I never thought I’d know how to wear cowboy boots – let alone even own a pair – as an adult. To me, they always felt like a costume and inauthentic to my personal style. That changed after I visited Austin, Texas, tried on every pair possible at Allens Boots and realised that actually, cowboy boots are a lot more versatile than you might first think.

Personally, I plumped for a classic black stitched pair, which I love to team with tucked-in baggy jeans and floaty lace-trim skirts – and come festival season, they take on a whole new persona, of course. They were 100% worth the purchase, and each season I figure out new ways to wear them.

Undoubtedly, Western boots have seen a major renaissance in recent years, thanks in a big way to Beyoncé’s ground-breaking Cowboy Carter album in 2024… but if you’re wondering how to wear cowboy boots in 2026, you’ve come to the right place.

The best thing about cowboy boots is that with so many iterations, there’s undoubtedly a design for everyone. Whether you prefer leather or suede, a taller shaft or an ankle boot, a classic colour or something fun and flashy, there are endless permutations of the tried-and-true footwear, and they’re a great outlet to infuse some personality into any outfit.

It can seem daunting to figure out how to wear cowboy boots, but they’re a surprisingly versatile item that can amplify your wardrobe beyond the obvious festival and concert-going tropes we’ve come to lean on here in Blighty (nothing wrong with that, might I add). In fact, the Western shoe layers well with everything from the preppy styles and elevated athleisure trends popping up this spring to the timeless thrifted items in your closet. Maybe it’s the wrong-shoe theory, but cowboy boots are one of the few pieces that blend seamlessly with nearly any genre of fashion.

While I highly recommend a trip to Texas for the authentic cowboy boot shopping experience (and some mighty-incredible BBQ food), there are, of course, plenty of styles to shop here in the UK to inject that little bit of Western flair into your wardrobe. Ahead, read on for some of the coolest outfit ideas using cowboy boots, styled with pieces straight from your closet.

Cowboy boots + blazer + straight-leg jeans

Raimonda Kulikauskiene/Getty Images

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