How To Buy: Chunky Ankle Boots

We see an item we love, we buy it, and then we have a hard time styling it. Over time, our wardrobe becomes incohesive and difficult to style. Not only is this a waste of time and money, but it’s a weight on us that ultimately affects the way we feel about ourselves and the way we present ourselves to the world. 

Today, we are chatting about a personal and trending favorite: chunky ankle boots and the factors that go into buying them. The best part about the chunky boot trend is, of course, the comfort! Walking around Old Town has never been better, so I want to encourage you to try them. But, like any other item in your wardrobe, there are things to consider! I have determined the four factors that will set you up for success when it comes to buying chunky ankle boots (or any ankle boots): measurements, vertical body type (long legs or short legs), wardrobe management, and personal style. 

Measurements

Inseam

Your inseam is the distance between the bottom of your crotch to the hem of your pant leg. This measurement is one of the most important numbers to know in your wardrobe, because it has everything to do with what shoes you decide to wear. 

With a chunky ankle boot, you want to show off the actual ankle portion of the boot. My jeans or pants extend an inch or two below the tops of my boot, so you can still see the shape of my ankle. If I wear chunky ankle boots with tapered pants, I like my inseam to meet at the very top of the boot. 

Pant Leg Opening

The pant leg opening is a measurement that doesn’t get as much attention as it should! This measurement is the width of the bottom of your pants. This measurement helps ensure that the bottoms of your pants go over the tops of your boots, instead of annoyingly bunching up.

Boot Shaft

The boot shaft is the measurement from the top of your heel and up. It’s the part of the boot that covers your leg. I think the biggest challenge is buying a boot with a shaft that is too low and too wide at the top. Something I have learned is that the most versatile boot shaft hits at least a few inches above the ankle bone, and it is more fitted than wide. 

Vertical Body Type (long or short legs) 

Pant and Boot Color Combinations

We’ve seen chunky boot options in colors like brown, green, and white. These can be tricky, and I’ve noticed that women have a very hard time styling them. While this concept can tie into wardrobe management, I will leave it here to focus on vertical body type. Fun fact–if you have short legs, wearing a shoe in a color that doesn’t heavily contrast with your pants will make your legs look more balanced, and even a little longer. If you want to purchase white chunky ankle boots, for example, and you have short legs, think about the denim washes in your wardrobe that would contrast the least with white (white and light wash). If you have these jeans and they are the right inseam and shape, buy the boots. If you love the boots but you don’t have those jeans, decide if you love the boots enough to also buy the jeans.  

The Space Between: Socks

Sometimes, you will inevitably have to deal with a gaping space between the top of your boots and the bottom of your pants. When this happens, you must embrace it! The tube sock trend is happening, and layering socks under heeled sandals is also happening. Socks. Are. Happening. If you have long legs, you can have fun by throwing on a contrasting ribbed white sock with your tapered or straight-leg bottoms. If you have short legs, try to stick to a sock that is within the same color family as the boots and pants. You don’t want to break up your leg and make it look even shorter. 

Wardrobe Management

Wardrobe Colorways

A colorway is two or more colors used to design and create. I like to describe the predominant two or three colors in a wardrobe as the colorway. For example, I buy lots of cream, brown, and sage green, so when selecting boot colors, I gravitate toward black (because black goes with everything) or warm shades of brown or oxblood. I would not buy a stark white boot, because it wouldn’t fit and I’d never wear them.  

Balance

Balancing out a chunky ankle boot has everything to do with the shape of the jeans or pants you choose to wear. For example, if you wear skinny jeans or leggings, you’ll have to make sure that your top has more shape. Otherwise, you’ll look like Daria, the girl from that ’90s cartoon. Some boots have a thinner profile, so style those with a shaped pant and a slim top. 

What is your personal style?

Finally, understanding your personal style can be a hard thing to break down, but once you do, it’s a game changer. For example, if you’re edgy, you’ll probably opt for a chunky boot tread instead of something with a thin profile. If you’re more classic and sophisticated, the clean, simple boot will be your go-to. If you’re really feminine, you must have boots that also look good when paired with a skirt or dress. You might be super preppy, but then it depends on what kind of preppy you are. Are you Hunt Country or Nantucket? Long story short, there’s a lot to consider. Knowing who you are and what you like will save you a lot of time. Good luck! You got this!