by Ahh, summer… The season is here, and with it comes the usual cute sandals and volatile temperatures. Wondering how to style brown boots for the hot weather, however, was not on our fashion bingo card! But the autumnal favorite has entered the chat, and we’ve found that the unexpected summer 2025 trend is more versatile and wearable after Memorial Day than you might think.
Yes, we know that flat sandals are comfortable, espadrilles give off the perfect vacation vibes, and sneakers are the most reliable shoe. But there’s something so enigmatic and intentional about wearing brown boots in summer. Maybe it’s the “wrong shoe theory” at work, but they seem to strike the right balance between neutrality and drama.
They play especially well with another closet staple: denim. Not as soft as a beige sandal, nor as fierce as a black heel, brown boots provide a perfect middle ground that brings a defined silhouette and relaxed sophistication to your look.
Convinced? Here’s our advice on how to style brown boots with jeans this summer. Once fall approaches, add a blazer or light jacket on top for the perfect transitional outfit.
With capri jeans or jorts, brown boots can work as a visual counterbalance. Because the pants end above or just below the knee, leaving skin exposed, the boots help elongate the figure and dramatize the look. We recommend taller boots in a structured or cowboy style over ankle booties here. Keep the top light—like a favorite T-shirt, breezy crop top, or romantic blouse—and choose a bag that is as fun and playful as the rest of the outfit. When fall and cooler weather hits, simply layer a button-down shirt beneath.
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NYDJ Joni High-Waist Relaxed Capri Jeans
Dream Paris Square Toed Cowgirl Boots
The combo of a white tank top and jeans always looks crisp, and with brown boots the whole ensemble becomes a lesson in clean modernism. No frills here; just a well-executed look ideal for rooftop drinks, leisurely strolls through museums, and any other plans the weekend offers up. Once the weather starts to dip, add a suede jacket to further bring out the warm tones of the shoes.
Madewell Emmett White-Leg Jeans
Coach Tara Biker Boots
The volume of the baggy jean demands direction, and a brown boot can provide a visual anchor that prevents the outfit from totally overflowing. A simple white T-shirt or tank top adds a necessary pause in the summer, while a structured bag and blazer offers a perfect contrast to the relaxed fit of the pants in the fall. This formula is all about balancing proportions.
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Levi’s ’94 Baggy Jeans
Modatope Slouchy Mid-Calf Boots
Straight-leg jeans are all about clean lines and effortless, uncomplicated attitude, and brown boots feel like a natural fit with them. So it’s best to style both with similarly unfussy pieces, like a strapless top and classic sunglasses. Fall’s suede jacket trend also works well here for an understated elegance that will fit in at creative offices, casual dinners, or anywhere that calls for poise without pretension.
Reformation Arleth Mid-Rise Straight-Leg Jeans
Dream Pairs Chelsea Ankle Boots
A classic denim dress is a wonderful base for a pair of tall knee-high boots. The boots add texture and drama to the timeless denim dress, and together they create a look that spans decades: It feels a little bit ’70s, a little bit ’90s, and a lot of now. The formula still works with both a sleeveless number in the summer and a long-sleeve version in fall. Either way, it’s what we’d wear to a dinner that seems destined to end in a long night of drinks out.
Steve Madden Josette Denim Dress
The Drop Gertie Suede Slouchy Boots
Good style is often about creating tension, and brown boots and jean skirts are a great example. While everyone else might run to the obvious—open-toe shoes, lightweight fabrics—brown boots offer a stylistic dissidence that breaks the “rules” with a controlled elegance. In the summer, we’d pair ours with a denim sleeveless top or corset, then swap in a denim jacket once the weather cools down.
Rag & Bone Miramar Denim Mini Skirt
