There's No Doubt That These Are the Best Shoes to Wear With Straight-Leg Jeans
This year's denim trends span from ultra wide-leg styles to split-hem silhouettes. But no matter how many buzzy trends make headlines, there will always be one classic style that reigns supreme among the fashion set: straight-leg jeans. Lead by Levi's 501 jeans with newcomers from Agolde, Citizens of Humanity, Slvrlake, and more also offering competitive alternatives, the original denim shape will always hold a special place in our hearts (and our closets).
Once you've secured that one perfect pair of straight-leg jeans—find our tried-and-true favorites here—the next step is to figure out which shoes to wear with them. Though the options are pretty much endless for this timeless denim shape, there are, in fact, a few shoe styles that pair especially well. From Western boots to flat sandals, keep scrolling to shop the absolute best shoes to wear with straight-leg jeans.
Western Boots
No denim pairs better with Western boots—which will never not be trendy and chic—than straight-leg jeans. After all, they're what actual cowboys wore.
Shop Western boots:
Strappy Sandals
For a casual yet elevated summer outfit, simply pair some nice, strappy sandals with a dainty heel with some straight blue jeans and a tank. Done and done.
Shop strappy sandals:
Retro Sneakers
A cool pair of old-school sneakers look good with everything, but they look especially chic and low-key with straight-leg jeans.
Shop retro sneakers:
Kitten Heels
Dress up your straight-leg jeans with a pair of kitten heels, which will give the denim a luxury upgrade without terrorizing your feet all day.
Shop kitten heels:
Ankle Boots
Ankle boots and straight-leg jeans are a match made in heaven.
Shop ankle boots:
Wedges
As luck would have it, this heel shape, which pairs beautifully with straight-leg jeans, is having a serious renaissance right now.
Shop wedges:
Shop wedges:
Flat Sandals
Comfort and style collide in the form of flat sandals, which, when paired with this easy denim style, make for the perfect outfit for literally any occasion.
Shop flat sandals:
Coming Up: The Non–Skinny Jean Trend the Chicest People Will Wear in the 2020s
Eliza Huber is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and the intersection of sports and fashion. She joined Who What Wear in 2021 from Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a business degree from the University of Iowa. She's launched two columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, Gracie Abrams, and Sabrina Carpenter; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top runway trends each season. Eliza lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, watching WNBA games, and scouring The RealReal for discounted Prada.
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