Of All the Shoes Out There, These Are the Only 7 I'd Wear With Jeans
We all know how versatile a pair of jeans can be. After all, what other garment can take you from work (some offices, at least) to the weekend to nights out with the same stylish flair and universal appeal?
However, their ease is often dependent on another item: footwear. Shoes have the power to instantly change the mood of your jeans. For example, for a cocktail party, a pair of bejeweled heels will elevate your classic blues to glamorous new heights. Similarly, ballet pumps will add polish to ripped or frayed-hem jeans—simply add a tailored blazer and a button-up blouse and you've got yourself a chic workwear ensemble.
So which shoes would I recommend wearing with jeans? I'm glad you asked. I've whittled down the shoes to wear with jeans that I truly believe work for just about every occasion you can think of.
Keep scrolling to see seven shoes-and-jeans combinations validated by the style elite, and then proceed to shop the outfits for yourself.
Strappy Mules
Style Notes: They're one of the summer's biggest shoe trends, and thankfully, strappy mules look excellent worn with jeans. Their simple silhouette makes for a premium footwear choice and will help to make even bleached denim look luxe.
Statement Boots
Style Notes: Printed boots—particularly snake motifs—are set to be huge come autumn. However, even we know they're not the most versatile thing to style. A pair of classic jeans will make for an ideal partner for "extra" footwear choices.
Related: Winter 2019 Trends: The Only New Fashion Looks You Need to Know
Ballet Flats
Style Notes: Ballet flats are firmly back on our fashion radar. Typically low cut on the foot, they work with just about any jean length, though we think they look really French when worn with cropped ankle-grazing jeans.
Tennis Shoes
Style Notes: Where there are jeans, sneakers can't be too far off. While all kick-flare styles will do the off-duty trick, take the minimalist approach with a pair of sleek tennis shoes.
Flip Flops
Style Notes: Where relaxed-fit jeans are concerned, take inspiration from cool Cali girls and wear them with a pair of color-pop Havaiana flip flops. A printed tee and statement sunglasses will finish the look.
Related: We Try Before You Buy: The 7 Best Skirts We've Seen This Summer
Jeweled Heels
Style Notes: There's no denying the fact we love a good dress, but for an edgy twist on after-dark dressing, we recommend wearing a pair of straight-leg jeans with the fanciest heels you can find.
Espadrille Wedges
Style Notes: Espadrilles look just as good with jeans as they do with printed midi skirts. Wide-leg styles work particularly well, as they balance out the chunky wedge heels.
This post originally appeared on Who What Wear UK.
Maxine Eggenberger is Who What Wear UK’s deputy editor and has over thirteen years of experience in fashion journalism. She been creating engaging and elevated style content specifically for Who What Wear UK since 2018, covering runway reports, emerging trends, long-form features, self-styled shopping stories and columns, including her edit of the best new-in buys. She ensures the highest editorial standards are met across the site, leads the editorial team in their SEO strategy and keyword planning, works closely with the beauty team on content initiatives, represents the brand at industry events, and regularly contributes to social media, including her own Who What Wear UK TikTok franchise, French Style Fridays. Previously, Maxine appeared on ITV's This Morning in her own fashion segment and has interviewed countless celebrities—everyone from Victoria Beckham to Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o.
Prior to Who What Wear UK, Maxine’s career began when, after completing her first-ever internship at Look magazine, she was offered a position on the brand's fashion desk. She accepted, leaving university a year early in the process. Her passion and natural talent for writing and styling meant she swiftly rose through the ranks to become the title's fashion news and commercial content editor, with a stint as InStyle.co.uk’s fashion and beauty writer along the way. She later served as Look’s acting Editor in Chief, overseeing both print and digital, before embarking on a successful freelance career, working with Grazia, The Pool, and Marie Claire amongst others.
Maxine is based remotely from her countryside home near Edinburgh where she spends her downtime renovating her house, walking her dogs, hosting friends and trying to master the art of making Old Fashioned cocktails.
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