What Shoes to Wear With Jeans: Men’s Style Guide

 

Although jeans may be your go-to wardrobe staple for standard weekend looks, they’re a surprisingly versatile pair of pants. Whether you’re heading to the pub for a pint, the office on “Casual Friday,” or a cool cocktail party, jeans can make an excellent choice. They may be basic, but these essential denim designs are versatile and can be worn in many exciting and stylish ways. Choosing the right shoes is essential to nail the different looks that jeans can achieve, such as casual, smart casual, and semi-formal styles. From boots to boat shoes, the footwear you partner with your jeans will significantly impact your overall outfit. So, to ensure that your combination is just right, we’ve created this helpful guide to show you what shoes to wear with jeans for different occasions.

 

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What Shoes Can You Wear with Jeans

Finding the ideal footwear to go with your favorite jeans can be challenging. From choosing the perfect style for your desired look to selecting the color that complements your outfit, creating a great combination isn’t always easy. Luckily, we have tips and tricks to help you nail your perfect match. Whether you want to wear trainers, boots, derby shoes, loafers, boat shoes, or Oxfords, we can show you how, when, and where to rock them with denim.

 

Boots and Jeans

Boots are another excellent footwear choice to rock with jeans. All you need to do is find the perfect style for your needs. So, if you’re after a casual, urban appearance, try choosing styles such as a chunky hiking boot. Consider Chelsea or chukka boots instead if you want a smart casual appearance. Also, remember to consider color and texture. While suede and brown designs usually have a relaxed and rugged appearance, black and leather varieties will look more sleek and sophisticated.

 

 

Trainers with Jeans

Thanks to the booming athleisure trend, wearing your jeans with trainers is again cool. So, you can’t surpass this winning combination if you’re after a casual and comfortable look. Opt for plain white or black sneakers for a minimal and sleek appearance. If you like a bolder aesthetic, consider boldly colored options instead. Also, don’t forget about the rest of your outfit. While trainers and jeans work well with a T-shirt and jacket for a relaxed appearance, the partnership can also suit smart casual occasions with a collared shirt and blazer.

 

 

Derby Shoes with Jeans

For smart casual and semi formal outfits with jeans, consider derby shoes. The formal footwear style is ideal for balancing the casual appearance of denim with more elegant pieces. To try the look for yourself, consider partnering a pair of derby shoes with dark-wash jeans, an oxford shirt, and a blazer. When choosing your derby shoes, remember to get creative. While black and brown styles are always classic, navy and grey can create a unique and seriously stylish appearance.

 

 

Loafers and Jeans

Loafers are the ideal shoes for creating a laid-back yet luxurious appearance. As such, they partner exceptionally well with jeans, especially for smart casual and semi formal outfits. For a traditional appearance, try a classic pair of leather penny loafers. Doing so will create a sleek, dapper appearance perfect for polished outfits. On the other hand, Suede, tassel, and patterned styles will inject a fashion-forward aesthetic into any ensemble.

 

 

Boat Shoes and Jeans

Think that you can only wear your boat shoes with chino shorts on a yacht? Think again. Whether heading to a polo match or a simple summer brunch, boat shoes and jeans can make for a fabulous outfit. To enhance the aesthetic of these relaxed yet refined shoes, you can partner them with other summertime staples. White cuffed jeans, a light blue shirt, and sunglasses will all create a top-notch, smart casual outfit when worn with boat shoes.

 

 

Oxford Shoes and Jeans

Oxford shoes will work a treat for a more formal outfit with jeans. The classic footwear style is ideal for taking denim from casual to chic. Just remember to stick to traditional styles in colors like brown, burgundy, and black. Also, don’t forget about brogue-style Oxford shoes. These decoratively perforated designs are slightly more unique and make a great option for smart casual ensembles.

 

 

When to Wear Shoes with Jeans

Casual Attire

Jeans are the ideal choice for casual occasions. These pants naturally project a perfectly informal and easy-going vibe thanks to their relaxed appearance and heavy-duty fabric. As such, you can choose almost any style and partner them with almost any other casual piece to achieve a great weekend look. When selecting the ideal footwear for nailing a casual denim outfit, choose between comfortable and relaxed styles, such as sneakers or boots.

 

 

Smart Casual Attire

Jeans can be an excellent option for smart casual events and occasions when worn right. You only need to balance sharp pieces and casual items to nail the look. For instance, rocking your jeans with a T-shirt and blazer will create a complementary appearance, as will a button-up shirt and vest. You can also use your footwear to complete your outfit. Choose styles like chukka boots and loafers for a relaxed yet sophisticated appearance. Sneakers can also work, but ensure that the rest of your outfit is perfectly polished to avoid seeming overly casual.

 

 

Semi-Formal Attire

It can be a somewhat tricky look to pull off, but jeans can work for semi-formal occasions. To maintain a polished aesthetic, you must ensure the rest of your outfit is sleek. As such, wearing a shirt with a blazer, vest, or suit jacket is a good idea. Don’t forget about your footwear, either. While Oxfords, derby shoes, and loafers will ensure your look is elegant and semi-formal, other footwear styles like sneakers will drag it down to a lower level.

 

 

Types of Jeans to Match With Shoes

Skinny Jeans

These days, most gents own a pair of skinny jeans, so why wouldn’t they? Skinny jeans are modern, sleek, and completely stylish. But there is one thing that can instantly ruin an awesome outfit with skinny jeans: the wrong shoes. When rocking your skinnies, it’s important to note that not all shoes will work well with this tight-fitting denim style. In particular, thick or chunky shoes will make your feet look awkwardly large next to slim legs.

 

As such, it’s best to stick to simple, streamlined footwear styles. Chelsea boots are a good choice thanks to their slim and smooth silhouette. Choose a black or brown leather pair, and you’ll always have shoes ready to wear with skinny jeans. Oxford shoes are another excellent choice and are perfect for more formal events. Sneakers are ideal for casual occasions, but you must pick a slim pair to avoid looking like a clown.

 

 

Slim Jeans

Slim jeans are appropriate for a range of looks; therefore, you can wear them with a range of shoes. However, as with skinny jeans, balancing a slim pair of pants with a slim footwear style is essential. To do so, avoid bulky shoe styles, such as lace-up boots, and choose a lighter design. Loafers, for example, are an excellent choice and look great when worn with slim jeans. Together, the combination is sleek, stylish, and well-balanced.

 

Sneakers and derby shoes are other footwear styles when donning slim jeans. While sneakers are ideal for casual outfits, derby shoes work perfectly with more polished ensembles. Just be sure only to choose suitable size and shape pairs. While your shoes can be a little thicker than those you would wear with skinny jeans, they must still achieve a balanced, slim aesthetic. If you choose a wide or thick design, select a dark color, such as black, for a more flattering appearance.

 

 

Boot Cut Jeans

Unsurprisingly, boot-cut jeans look fantastic when worn with boots. Thanks to their shape, which flares slightly from the knee to the ankle, boot-cut jeans sit perfectly over a pair of boots. So, when you’re rocking this classic style of denim, you must select the type of boots you want. You can easily choose the style that best suits your overall outfit. For example, if you’re rocking a smart casual or semi-formal outfit, chelsea boots are an ideal option. Lace-up boots will be a better choice if you do a casual look.

 

Alternatively, if you’re not a boot-loving gent, consider wearing your boot-cut jeans with a pair of derby shoes instead. To nail the look, you need to ensure that the shoes balance out the wide hem of your pants. To do so, opt for a pair with a thick sole and a round toe. Also, ensure that your jeans are long enough to cover your ankles but short enough to show off at least part of your shoelaces.

 

 

Straight-Leg Jeans

Straight-leg jeans are a classic denim style that every gent should own. They provide a minimal and clean aesthetic but are far from boring. These understated pants can be quite exciting and are perfect to wear with fashionable casual and smart casual outfits. You only need the right shoes and shirt; straight-leg jeans will project a sophisticated, stylish, and contemporary appearance.

 

When choosing your shoes, look for refined and relaxed styles, such as brogues, boots, sneakers, and loafers. Each footwear style will appear excellent when partnered with your straight-leg jeans to achieve a laid-back, luxe look. As your straight jeans are neither tight nor loose, there’s also not much need to worry about proportions. Both broad and slim shoes can suit this style of denim well.

 

 

Tapered-Leg Jeans

Tapered-leg jeans fall somewhere in between straight-leg and slim styles of denim. As their name suggests, they also taper and feature a looser fit near the thighs and a tighter one near the calves and ankles. Due to this shape, selecting shoes that will help balance your overall appearance is important. Chunkier styles and those that finish higher on the ankle will add weight to the lower half of your legs and offset the extra fabric up top.

 

If you like to pinroll or cuff your jeans, you should consider choosing a low and wide footwear style, such as leather sneakers or derby shoes. Choosing suede derby shoes over leather styles will add more texture and weight to the look while maintaining a sophisticated aesthetic. If you don’t plan to show off your ankles, select high-top sneakers or chukka boots for a fashionable and flattering appearance.

 

 

What Shoes to Wear with Jeans Tips

• Wear trainers with jeans for a relaxed, casual look.
• Chelsea and chukka boots are ideal for bright casual outfits with jeans.
• Loafers will add a luxurious yet laid-back appearance to smart casual and semi-formal jeans outfits.
• Partner derby or oxford shoes with jeans, a collared shirt, and a blazer for a semi-formal style.
• Combine boat shoes with white jeans and a light blue shirt for a fresh summer appearance.