I have a very light and airy wardrobe, so it was only a matter of time before I added a white ankle boot to my closet. For the longest time, I wasn’t interested in styling them because I was comfortable with my go-to neutral booties throughout fall and winter. But as white booties have grown increasingly more popular, I decided to see what they were all about.

I think the main appeal of the white ankle boot is that it’s a little unexpected, which makes it feel more fashion-forward. Yet, it’s a neutral color, so it will pretty much pair with everything in your wardrobe.

Whether you want a dressier white boot, or something more casual, this post is your go-to guide on how to wear white ankle boots this season.

How to Wear White Ankle Boots

I never want you to buy something, and then let it sit in your closet because you’re not sure how to make it work in your wardrobe. So let’s break down the many ways to style them, that way you can see what to wear white ankle boots with, so you know if they’re right for your wardrobe.

When you’re thinking about buying white boots, consider if you’re going to style them more casually or more elevated. Do you often dress up for work? Or do you have a more casual style? This will help determine what type of white bootie to buy.

How to Dress Up White Ankle Boots

I think the biggest key to dressing up your ankle booties is selecting a boot that has a dressier feel. I break down the different types of white boots later in this post. But here are a few ways to pair them with a dressier outfit:

• Wear a monochromatic white-on-white outfit
• Pair a pointed-toe white bootie with flared dress pants
• Pair a stiletto white bootie with a pencil skirt and blazer
• Style a little black dress with a pair of white booties and a white clutch

How to Dress Down White Ankle Boots for Casual Outfits

White ankle booties are just as easy to dress down for a casual white boot outfit as they are to dress them up.

• Wear your white boots with cropped distressed jeans.
• Pair your booties with leggings and an oversized tunic sweater.
• Style white boots with any casual dress in your wardrobe.
• Wear white ankle boots with white jeans.

How to Style White Ankle Boots

I created a digital lookbook with 20 fall outfit ideas paired with white booties. You can download it here and use this as style inspiration throughout the season!

white booties + suede mini skirt

This look was actually recreated from my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Lookbook where I styled 100 fall outfits from the sale! A suede mini skirt is a great option to pair with t-shirts, sweaters, bodysuits, and fitted turtlenecks.

white booties + casual neutrals

This fall casual look is styled with straight jeans. To balance out the forgiving fit of the shawl, I layered a bodysuit underneath. This is one of my very favorite bodysuits because it’s thick and not see-through. I finished the look with a pair of white boots with a block heel. This outfit creates the perfect everyday look to wear throughout the fall and winter.

white booties + a floral dress

For an effortless and feminine look, pair a floral dress with white ankle booties. You can layer a longline cardigan or a denim jacket over the top or opt for a blazer for a more dressy look. This would be a great look to wear to a baby shower or wedding shower.

This outfit would also be a fun look to wear to an outdoor concert. If it’s a country concert, white cowboy boots would pair well with this flowy, floral dress.

white booties + black leather skirt

You’ll want to wear this outfit on your next date night. Style a covered-heel bootie with a black leather skirt for a flirty and fun look. This turtleneck can be front tucked into the skirt, or you can pair the skirt with a more fitted turtleneck to be able to tuck it in all the way around.

white booties + denim straight jeans

I love the combination of denim jeans, a sweater, and booties. It’s an easy look to put together. The white booties are a fun alternative to your typical taupe or brown boots, and think they bring a little brightness to the overall outfit. Because this sweater is a little more forgiving of a fit, I front-tucked it into the jeans to give more structure to the look.

white booties + white denim jeans

White jeans are a great staple bottom to have in your wardrobe and wear all year round. The color combo of the camel with the white jeans is classic and sophisticated. Finish the look with these white leather boots.

white booties + sweater dress

These Western-inspired booties are a fun twist. We’ve seen a lot of Western-inspired touches in shoes this past fall and winter, and love the subtle detailing of these. They’re not overly cowgirl, but on-trend enough to feel edgy-cool.

white booties + midi skirt

This midi skirt is a definite must for the fall and winter. A slip skirt is an on-trend piece that can be worn casually or to the office. And because it’s lightweight, you can wear it in the warmer months with a tank and sandals too. The white booties are the perfect compliment to a midi skirt in the fall and winter.

white booties + earth tones

This rust-colored dress is a great option for the in-between cool and warm weather. It comes in several other colors and love the tie-waist detail for a flattering fit. It has a flowy material, so it’s comfortable to wear throughout the day.

White Knee-High Boots + Faux Leather Skirt

If you prefer knee-high boots to booties, by all means, wear those! Whatever works for your personal style. These exact white boots are by House of Harlow but are sold out unfortunately right now. These boots are similar and have a beautiful structure. A faux mini skirt is a fall staple whenever you want to dress up a little. Pair a sweater with the skirt for a fun date night look.

white booties + sweater dress

White booties look chic styled with a sweater dress and a trench coat. This would make a great outfit for the office. This trench coat from Abercrombie comes in several other colors and in varying lengths.

Consider the heel color

The heel color will determine whether the white boot leans more casually or dressier. For example, a white bootie with a wood heel color will be better suited for casual outfits, while a white heel feels dressier.

When in doubt, wear neutrals

For a classic look, pair your white ankle boots with neutrals in your wardrobe. Remember, white is a neutral color, so it won’t clash with other colors. I have a full guide to wearing neutral colors here!

How to Keep white booties clean

Keeping white booties clean isn’t as difficult as you may think! The biggest culprit that will discolor your booties is dark denim jeans. For that reason, I plan to primarily wear mine with dresses and skirts. But as long as your jeans are cropped above the boot, you shouldn’t have any issues!

Depending on the material of your white boots, I recommend getting a protective spray to use on any of your suede boots as soon as you get them. This makes them easier to clean, and also water resistant. I’ve worn suede boots in the pouring rain, walking through NYC, and they still look good as new!

If you get white leather, I recommend using a leather conditioner to buff away any marks. This conditioner works great on leather handbags, too!

If your white ankle boot has a shiny finish, take a magic eraser to any scuff marks to buff them away. With any of these cleaning methods, always patch-test a less-seen area before to make sure there’s no color transfer.

Different white ankle boot styles

There are a lot of different styles of white ankle boots, some being more casual and others a little dressier, depending on your personal style and how you choose to wear them.

Shop white ankle boots

If you want a more casual white ankle boot, look for something with a thicker blocked heel. More casual fabrics would include suede, matte leather, or embossed leather. Ankle cutouts on the side and exposed zippers are also details that can make a white bootie look more casual.

Casual details to look out for are wood heel color, blocked heel, ankle length, wider cut around the ankle, zippers, suede leather or matte leather, and cowboy boots.

If you want a dressier white ankle boot, look for one with a skinnier, stiletto high heel. Dressier fabrics to look out for would be something a little shinier, like a patent or a glossier white leather. An ankle boot that fits closer to the leg will also look dressier than one with a wider opening across the ankle. Dressier white booties are great for women who want to wear them to work or have more of an edgy street style.

Dressier details to look out for are white or acrylic heels, closer fit across the ankle, higher ankle cut, high heels, stiletto heels, and pointed-toe boots.

shop dressy white ankle boots

Do you have a pair of white ankle boots in your closet? What do you think of them? Let me know in the comments below!

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