I first began to think about how to style Frye Campus boots when the craze took off last fall. Suddenly hundreds of TikTok videos were popping up featuring these boots, which originally debuted in the 1970s—even Zendaya was on board. Last year Glamour reported that sales were up 34% in 2024—and the groundswell of interest in the silhouette has only grown with time. Thanks to celebrity cosigns from style icons like Olivia Rodrigo and custom colorways designed with Free People, Frye boots are still very much in the conversation.
My Frye boots styling shopping list
I had my first brush with the shoes back in college, when I bought a pair of equestrian-inspired lookalikes secondhand and proceeded to wear them with all of my aughts staples—flared jeans and going-out tops included. Although I am decidedly not Gen Z (squarely millennial here!), I was still intrigued to jump back into the Frye universe and test out a few fall outfits that make the most of these timeless (yet of-the-moment) knee-high boots.
At almost $500 a pair, they’re the kind of investment that’s worth imagining in your existing wardrobe before placing an order—but if my ease of styling is any indication, I find these fall shoes to meet every expectation. Here’s how to style Frye Campus boots in six on-trend ensembles for autumn.
1. The preppy outfit
This time of year always brings out the prep in me; even as an adult, something about the back-to-school energy has me wanting to break out little polo shirts and pleated skirt outfits. What I love about this look is that it balances out the more rugged vibe of the leather boots with classic preppy staples. I also love the idea of layering multiple prints in the same color story for an eye-catching, editorial effect.
2. The farmers market outfit
Equal parts practical and playful, this Frye boots outfit leans into the season’s barrel-jeans trend in a way that keeps things simple. A zip-up cardigan and a popular barn jacket complement the shoes, which have a similar silhouette to cowboy boots or riding boots, but with a more relaxed attitude. Luckily, these brown boots are comfy enough to spend all day in, so a Saturday strolling to my local farmers market is the perfect occasion to wear them.
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Look, to me as aa 30-something, going out means something very different than it did a decade ago. My ideal night out involves meeting a friend or two at a wine bar and tucking back into bed before the clock strikes midnight. That said, I still love the chance to dress up for the occasion. These Frye boots add some fun contrast to a baby-pink minidress, making this a great starting point for a low-effort but impactful outfit. For colder evenings, I’d add on an oversized leather bomber or a furry jacket to really drive the autumnal sensibilities home.
4. The office outfit
As I’ve mentioned before, I love thinking about pieces in contrast with one another. A modest (yet playfully printed) work dress is a fun foil to these dark-brown boots. The wrap silhouette allows just a hint of leg to show, and it would be easy to throw on a pair of tights with this outfit, too, if the weather calls for it. While here I’m using one of my favorite work bags from Tory Burch, a luxe, logo-embossed bag from Gucci would be a fun way to add even more texture to the look.
5. The brunch outfit
When it comes to weekend plans, there’s a fine line to walk between wanting to look cute and wanting to be comfortable. A long-sleeve denim shirtdress is the kind of timeless fallback that manages to pull double duty, which is why it’s a perennial street-style staple. I paired it with black tights and Frye boots for a streamlined look that doesn’t require any outerwear at all. (To dress it down, I’d swap the boots for sneakers and skip the tights altogether.)
6. The layered outfit
Growing up in California, I always abided by the need to dress in layers, since temperatures can drop as soon as the sun goes down. A button-down with a chunky sweater layered on top is the kind of simple pairing that looks polished without being overly fussy. My loose inspo for this outfit was some of the layered looks I spotted on the Miu Miu runway during fashion week last February.
