Your jeans are one of the hardest working items in your closet. But, apart from the fail-safe combination of jeans and sneakers, have you thought about what shoes go best with each of your jeans? Let’s take a look at what shoes to wear with jeans, whether you prefer a skinny cut, wide leg or a traditional bootleg.
Treat your jeans as you would your pants
The key to deciding what shoes look best with your jeans, is to treat them as if they are any other pair of pants, and consider how the shape of your jeans balances with the style of your shoes.
The great thing about changing the shoes you wear with your jeans is you can easily take your jeans from daywear or workwear to evening looks.
In this article, you’ll find shoes to wear with each of the jeans styles you are likely to have in your closet.
For other pants, you’ll also find inspiration in this article on what shoes to wear with different styles of pants.
The Best Shoes To Pair With Every Type Of jeans
Below, you’ll see 9 different jeans styles, and four shoe (or boot) choices to wear with each of them.
1. Shoes to wear with skinny jeans
While wider and bootcut jeans are very much on trend now, skinny jeans are a classic that won’t date. In terms of the shoes you wear, you have so many choices that go with skinny jeans.
You could opt for a very streamlined approach and wear your skinny jeans, with shoes that also have a slim profile, such as ballet flats or loafers. For summer, you could choose a pair of sandals – heeled sandals go particularly well.
Skinny jeans are also a great choice to wear tucked into your boots for cooler weather. You can wear them with knee-high boots. Alternatively you could either tuck your jeans into booties, or choose to show off a little bit of ankle between the top of your booties and the hem of your jeans. Turn them up at the hem if your jeans aren’t quite the length you need to achieve this.
1822 Denim Butter Slim Fit Skinny Jeans – Tory Burch Minnie Travel Ballet Flats (Nordstrom / Amazon / Zappos / Website) – Dolce Vita Moyra d’Orsay Penny Loafer – TOMS Majorca Platform Sandal (Nordstrom / Amazon / Zappos) – Naturalizer Rena Knee High Boot (Nordstrom / Amazon / Zappos / Website)
Ana @mrsamericanmade above (read her style interview here) shows how you could tuck your skinny jeans into your boots.
Get her look with this similar floral top (another option here), jeans, boots, earrings and sunglasses.
2. Shoes with bootcut jeans
Bootcut pants are a classic choice that are flattering on most figures, and will never be out of style. When choosing your bootcut jeans, think about what shoes you prefer to wear them with. Because bootcuts look best when they almost cover your shoes, without skimming the floor, you might want to think about having two pairs of bootcuts – one to wear with heels, and one to wear with flats.
Bootcut styles look great worn with pointed shoes. But you could also think about heeled sandals, and platform sole styles.
Wit & Wisdom Ab-Solution High Waist Itty Bitty Bootcut Jeans – CUSHIONAIRE Talent Cut Out Sandal – Amalfi by Rangoni Saggina Block Heel Pump – YDN Kitten Low Heel Ankle Bootie – Steve Madden Hayle Platform Chelsea Boot
3. Shoes to wear with wide leg jeans
Wide leg jeans are particularly on trend right now. Just like bootcuts, wide leg jeans look great with a heel. Any type of heels look great with wide jeans, particularly block heels as the wide heel looks balanced with the wide pants.
You could also opt for a more casual look for summer with your wide leg pants, by pairing with flat sandals. Just make sure your jeans are the right length for your shoes. You don’t want them to be touching the ground.
MOTHER DENIM The Tomcat Roller Jeans – Sam Edelman Bay Cutout Slide Sandal (Nordstrom / Amazon / Zappos) – Naturalizer Vera Ankle Strap Sandal (Amazon / Zappos / Website) – Franco Sarto Racer Slingback Pumps (Amazon / Zappos) – Johnston & Murphy Evelyn Open Toe Sandal Bootie (Nordstrom / Amazon / Zappos)
Eileen @eileenternullo above wears her slingbacks with wide leg jeans.
Recreate her outfit with this similar top, jeans, pumps, earrings, belt and sunglasses.
4. shoes for crop jeans
Crop jeans are a great length for any time of year. If your ankles are one of the parts of your body that you love, then you can show them off with your combination of shoes and jeans. For summer, wear them with sandals and make sure that you have a gap between your hem and the top of your sandals. For cooler weather, you could wear with your booties.
Liverpool Los Angeles Stella Crop Kick Flare Trousers – Tommy Hilfiger Olaya Heeled Sandal (Nordstrom / Amazon) – Fly London Yuba Platform Wedge Sandal (Nordstrom / Amazon / Zappos) – Dolce Vita Paroo Block Heel Sandal – Sailimy Peep Toe Bootie Sandals
5. Shoes with flare jeans
Just as wide pants and bootcuts are very much on trend, so too are flare jeans. Because of the wide flare, chunkier styles work well with flare jeans. Play on the retro styling of your flares with shoes that also have a nod to the 70s, such as platform styles and wedge heels. Just as with other wider styles, you will want a pair that cover part, but not all of your shoes.
7 For All Mankind No Filter Ultra High Waist Skinny Flare Jeans – Rockport Briah Gladiator Wedge Sandal (Amazon / Zappos) – Naturalizer Pearlyn Ankle Strap Platform Sandal (Nordstrom / Amazon / Website) – Superga 2790 Platform Sneaker (Nordstrom / Amazon / Zappos) – Vagabond Shoemakers Ansie Leather Bootie (Amazon / Zappos)
Suzie @suzie.richetti above wears pumps with her flare jeans. The slit in the front of her jeans ensures that she can show off her shoes.
Steal her look with this similar shirt, jeans (another option here), pumps, handbag (another option here) and belt.
6. Shoes to wear with boyfriend jeans
Boyfriend jeans are a style that Jennifer Aniston loves. You could either match the casual style of the jeans and wear with sneakers. Or, what can look great with boyfriend jeans is to mix up formal with casual, and wear them with heels and a blazer.
Riders by Lee Indigo Fringe Cuff Boyfriend Jean – Stuart Weitzman Nudistcurve 75 Block Heel Sandal (Nordstrom / Amazon / Zappos) – Calvin Klein Laza d’Orsay Pointed Toe Pump (Nordstrom / Zappos) – Steve Madden Carrine Loafer (Nordstrom / Amazon / Zappos) – Chuck Taylor® All Star® 70 Low Top Sneaker (Nordstrom / Amazon)
7. Shoes to wear with straight jeans
Straight leg jeans are the ultimate classic when it comes to your denim. They will go with any shoes you have in your closet. You could opt for a preppy look with loafers, or you could choose a 90s style look with a pair of strappy sandals. You can leave your hem long, or roll up a little to show off your ankles and shoes.
Madewell The 90s Straight Leg Jeans – MICHAEL Michael Kors Alina Flex Pointed Toe Kitten Heel Pump (Nordstrom / Zappos / Website) – Jeffrey Campbell Fluxx Sandal (Nordstrom / Amazon) – Stuart Weitzman Soho Loafer – Comme des Garçons PLAY x Converse Chuck Taylor® Hidden Heart Low Top Sneaker
Kim @kimair above (read her style interview here) wears her strappy heeled sandals with her straight jeans.
Recreate her outfit with this similar ruched top, jeans (another option here), sandals, handbag, earrings and sunglasses.
8. Shoes to wear with mom jeans
Mom jeans can be tricky to wear because of the wide, tapered leg style. However, they can also look very modern as they’re back in style again after being popular in the 80s. Just make sure you style them with hip shoes. Mom styles look best when you show off a little ankle.
Sidefeel High Waist Mom Jeans – Sam Edelman Bianka Slingback Pump (Nordstrom / Amazon) – DREAM PAIRS Chunky Heeled Pumps – Franco Sarto Carolynn Lug Sole Loafer (Nordstrom / Amazon / Zappos) – Steve Madden Campo Sneaker
9. Shoes for slim fit jeans
Somewhere between skinny jeans and straight leg, your slim fit jeans will go with similar styles of shoes. You can wear everything from heels to flats. I would keep your shoes quite slimline and streamlined too, so they don’t look out of place with your slim jeans.
Lee Sculpting Slim Fit Slim Leg Pull On Jean – Kate Spade New York Veronica Ballet Flat (Nordstrom / Zappos) – Franco Sarto Flexa Amaya Flat – Cole Haan The Go-to Park Pump (Amazon / Zappos) – Superga 2750 Cotu Classic Sneaker (Nordstrom / Amazon / Zappos)
Kimba @kimbalikes above opts for boat shoes with her slim jeans.
Get her look with this similar shirt, jeans, shoes, crossbody bag (another option here) and headband.
shop the featured itmes below:
What shoes do you love to wear with your jeans? Let uw know in the comments below.
Continue reading:
- What Shoes To Wear With Different Styles Of Pants
- How To Wear Jeans Over 40 – Guidelines And Lots Of Ideas
- 17 Shoe Trends For Spring 2023 – The Best Women’s Shoes
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Feature image by Eileen @eileenternullo
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