Which Shoes Go With Which Jeans

No matter what style of jeans may be in, or not, there is usually a safe bet for which shoes to pair with them. If you’re into the straight leg jean style or even the wide leg, there’s a handful of shoe options that just work. It can sometimes feel overwhelming when you’re putting on a pair of jeans and not sure which shoe to grab. There’s so many jean silhouettes and so many shoe options. So how do you know which shoes go with what jeans? This post will be your ultimate guide so you never question it again.

Which Shoes Go With Which Jeans

With so many different types of jeans to style and wear, it can be a challenge to choose the right shoes. Some sneakers feel right, while others feel off. And some booties work great, while others are a hard no. These are my general shoe and jean pairing rules I live by.

Straight Leg Jeans Go With These Shoes

The one and only thing to keep in mind with pairing shoes with straight leg jeans, is how long the jeans are. This will determine which shoes do and do not work with them. Shorter inseams that hit at or around the ankle, work with the most shoes. Plus, if they’re a smidge longer, they can work with all of your ankle booties like Chelsea boots and sock booties to fall nicely over them. The safest bet is to go a little shorter with your straight leg jeans as you’ll get more use out of them.

• Flats like loafers, Mary Janes and ballet flats
• Slim sneakers like Adidas or Converse
• Dad sneaker or platform sneakers
• High heels like pumps, rounded toe heels and strappy heels
• Sandals anywhere from chunky to more dainty
• Ankle boots that have a high shaft only so you don’t see your skin
• Clogs and mules

Skinny Jeans Go With These Shoes

Skinny jeans are quite versatile, similar to straight leg jeans. They work with so many options. I like to have my skinny jeans show off the shoe I’m wearing, so ensuring yours are hemmed to the right length is key. You wouldn’t want these bunching at the top of your shoes. These are the shoes that go with skinny jeans.

• Flats like loafers, Mary Janes and ballet flats
• Slim sneakers like Adidas or Converse
• High heels like pumps, rounded toe heels and strappy heels
• Sandals anywhere from chunky to more dainty
• Knee high boots both flat and tall ones
• Chelsea boots that have a somewhat taller shaft

The only shoes I wouldn’t wear with skinny jeans are most ankle boots. The low-cut ankle boot feels very 2010, and the high shaft ones just feel off. I personally would skip most ankle boots, outside of a classic flat Chelsea boot. And dad sneakers can feel a little heavy with a skinny jean, I’d also avoid these.

Wide Leg Jeans Go With These Shoes

Wide leg jeans are going to be the kind that are relaxed from mid thigh down. And depending on the length, you can get away with a lot of options here. I really love a slightly cropped wide leg to show off a great shoe or even boots. And longer inseams are ideal for chunky heels and pointed-toe shoes. A longer inseam also means you can wear any ankle bootie and sometimes any knee high boots underneath. They’re mostly covered so it’s really just about the shape of the shoe that works with the pant.

• Flats like loafers, Mary Janes and ballet flats
• Slim sneakers like Adidas or Converse
• High heels like pumps, pointed toe heels and strappy heels
• Strappy or flat sandals
• Knee high boots both flat and tall ones
• Ankle booties of any kind

The only shoes I wouldn’t wear with a wide-leg jean are a chunky dad sneaker. It can feel really bottom heavy with the wide leg plus the heavy sneaker. Wider leg jeans usually work best with an elongated toe box, too. So usually this means pointed toe heels over rounded toe. But you can often make both work.

But at the end of the day with wide leg jeans, it really depends on the length and how wide and exaggerated the jeans are. You wouldn’t want to wear overly wide and long wide leg jeans with a strappy flat sandal as the shoe and your foot will get lost. However, you could pair it with a chunky heeled clog, or a pointed toe shoe or bootie.

Flared Jeans And Bell Bottom Jeans Go With These Shoes

Flared jeans are going to be your classic bell-bottom style jeans. Fitted to the knee, then a wide leg flare. This can be a boot cut to a true bell bottom. I would argue these work with the same shoes as a wide-leg jean for the most part.

However, a more bell-bottom style I think, looks best mostly with heels. It just calls for that 70s chunky heeled and flared denim combo. Plus, depending on your height, sometimes a flared jean with a flat can feel proportionally off. I’m 5’5 and find that I prefer flared jeans and bell bottoms, especially, exclusively with heels. There’s something about the fitted to the knee, then wide leg flare, that cuts my leg off in the wrong spot at the knee. The longer length with a heel to me feels more correct proportionately.

• Flats like loafers, Mary Janes and ballet flats
• Slim sneakers like Adidas or Converse – best with bootcuts versus bell bottoms
• High heels like pumps, pointed toe heels and strappy heels – chunkier the better
• Strappy or flat sandals – best with bootcuts versus bell bottoms
• Knee high boots both flat and tall ones
• Ankle booties of any kind
• Clogs and mules

Cropped Jeans Go With These Shoes

I’m going to assume your cropped jeans are not capris, we’re talking wide-leg or straight-leg crop styles. These cropped styles will hit just above the ankle bone. This means most shoes do work with them, except you must be cautious with boots and booties. I only want to see high shaft fitted ankle booties that don’t show off your skin. And you could theoretically wear a knee-high boot here if it’s slim to the body and isn’t bunching and causing issues under your jeans. I find this style of jean to be super versatile and a favorite in my own closet.

• Flats like loafers, Mary Janes and ballet flats
• Slim sneakers like Adidas or Converse
• High heels like pumps, rounded toe, pointed toe heels and strappy heels
• Strappy or flat sandals
• Ankle booties that have a high fitted shaft
• Clogs and mules

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Jean And Shoe Pairing Guides

These two shoe pairing guide graphics could go on and on for days. And if you really wanted to, you could probably make the flat strappy sandal work for any jean style depending on the length and your proportions.

My general rule of thumb for pairing shoes with jeans is if they’re long and wide, go taller and chunkier. If they’re shorter and more slim, you can really get away with most styles. And my rule for pairing jeans with boots is to always consider shaft height. If anything is remotely cropped, go with a slim to the body higher shaft boot to be safe. And knee high boots really do work with a lot of styles. Plus, always consider wearing them under wide-leg jeans. They make for a great additional layer of warmth in the winter.

I’m going to be honest, it’s possible to really wear just about any shoe with any pair of jeans. Some are just going to feel more right than others. And that may depend on the styling, where the jean hit you on your leg and your own proportions. I’ve seen bootcut jeans look great with flat shoes, but for me, I’m skipping that. So take all of these outfits and lists of shoes to pair with them with a grain of salt.