Dr. Martens has become everyone’s go-to, no-nonsense boot brand over the years, regardless of wealth, status, or taste. It’s the one leather shoe and boot label you’re just as likely to see worn by Tyler, the Creator, Irina Shayk, and Blondey McCoy as you are on the feet of your college professor, friends, or waiter at a restaurant.
Having begun life as a modest work-wear boot, Dr Martens became enmeshed in youth culture, playing a central role in punk and skinhead subcultures. Today, wearing a pair of docs doesn't mark you as a belonging to any particular group though the boots still retain a sense of anti-authoritarianism. Now, the brand appeals to people from all walks of life — and for good reason.
First and foremost, Dr. Martens has an incredibly varied offering of boots and leather shoes, ranging from classic and understated mainline shoes to loud and colorful collaborations. You can get your Dr. Martens with or without accessories, and you can choose to signal your affiliation with another subculture or stay under the radar depending on the pair you end up choosing.
Then there’s the fact that, after wearing them in, Dr. Martens are some of the most comfortable boots on the market. For many, they’re the perfect segue between sneakers and leather shoes. Finally, the price point is unbeatable, often retailing for the same price as sneakers and well under the price for other popular boot brands, let alone luxury boot brands.
If you’re ready to pick up a pair but are relatively new to the brand, it can be a bit of a challenge imagining how they’ll fit into your rotation, or how to style them. To help ease your angst, we’ve rounded up a selection of our favorite celebrities in Dr. Martens, so you can steal their look or get inspired.
Our favorite celebrities show you how to style Dr. Martens
Tyler, the Creator
Tyler is wearing the classic Oxfords in a muted green colorway, pairing them with white tube socks and shorts that mirror the colorway of his Docs. A clean white shirt and his trusty bike round out a look that is smart, but casual enough for LA. Tyler’s fit also shows that you shouldn’t be scared to rock a pair of Dr. Martens when it’s a little warmer out, as they go just as well with shorts, as they do with pants.
Frank Ocean
Highsnobiety darling Frank Ocean also looks to be wearing a pair of lace-up boots, albeit underneath a pair of formal pants, which he’s paired with a suit and beanie. The formal look works really well, unsurprisingly. So next time you’re supposed to wear a suit and are debating whether to go full formal leather shoes or try and make sneakers work, why not opt for a pair of Dr. Martens instead? It’s pretty much the best of both worlds.
Bella Hadid and Marc Kalman
One of the newer celebrity couples, Bella Hadid and Marc Kalman have been making headlines for their matching Y2K looks. In their appreciation of the early-2000s, they both have shown an affinity for the label's classic 1461 model, but Kalman in particular is rarely seen wearing any other shoe.
Gigi Hadid
Good taste in footwear seems to run in the family as Bella’s sister and fellow model Gigi also has a thing for Docs. By the looks of it, Hadid’s Dr. Martens are well-worn, proving that the boot is a staple for celebrities and us normal people alike. Her outfit plays with a little more contrast than her sister’s, bringing white trousers and a beige fleece into the mix.
Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook is known for being one of the most fashion-obsessed NBA players. He’s got his own collection with Acne Studios, and his personal style can only be described as eclectic. In the above fit, Westbrook pairs a patent leather lace-up boot with a more casual outfit. We’ll give the pants a pass, as we’re not fully convinced by the knee pads, but the vintage band tee and fuzzy shirt are definitely a vibe.
Dua Lipa
While our eyes were immediately drawn to Dua lipa's long leather coat made by the winner of our Berlin, Berlin prize winner Gerrit Jacob, we almost missed the pair of Dr. Martens she was rocking on foot. An all-black outfit with a leather jacket and Docs is a winning look — and the popstar proves you don't need to be a punk rocker to pull it off.
Luke James
When we said Docs are versatile, we meant they can be worn in dingy clubs or on red carpets, as the actor Luke James is here. You might be sensing a theme at this point, and it's that wearing full black outfits with Dr. Martens is a cheat code to putting together a solid look. It's hard to tell exactly what model James is wearing under those wide-leg trousers, but you can see enough to know that it's a chunky pair.
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