi/Maxi Dresses and Skirts

I always like to choose knee high boots over ankle boots when I’m wearing them with midi or maxi skirts. Even if the skirt or dress looks long enough to cover the top of the ankle boot, it’s better to not have any gap or skin showing so there is one continuous line from the top to the bottom of the outfit.

Short Dresses

Short dresses will always be a great option to wear with knee high boots but the key is balancing out the proportions properly. If the dress is above mid thigh, opt for a boot with a lower heel. If the dress is closer to the knee or right above, choosing a higher heel actually creates a better silhouette.

Wearing different patterns is a great way to add in some interest to your daily looks. However, mixing different patterns together in the same outfit is a high-value styling skill many find intimidating. It’s definitely something that takes some trial and error to figure out the best combinations. But if you own a ton of classic prints (stripes, florals, animal print, etc), it could be easier than you think. Learning the right way to mix patterns can instantly elevate outfits and make your outfits stand out even more. Today’s post is going to be a guide on how to mix different prints in an outfit in a way that looks chic and stylish.

For more information on building the perfect wardrobe, check out these posts below:

Women’s Wardrobe Essentials

Building a Work Capsule Wardrobe

My Two Favorite Denim Styles That Everyone Should Have in Their Closet

How To Mix Patterns

Pattern mixing is always trending on runways and street style alike but can be hard to translate into real everyday outfits. But once you understand a few basics on which patterns look best together and how to balance out your look with various prints, it’s not as daunting as you might imagine. The right mix of patterns can create interest and visual personality in outfits. Learning the basic pattern pairing principles and color coordination rules can help you create outfit formulas that work every time.

Can You Mix Patterns in Fashion?

Pattern mixing is timeless and will always be a way to keep your outfits modern and current.

Rules For Mixing Patterns in Clothing

Color Cohesion

Choose prints that share at least one key color

Scale Contrast

Mix small and large scale patterns for balance.

Limit the Number

No more than 3 patterns at once

Dominant vs. Supporting Prints

One print should lead while others should support without overtaking.

What Patterns Go Together

Stripes and Polka Dots

Classic combo that’s easy and visually balanced.

Florals and Stripes

Best when they share color tones.

Animal Prints And Neutrals / Geometric Patterns

Animal prints act like neutral anchors.

Checks And Thin Stripes

Varying the pattern scale creates harmony.

Pattern And Texture Pairing

Include texture contrast or next-level interest

How to Mix and Match Patterns Like a Stylist

Step 1: Choose a Color Anchor

Start with a base color common to all patterns.

Step 2: Vary the Scales

Pair large prints with small prints to avoid visual competition.

Step 3: Use Neutrals as Breathers

Use black, white, or beige pieces to ground the look.

Step 4: Build from Classic to Bold

Begin with safe combos before experimenting with bolder ones.

Step 5: Accessorize Smartly

Patterned accessories are excellent intro pieces for beginners.

Mixed Pattern Outfits

Large stripes paired with smaller stripes

Outfit details: Cardigan (similar) | Tank (similar) | Jeans | Shoes | Bag | Sunglasses

Many brands will actually sell sets together that mix patterns like this cardigan set I bought earlier this year. The shades and tones are the same in each piece but it’s the mixing of the larger stripes with the smaller stripes that really creates interest. If the stripes were both the same size, this combination would not work. There needs to be a difference in scale to create a balanced cohesive look.

Mixing prints with textures

Outfit details: Dress | Vest (similar) | Boots | Bag (similar) | Sunglasses

If you are not yet ready to mix prints together, mixing prints and textures are the next best option. Textures like faux fur, leather, suede, woven materials, etc look great with prints and patterns. The texture acts as a pattern of sorts even though the piece itself may only be one color. Wearing different textures together in a look is one of my favorite ways to create an interesting outfit. But if you have something with a print or pattern like this floral dress, it will easily work with a textural piece like my leather/faux shearling vest. The vest is in the same color family as the dress (cream/brown) so that is the common denominator that I used when deciding if they could work together.

Using printed accessories

Outfit details: Cardigan (similar) | Jeans | Bag (similar) | Sunglasses

Another great way to experiment with pattern mixing is to add printed accessories to your outfit. It’s a small addition to a look that doesn’t bring too much attention but can add dimension and personality to your outfit. The key is combining prints that are at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of size and scale. My bag has a very small and compact houndstooth print while my cardigan has large scale abstract prints all over. What makes these two work together is the colors of the bag (black and cream) can be found in the large portions of my cardigan.

Mixing prints in the same tones

Outfit details: Dress (similar) | Shoes (similar) | Sunglasses | Bag (similar)

While the prints in this dress are nearly the same size and scale, they are all in the same color palette so it manages to work effortlessly. This dress came like this which makes pattern mixing so easy because the work was already done for me.