Boots and suits have always been a thing in Fort Worth, but not just any boot will work with any suit - there's a way to do it right. So, we asked the boot masters themselves, Justin Boots, for tips on how to pull off a cowboy boot in the office like, well, a professional.
HOW TO PICK A BOOT
1. Understand the style. Whether it's a men's boot or women's, boots worn in the city typically have two elements: a narrower toe and a higher heel.
2. Look at the leather. Choose a boot based on its supplements and texture, rather than durability.
3. Feel the fit. The boot should feel snug - "we say it should hug your foot like a good solid handshake," says Justin Boots marketing manager Tassie Munroe.
4. Pay attention to the back of the boot. Feel for the ball of your foot, which should be on the widest part of the boot. The heel should also slip up about half an inch when it's inside a new pair of boots - it won't slip as much the longer you wear them, but if your heel doesn't slip when you first wear the boot, that means the boot is too tight.
5. Listen for the pop. "When you pull it on, you should hear a pop when you slide your foot in," Munroe says. "If you hear the pop, then that's another sign that we say you've found a good fit."
HOW TO WEAR IT
Boots for Him
1. The type of leather matters. A supple or exotic leather works for a city setting.
2. The toe matters, too. Go for a French or narrow square toe. Roper boots also work well in the office.
3. Jeans and suits have different boots. A boot worn with jeans typically has a natural outsole, white welt stitching and a broader toe.
4. If you're wearing a suit, black the boot out. That means, if you have a black suit, choose a boot that's all black - black leather, black outsole, black welting. Same concept with a brown suit - match it with a brown boot.
Boots For Her
1. Show off the boot. Show off the upper portion of the boot with skinny pants or jeans tucked into the boot.
2. Choose a higher heel. "I like boots, personally, with a higher heel because I still feel "fancy,"" says Justin marketing specialist Taylor Morton. "I feel "put together" enough to go to work and [not] too casual."
3. Stick with the basics. Go for basic, neutral colors, like a brown boot with a tone-on-tone stitch pattern.
4. It goes with anything. Morton and Munroe like to pair their boots with sweaters or a blouse with a blazer. "We say there's no event that you shouldn't be able to wear the right pair of boots," Munroe says.