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Wearing boots with dress slacks or a suit is not only acceptable; it’s a fashion statement that distinguishes you from other men. There are a few rules when pairing cowboy boots with suits or slacks, but the main rule is not to wear boots designed for construction work with your suit.
Whether you’re attending a wedding, business meeting, or going out for some big-city fun, there’s a pair of cowboy boots that will look great with your suit or slacks and a blazer.
A comfortable pair of dress cowboy boots in your closet is a must-have for all men. And the western styling of cowboy boots contrasting with a suit displays individuality and boldness.
What to look for when choosing cowboy boots to wear with a suit
I have two pairs of go-to boots I like to wear with my slacks; both have a modest square toe and are exceptionally comfortable. They are Ariat Amos and Tecovas’s “The Doc.” They are similar but have subtle differences.
The Ariat Amos has a slightly shorter heel and shaft. Whereas the Doc is a dress boot with the perfect amount of attitude. It features an edgy, Western profile and 1.5-inch heel with robust construction for lasting comfort for long hours on your feet.
I love my Lucchese pointy-toe boots; they’re the perfect accessory to any suit. The only thing is that I don’t really wear them except for special occasions because I paid so much for them.
The same goes for the Ostrich skin boots that my wife gave me as an anniversary gift. The choice of cowboy boots is definitively a personal preference, but there are some things you need to consider.
Comfort
Looks are important, no doubt; however, I’m a firm believer that my footwear has to be comfortable. Focusing on a task or enjoying an outing is harder if your feet hurt.
You might think comfort isn’t going to matter because you won’t be walking much, but it’s a good practice to be prepared for the unplanned. It would be best if you had boots that you could walk in comfortably for more than 20 minutes.
Standing or walking in boots that cause pain and misery can ruin your evening.
Style
There is no reason you can’t have style AND comfort! There are so many designs of cowboy boots that you will assuredly find a pair or two that fit your needs: Look good, feel good, and slip on and off with ease.
- Handcrafted with superb attention to detail
- Black Teju lizard foot under a 13 embroidered leather shaft
- Embellished pull straps
- Leather lining
- Single stitched welt
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Exotic skins
Basic cowboy boots are made from cowhide leather. But boot makers have experimented with animal skins over the years to produce great-looking boots.
Exotic skins are typically used on the boot vamp. The vamp is the part of the boot that covers boot your foot and is exposed past your pants leg opening. The boots pictured above are Ariat ostrich skin ropers; they go well with most colors but look especially good with dark blue.
Some popular skins are lizards, ostrich, and alligators. All of the skins can be worn with dress wear, are comfortable, and are often conversation starters.
- Handmade in Texas
- Full Quill Ostrich
- The traditional stitch pattern provides cowboy elegance and style.
- Single welt construction.
- Leather sole.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Toes
Cowboy boots are made with different toe styles. The most common toe is the R toe. It’s tapered but rounded at the tip. This classic toe style is my favorite for wearing with a suit.
Roper toe styles are also popular in cowboy boots. A roper toe is a fully rounded or U-shaped toe, and it’s worn more often with casual wear.
Square-toed cowboy boots have recently become very popular. The toe of the boot is wide and flat. They’re stylish and look good with slacks and a blazer—the full box provides more wiggle room for your toes than traditional cowboy boots.
J and D-toed cowboy boots are pointed. The difference between them is that D-toed cowboy boot has a snub tip. These boots look good with suits and slacks.
Heel
The heel height is vital for a couple of reasons; first, it gives you extra height and affects how comfortable the boots are for walking. Most ropers have short heels, 1.5 inches or less. Standard cowboy boot heels are over 1.5 inches.
Typically I find the heel height of ropers to be the most comfortable for walking. However, my Lucchese boots with almost two-inch heels are more comfortable than any dress shoes I own.
I like to wear high heel cowboy boots with suits and slacks, but that’s my preference. Before buying a pair, you should definitely walk around in boots with different styles of heels.
Versatility
I have learned to choose dress boots that can be worn with a variety of suits and slacks. Choosing boots that you can wear in more situations allows you to pack less footwear when traveling to out-of-town business meetings.
Choose a color that matches the suits you wear most, and they will likely pair well with jeans and some of the slacks you wear as well. I can wear my black boots with a few different suits, and they also look good with jeans.
The deerskin Justin ropers are short-heeled round-toe boots that are exceptionally comfortable and look good with many casual slacks. However, I wouldn’t recommend wearing them in a suit.
Break in your cowboy boots
Nothing is worse than wearing a new pair of cowboy boots without first trying them out. People often wear their boots for the first time during an outing and forget this critical step.
Be sure to try your boots and break them in before you wear them for an extended period.
Best cowboy boots to wear with a suit or slacks.
You have to be keen and choose the right style of boots to wear with your suit; not any old pair of cowboy boots will do. Here are my suggestions for the best-looking cowboy boots to wear with a suit or slacks.

Lucchese Bootmaker Men’s Luke Western Boot
Lucchese is one of the top names in the western cowboy boot business. They built their brand by using only the highest grades of leather and animal skins combined with superior craftsmanship.
Lucchese Bootmaker’s ostrich skin boots wrap your feet in comfort and look great with suits and slacks. You will not only look good wearing these boots, but you will also feel good.
Lucchese makes many styles of western cowboy boots, and most wear well with suits and slacks. I invested in a pair of leather Lucchese dress boots over 20 years ago and still wear them today. My Lucchese boots still look and feel great. (See the above picture)
Lucchese boots are expensive, but they last forever. When shopping for Lucchese boots, watch out for knock-offs, and avoid purchasing new Lucchese boots if the price seems too good to be true.
Here is a link to Amazon customer reviews so you can read what others have to say about Lucchese boots.
Ariat Men’s Heritage R Toe Western Cowboy Boot
When I hear someone mention Ariat boots, the first thing that comes to my mind is work boots. Ariat makes excellent work boots, and I wear my Ariat work boots more than any other boot I own.
- OPTIMUM CUSHIONING
- PREMIUM QUALITY LEATHERS
- ATS TECHNOLOGY
- COUNTRY FASHION
- SCIENCE OF INNOVATION
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But Ariat also makes superb dress boots that go well with suits and slacks. Ariat Heritage boots have a classic western-style toe combined with a heel that is shorter than standard boots.
The boots are comfortable and stylish. These Ariat’s are versatile enough to wear horseback riding or be combined with a suit. They are made with 100 percent leather and are reasonably priced.
Over 600 Amazon customers reviewed these boots and rated them over four stars. Here is a link to those reviews so you can read what others have to say about Ariat Heritage boots:
Ferrini Men’s Genuine Lizard R-Toe Western Boot
The Ferrini boot company has been making boots for over a hundred years. Their footwear is unique because they personally select and tan the leathers used to make their boots.
The selection and tanning of animal skins are critical in determining the quality of leather. Because Ferrinin produces its leather, they can ensure that the best materials are used in their boots.
Ferrini Lizard boots have an excellent finish and will enhance your outfit. They look great with a suit or slacks and have an orthopedically designed foot bet for all-day comfort.
If you’re not familiar with Ferrini boots, it may be a good idea to read what other customers think about their boots. Here is a link to Amazon customer reviews of Ferrini Lizard skin boots.
Dan Post Men’s Bellevue Western Boot
These Dan Post boots are made from the skin of ostrich legs. It is a unique design that will set you apart. It comes with a 1.5-inch heel that makes it comfortable for walking or dancing.
These boots will pair nicely with a suit or slacks. Dan Post boots are a mid-level brand owned by McCrae Industries, which also owns Laredo and Dingo boot companies.
Amazon customers rated the Dan Post boots 4.2 out of 5 stars. Here are the customer reviews from Amazon:
ARIAT Men’s Sport Patriot Western Boot
If you need a pair of boots to wear to work with slacks, these are the boots for you. They’re a casual, comfortable, and good-looking pair of boots that also work well with jeans.
These versatile boots, with their square toe and plain leather vamp, are a little too casual to wear with a suit. They have an 11-inch shaft and Duratread soles, which are features that make the boots comfortable for extended wear.
Overall, Ariat Sport Patriot boots are great all-around boots. They’ve been reviewed by close to 700 Amazon customers and earned 4.8 out of 5 stars. Here is a link to the reviews so you can read why others like these boots so much:
FAQ
Can you hike in horse-riding boots?
Yes, some bootmakers specifically design multi-purpose boots that you can wear horseback riding and hiking. These multipurpose boots typically have a low heel and soles with traction.
Are cowboy boots waterproof?
Leather cowboy boots are not truly waterproof; they are water-resistant. Excessive moisture on untreated leather boots causes them to dry and crack.
If you anticipate getting your boots wet, treat them with a product to protect the leather.
Can you find a good pair of cowboy boots for under $200?
Yes, you have a wide choice of exceptional cowboy boots for under $200. My favorite boots are Ariat Amos western boots, sold for less than $200.
Below is a YouTube video about Presidents and cowboy boots.
I love animals! Especially horses, I’ve been around them most of my life but I am always learning more and enjoy sharing with others. I have bought, sold, and broke racehorse yearlings. I have raised some winning horses and had some that didn’t make it as racehorses, so we trained them in other disciplines.