10 Outfits to Wear with Combat Boots in 2021

Are you a fan of combat boots? I’ve always liked the look but often was intimidated and didn’t think I could pull it off. What I’ve learned is that it’s all about how to style combat boots with pieces you already own that make the difference. If you find combat boots to look too edgy, no worries! Add a romantic spin with a feminine dress, or make them more casual with jeans and a graphic tee. With 90s fashion hotter than ever, there’s really no better time to add a pair of combat boots to your closet and create outfits to wear with combat boots all year long!

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Before making the splurge and purchasing a pair of combat boots, I always recommend creating at least 3 different outfits with pieces in your closet that you could envision yourself wearing. After all, there’s no worse purchase than one that collects dust in your closet! (And admittedly, one of the pairs featured in this post definitely collected a little dust before I gave them another chance.)

Today, I thought I’d take you through my “creative process” of what happens in my brain when I’m considering adding something new to my closet. In this post, I’ll be sharing my personal combat boot and lace-up boot picks, plus a few outfit ideas to get you thinking when it comes to how you decide to style your combat boots!

What Type of Combat Boots to Buy

So what type of combat boots should you look into? The options are endless! Go for a classic black eyelet combat boot, or test the waters with a more budget-friendly pair. In the past couple of years, I’ve added three pairs to my closet: an affordable white pair with black accents, a floral pair of Doc Martens that are a twist on the classic combat boot, and a pink pair of Docs that are super fun and surprisingly versatile.

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If you like the look of combat boots but don’t love the clunkiness, you could also select a more sleek option like a lace-up boot, as shown above! These typically are more narrow, made of materials like leather, suede, pleather, or other man-made materials. They also sometimes have fun embellishments like faux fur, sherpa, studs, and much more. I’ve styled both boot styles in this post to give you a feel for the differences!

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Outfits to Wear with Combat Boots: Cozy Sweater Dress Outfit

I love a good sweater dress outfit, and I think a sleek pair of lace up boots, or a chunkier pair of combat boots, pairs perfectly! What’s even better about sweater dresses is that they are versatile from early fall to early spring, making them a total workhorse in your wardrobe. I like pairing mine with tights when it’s super chilly, and bare legs when it’s not so cold outside.

Give some personality to your combat boots with a pair of socks, too! I’ve paired a black pair to coordinate with the laces of this pair of boots. As you’ll see in other looks below, I also love a good pop of color when it comes to my socks.

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Outfits to Wear with Combat Boots: Casual Dress Outfit

Are you a fan of layers? I sure am! It’s one of my favorite ways to make my wardrobe versatile for year-round wear. Take this knit dress, for example. I’ve transitioned what would normally be a spring/summer piece with a layering wardrobe workhorse: the turtleneck! This simple layer adds both warmth and style with this fun black and white pattern.

A wool beret keeps my head warm, and a pair of cozy knit socks that coordinate finish this look off. Don’t forget to twirl in your cute combat boots and dress outfit, too!

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Outfits to Wear with Combat Boots: Parisian Vibes

Speaking of transitional outfits, take your favorite spring or summer t-shirt dress and turn it into a staple all year round! I love pairing short or sleeveless dresses with cozy sweaters in the fall and winter months. For maximum 90s combat boot outfit vibes, I’d recommend going oversize with your sweater!

To finish this look off, a convenient backpack bag will carry all of your essentials while an oversized blanket scarf will keep you nice and toasty!

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Outfits with White Combat Boots: Rock and Roll Edition

Want something a little different? Go for a pair of white combat boots! I love creating white combat boot outfits because I really think the boots pop!

For this outfit, I’m styling my white combat boots with a skirt and giving it some rock-n-roll edge with a retro band tee. The pink skirt and beret give this outfit a girly and playful vibe, but the leather boots, jacket, and tee add some edge. I love a good juxtaposition of different styles when it comes to creating outfits with white combat boots!

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Dress and Combat Boot Outfit for Winter

Looking for a way to wear combat boots with dresses year-round? Tights are my go-to solution! This particular pair is fleece lined so add extra warmth on chilly falls and winter days.

Don’t forget to throw a couple of extra layers over your favorite dress and combat boot outfit, too! I love layering jackets for maximum warmth. Pair a thinner layer like this twill jacket with something more substantial like a wool overcoat. You’ll be rocking your combat boot outfits in winter in no time!

P.S. See the full outfit post when I wore this combat boots outfit a few years ago!

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Combat Boots Outfit for Fall

When the temperatures start dropping I’m all about those layers! This “basic girl” fall look is perfect to dress up with a pair of combat boots. I used to wear this type of outfit so often that I even dubbed it my fall uniform. While my personal style has evolved since then, during the lockdown I’ve reverted to more of these cozy and comfortable types of outfits because they are foolproof!

Grab most of these staples from your closet! A plaid button-up, favorite pair of denim, a cozy cardigan, and your favorite crossbody bag combine for whatever you have on your agenda.

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Combat Boots with Dress Outfit Idea

As I mentioned early on in this post, I was intimidated by combat boots for a long time because I didn’t necessarily think that I could pull them off. One of my solutions to that issue was starting with a sleeker lace-up style boot first.

Here I’ve paired a sleeker combat boot style with a feminine floral dress. Paired with a coordinating hat, it was the perfect fall outfit to wear apple picking!

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Outfits to Wear with Combat Boots: Everyday Comforts

When the temperatures drop, I become a creature of comfort. To me, comfort is skinny jeans and a blouse or button up shirt that is loose without being too loose.

A good chambray or denim top is essential in the wardrobe. Not only can it be worn with a cute pair of skinny jeans and combat boots, but it also looks great under dresses and with skirts! Plus, it’s a great basic to dress up or down. In this combat boot outfit, we are playing with pattern mixing by pairing florals (boots) with animal print (scarf). The distance between these two pieces on the body gives enough separation to make this look fun without being over-the-top!

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Outfits with White Combat Boots: Overalls for Spring/Summer

When it comes time for spring and summer, you can still rock the combat boot outfits! This past summer, my friend Sahily and I visited the blueberry farm. Preparing for a potentially dirty activity meant packing my white combat boots, which can be easily wiped down!

To stay cool in the summer heat, I paired my white combat boots with a pair of denim short overalls and a bright green blouse!

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Combat Boot Outfit for Winter

Combat boots often get the most use in fall and winter, and for good reason! When the leaves started falling as winter took over this past November, I loved rocking my combat boots to keep my feet warm and protected whether it was raining or just chilly outside.

A sweater dress is another versatile piece that you’ll notice I love pairing my combat boots with. Sweater dresses are warm and cozy, plus they can be layered up and down with tights, coats, and jackets. Go for an edgy look by adding a leather jacket, or class it up with a trench coat. I also love wearing mine with a scarf or beret for added warmth, too!

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Outfits to Wear with Combat Boots: Girly with an Edge

When thinking about combat boot outfits, a blend of girly and edgy pieces often comes to mind. I lived in some variation of this outfit when I first fell in love with Dr. Martens back when I was a broke college student. I honestly can’t believe that was over ten years ago, but fortunately, I still think I can pull this outfit off!

Take a black skater skirt, a black t-shirt, and a layered necklace, then top it off with a blush moto jacket. Complete the look with your favorite black crossbody and a pair of patterned tights to coordinate with your floral combat boots!

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Are you a fan of combat boots? I’ve always liked the look but often was intimidated and didn’t think I could pull it off. What I’ve learned is that it’s all about how to style combat boots with pieces you already own that make the difference.

If you find combat boots to look too edgy, no worries! Add a romantic spin with a feminine dress, or make them more casual with jeans and a graphic tee. With 90s fashion hotter than ever, there’s really no better time to add a pair of combat boots to your closet and create outfits to wear with combat boots all year long!

How do you like to style your combat boots? 

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Looking for Even More Outfit Ideas? Try these!

• Athleisure from Day to Night
• How to Wear Black and Brown Together
• How to Style a Hoodie
• How to Wear a Dress Over Jeans

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This post was originally published on September 15, 2015. It has been updated to add even more combat boot outfit ideas on February 1, 2021.

10 Outfits to Wear with Combat Boots