Skirts and boots for summer might not sound particularly ground-breaking, but look around you and it’s clearly become the outfit du jour, especially throughout the streets and parks of London (last week at Lido fest I couldn’t move for skirt and boots combos. I almost felt out of place in my regular jeans). From denim skirts and cowboy boots to lace slips and biker boots, skirts and boots are quite literally everywhere.

Of course, it’s easy to think of boots in particular as being unsuitable for the summer months (who wants to throw on a pair of thigh-highs in a heatwave, am I right girls?). But with festival season looming, and with many of us not inclined to wear flimsy ballet flats or flip-flops on the Tube, skirts and boots pairings can actually feel like a practical and comfortable option – so long as you get it right.

With the above in mind, here are five easy skirts and boots combos to try out – or elicit some inspiration from – for the long hot summer of 2025.

Boho skirts are having a big moment this summer – and by boho skirts, I mean those slightly sheer, long, layered, floaty skirts that swish as you walk. We can partly blame Chloé for ushering in the tiered skirt last September, when they sent floor-sweeping versions down the runway in neutral tones. My colleague Olivia Allen is a big fan. “[While] there’s a touch of festival nostalgia to all this, the 2025 version is more grown-up,” she wrote earlier this year, “whether paired with a silk camisole top or a transseasonal knit.” Or, indeed, as above, some classic black cowboy boots.

Biker boots might feel hefty for summer, but pair with a barely-there skirt and thin tee or vest and you’ll feel naked enough for the hotter months. I have no doubt that this outfit combo will be all over Worthy Farm this year, seeing as it’s already all over London Fields and the like. My colleague Alice Cary has a few tips when it comes to sourcing biker boots. “Check the height of the upper to work out where it’ll come up to on your leg and try different sizes before choosing a final pair,” she wrote last year. “And don’t hesitate to ask sellers on sites like eBay for more information on sizing.”

Perfect for summer nights sipping Aperol spritz’s on outside tables in the Mediterranean – or indeed, in Soho – the maxi skirt and pointed boots combo is sultry yet low-key, sensual yet vibe-y. The best maxi skirts for this look? Minimalist column skirts, in black or chocolate brown. “The sleek style harks back to the ’90s, with Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy being the ultimate muse,” wrote Italian Vogue’s Laura Tortora at the tail-end of last year. And if it’s especially hot? Opt for a skirt with a slit, as above.

I mean, it doesn’t get more classic than this, does it? Go for a flouncy denim skirt like the above or make like Sienna Miller and opt for the ripped mini and beaten-up vintage cowboy boots combo. Either way, it’s a failsafe formula. And cowboy boots have never been more on-trend. “No longer reserved for rounding up cattle in Wyoming, cowboy boots are the Americana staple popping up on fashion girls across the globe,” wrote Olivia Allen last month. “Thanks to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter era and Bella Hadid’s commitment to a horse-girl summer, the Western silhouette has line-danced right off the ranch and onto the feet of the fashion set.”

Slips, ruffles and lace slips – essentially anything that could be found in your nan’s underwear draw – has become a favourite among the fashion set this summer. “Think frilly briefs, white cotton nighties and embroidered tights that would once have been concealed beneath a floral tea dress and homespun cardi, but are now being exposed in daylight hours,” wrote Emma Spedding earlier this month. As with anything pretty, though, the lace skirt or slip looks great when toughened up with a pair of brown boots, whether big and chunky or, if you’re feeling brave enough, something a bit more piratey à la Kate Moss.