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How To Style Your Boots For The Office

2025-02-14

The whole concept of ‘office boots’ might sound a bit odd, especially if you’ve spent your whole corporate life wearing Oxfords. But boots in the office are totally standard these days, even in the starchiest white-collar workplaces. You just need to know which boots, and how to wear them without looking like you caught a horse instead of a train.

Boots with suits
Boots with suits might sound like a Dr Seuss book, but it’s actually a legitimate style choice. A good Chelsea boot combines the professionalism of an Oxford with the attitude of a chukka. We try not to play favourites, but Chelsea boots are probably the all ‘round best boot for men. What you’re looking for is a mid-height or ankle-height boot, with tapered, clean lines and high-polish, good-quality leather. Suede is usually a no-no (although there are some exceptions).

Take a look at the toe of the boot too. The ‘pointiness’ will tell you what sort of boot you’re holding: a thicker, rounded toe means it’s good for chinos or casual wear, while a sharp, chiselled toe works better with suits.

Black suits with boots
Black suits obviously require black boots. Which boot you choose though will depend on a few factors. As a general all-rounder, the Chelsea boots are a great choice. A black leather chukka boot, can also work, but just be aware it’ll look a little less formal (and make sure your suit pants drop below the top the boot – you don’t want to be flashing any socks here). As a general rule, black suits work better with slim, tapered, low-profile boots. Think sleek and streamlined, rather than chunky and thick.

Smart Casual Boots
A lot of offices now, even the starchy corporate ones, are ditching suits all together. On the one hand, this gives you more flexibility with footwear, which is great, but it also gives you more choice, which can be daunting. Don’t stress – smart casual is where office boots really start to shine. Brogues, Oxfords and even loafers can look a bit stiff with chinos, but suede Chukkas or laid-back Chelsea boots fill the void nicely. When you’re styling these, keep an eye on your pants. Slim-fit jeans or chinos are fine, but avoid anything too skinny, especially if it hugs your calves. You want a nice, natural ‘break’ over the boot’s upper. That means the hem of your pants should rest gently on the top of the boot.

Black Office Boots
If you’re wearing a black, grey or dark navy suit, black boots are probably the way to go. Black is still considered the most formal colour for office footwear, and it’s probably the one we’d recommend for job interviews (at least for the more conservative, white collar job interviews). Black boots tend to look a bit odd beneath chinos, but they can definitely work for denim, especially black or dark indigo jeans.

A good rule of thumb, don’t wear the same pair of boots two days in a row. This isn’t a vanity thing. Leather absorbs a lot of moisture over the course of a day (even more when you’re racing a deadline) and boots need time to dry and recover. It’s best to have two or three pairs on rotation. Your boots will last longer, for one thing, and your colleagues will think you’re some sort of stylish, footwear maverick, which doesn’t hurt either.