The Motorcycle Boot Is the Perfect End-of-Summer Shoe Trend

When it comes to this fall’s footwear trends, there are big shoes to fill (sorry!). Seriously though, off the heels of spring’s ballet sneaker craze and summer’s mesh flat supremacy, we’re in desperate need of the next big It Girl shoe. Until then, however, the motorcycle boot is filling the void—proof that the trendy silhouette might be more of a mainstay in our closets than expected.

Although traditionally considered a fall and winter shoe, motorcycle boots thrived this summer—walk through any trendy neighborhood in NYC or LA and you’re bound to see someone styling them with bloomers and a slinky top or a frilly sundress. As we head back into fall, the boot is the first thing our minds to style again, this time with supple suede and trending fall colors.

The trend is only going to get bigger as we head into the cooler weather. Ahead, we deep dive into the motorcycle boot trend, plus how to style the It Girl-approved shoe.

The Trend

While the trend is hitting a fever pitch, motorcycle boots started to come back in style all the way back in 2022. The western revival paired with the “wrong shoe” theory and a wave of edgy aesthetics laid the perfect groundwork for the motorcycle boots to arrive on the Miu Miu Fall / Winter 2022 runway. That show might go down as one of the most influential of the 2020s—it kicked off a plethora of era-defining trends like pleated micro minis and visible granny panties. However, the buckled, metal-clad boots paired with sheer shimmery fabrics struck an immediate chord (as Muiccia Prada tends to do), and quickly became one of the most sought-after pieces.

Thanks to social media, by the time fall 2023 rolled around, Miu Miu’s Sienna Boots were dubbed a must-have shoe. Fast forward to now, and brands like Steve Madden and Dolce Vita have come out with more affordable options, which helped retain the boot’s popularity. Due to its versatility and comfort, the style is so wearable, helping it stick around through this year. Plus, it just looks cool, and is the perfect juxtaposition to more feminine trends like coquette and balletcore.

How to Get The Look

The motorcycle boot is undeniably a statement shoe to anchor your outfits around. Plus, the knee-high boot is too structured to be worn under most pairs of jeans or trousers and is meant to be shown off anyway.

In the midst of summer, Creator Tyra Booker styled them with denim micro-shorts and a sheer cream top for an ideal trendy summer outfit. You can wear them with dresses (take creator Raeann Langas’s look as inspiration), shorts, skirts, or jorts, because at the end of the day, they’re just another boot.

The Motorcycle boot’s lasting power is due in part to the fact that they mix well into any aesthetic. What’s more, there are lots of options on the market now to choose from. Steve Madden’s Rocky Boot comes in a handful of neutral browns, beiges, and blacks and retails at just under-$200. Target’s version of the shoe just went viral for being a very similar look-a-like that’s under-$50. And there are plenty of vintage options on the market from brands like Frye and Harley Davidson.

What more is there to say? Motorcycle boot fall is back!