The 2026 Boot Color Trend That's Somehow Chicer Than Black, Burgundy, and Brown
When I set my sights on something, I'll stop at nothing to get it, and no, I'm not just talking about major life goals or achievements. Smaller things, like a specific skirt from 1998 or a sweater I saw once, left behind at an outlet mall, and never stopped thinking about, can likewise drive me up a wall. I'll spend as many hours as it takes to find it, scouring Google reverse image searches and resale websites until it's secured in my size and desired color. And right now, the item I can't stop thinking about (and shopping for) is a pair of tan boots.
One look inside my closet will no doubt have you questioning why I could ever possibly need another pair of shoes, but wait! I own brown boots, black boots, burgundy boots, and gray boots, all of which I do love. (Why else would I waste precious New York City real estate housing them?) What I don't have in my possession are tan boots, which I personally believe are chicer than all of the above. Specifically, I either want The Row's Liv Boots that appear to be sold out everywhere—I'll hunt them down, don't worry—or a vintage pair of leather Chanel stiletto boots with a fitted calf and pointed toe.
While I go about my days thinking endlessly about these two things, I don't expect anyone else to follow suit. That's why I went ahead and rounded up the best tan boots on the market in 2026, from lighter suede pairs to darker leather alts, all of which feel elevated, elegant, and different from the shoes everyone else is wearing. Plus, they're just as versatile and easy to style as all the other neutral-colored boot options, except that tan boots have a Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy vibe to them, which makes them that much more desirable.
Ahead, see how fashion people are styling tan boots in 2026 and shop the year's top pairs.
How to Style Tan Boots
Get the look: Shearling midi coat + dark-wash jeans + tan shearling boots
Get the look: Leather jacket + V-neck sweater + leopard-print bag + jeans + tan boots
Get the look: Suede matching set + tan boots + silk scarf
Get the look: Long shearling coat + brown bag + pointed-toe tan boots
Get the look: Black shearling skirt + maxi skirt + tan boots
Get the look: Striped shirt + white T-shirt + tan jeans + tan boots
Get the look: Fringe jacket + silk scarf + dark-wash jeans + tan boots
Shop Tan Boots
Pair these with mid-wash cigarette jeans and a thick, tucked-in sweater.
Get these Chelsea boots before they're gone.
As are sock boots!
These will look so good with stovepipe jeans. The toe shape is such that it'll make your legs look miles long.
Eliza Huber is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and the intersection of sports and fashion. She joinedBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing in 2021 from Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a business degree from the University of Iowa. She's launched two columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, Gracie Abrams, and Sabrina Carpenter; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top runway trends each season. Eliza lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, watching WNBA games, and scouring The RealReal for discounted Prada.