Oftentimes the biggest question on what to wear with cowgirl boots comes down to jeans. The pants you wear with your cowgirl boots will either cover the shaft of the boots, for a more subtle look, or put your boots on full display. There are a few general style rules to follow: If you’re wearing long pants or jeans, avoid tucking them into your boots unless they are skinny jeans, leggings, or other pants that fit close to the skin. Baggier, looser pants should be worn over the boots. This includes boot-cut jeans or any pants with a flared leg.
When wearing shorts with cowboy boots, the length is important. Longer shorts that fall right above the knee pair well with buttoned or collared tops for a more modest look. Short shorts, on the other hand, create a young, playful vibe and go great with T-shirts and tank tops when paired with cowgirl boots.
The best pants to wear with cowboy boots
Cowboy boots are a classic, but they’re not for everyone. You might not be able to pull off the look in your day-to-day life, or maybe it’s just not your style. If that’s the case, we get it—you can still wear those boots though! Here are some of our favorite pants to wear with cowboy boots.
1) Jeans – Jeans are an obvious choice when you want to wear your boots. They go with any type of boot and they’re easy to find in any store. Jeans are also comfortable and durable, so they’ll last longer than most other types of pants.
2) Chinos – Chinos are another great option for this kind of look because they’re comfortable and casual while still being stylish enough for everyday use. They come in a wide range of colors and patterns so there’s something for everyone!
3) Khakis – Khakis are a little more formal than jeans or chinos but still casual enough for everyday use. They’re also durable enough to stand up against the elements if you live somewhere windy where dust storms are common (Arizona!).
Pants to Wear with Cowboy Boots
Both cowboy boots and jeans have evolved to include a wide array of cuts, designs, washes, and colors. From dress boots to work boots, straight-leg jeans to boot-cut, there’s a lot to choose from. But finding the right combination of cowboy boots and jeans is as easy as understanding a few style rules and tapping into your own personal preferences.
How to Wear Cowboy Boots With Jeans
How do you wear cowboy boots with jeans? As a general rule of thumb, we recommend wearing medium to dark-wash jeans over your boots (not tucked in). The jeans should be fairly form-fitting in the upper legs but have enough space in the lower leg to accommodate the boot, without showing an outline. In the sections below, we’ll talk about how to find the right length, cut, and color.
Cowboy Boots and Jeans: Finding the Right Length
When choosing a pair of jeans to wear with your cowboy boots, it’s important to find the right fit. The jeans should be long enough to protect your legs and cover the shaft of the boots, but not so long that they drag in the back or get stuck under your heel. Ideally, they should rest just above the heel of your cowboy boots by a quarter to a half inch. If you want to wear shorter jeans to show off your footwear, have the hem rest right above the instep of your cowboy boots.
The Best Pant Cuts for Cowboy Boots
When talking about how to wear cowboy boots with jeans, you can’t overlook the cut. The best pant cuts to wear with your cowboy boots are:
- Boot-Cut – Boot-cut jeans and cowboy boots go together like peanut butter and jelly. The flared leg accommodates your boots without bunching around your legs.
- Regular/Straight Leg – Regular and straight-leg jeans work fine with cowboy boots, but you might have a little trouble putting on your boots, since you’ll have to roll up your jeans to get them on, then roll the jeans back over the boots.
- Wide/Relaxed Fit – Wide and relaxed-fit jeans are okay to wear with cowboy boots, but you might want to consider a shorter inseam to compensate for the extra bagginess.
Jean cuts narrower than a straight leg probably won’t fit over your cowboy boots, meaning you’ll have to tuck them (not advised unless you’re doing some heavy-duty work).
The Best Denim Color for Cowboy Boots and Jeans
These days, people are wearing nearly every color of denim with their cowboy boots. But generally speaking, the best color for a modern look is a dark blue or charcoal wash. Medium blue jeans are perfect for daytime wear, and darker washes are great for nights out. Light-wash jeans with cowboy boots have largely fallen out of fashion, but if you want to recreate a retro look, they could be the piece that pulls it all together. If you want to learn more about the different styles of cowboy boots, check out our Cowboy Boots Style Guide.
Ultimately, your choice on how to wear cowboy boots and jeans comes down to personal preference, but with this little bit of knowledge
Tucking jeans into boots guys
Wearing your denim inside your boots is a stylish move, but it started out as a practical one. 19th-century frontiersmen and cowboys would tuck their pants into their boots to keep them free of debris and prevent them from snagging on brush when they rode their horses. We don’t have those same needs today, but you can still channel the rough-and-tumble grit of our Wild West forefathers. The trick is in finding the right proportions.
First, the jeans. They should be slim, but not skintight. You should be able to grab about an inch and a half of fabric or less just below the knee. That way, they’ll fit inside your boots and stay there comfortably, so your straight and relaxed fit denim won’t work here. Also, the leg opening of the jeans should be narrow so it won’t come loose. Avoid any boot cut or flared jeans (in general, but especially for tucking into boots.)
Next, you should have boots that rise above your ankle and have room inside for the jeans. The more rugged and beat up the boots, the better. You’ll look like a tool if you try to tuck into a pair of shiny Chelsea or ankle boots. When lacing, stop a few lace holes from the top, wrap the laces around the back of your boot, then bring them around front again and tie them. That will create a rakish and authentic look.
