The age-old question asked by countless men and women: what shoes should I wear with my jeans? The right shoes will enhance your appearance, flowing with the color and style of your jeans. However, the wrong shoes will have the opposite effect by creating an awkward appearance that hurts your overall image. Whether you’re attending a business meeting, going to dinner, or just running errands around town, you need to choose the right footwear. Unfortunately, many people throw on their everyday sneakers, believing it’s acceptable. This often results in a mismatching outfit with the wrong footwear. So, what shoes should you wear with jeans?
Consider the Cut
First and foremost, you need to consider the cut of your jeans when choosing footwear. Jeans are available in dozens of different cuts, including boot-cut, slim-fit, skinny, straight-leg, relaxed, loose fit and more. Each of these cuts has a different construction. Boot-cut jeans, for instance, are best worn with boots, simply because they have a larger opening around the bottom. Straight-leg jeans, on the other hand, are better suited for use with traditional tennis shoes or athletic shoes. Consider what type of cut your jeans have and choose shoes that are appropriate. You don’t have to necessarily limit yourself to wearing boots with boot-cut jeans, but you should consider how your shoes or boots will look with the cut.
Color Matters
In addition to the cut, you should also consider the color of your shoes and whether or not it matches with your jeans. We’ve talked about this before, but it’s worth mentioning again that black and brown don’t match; therefore, you shouldn’t wear these two colors together in the same outfit. If your jeans are black, avoid wearing brown shoes or boots. Or if your jeans are brown, you should avoid wearing black shoes or boots. Instead, choose a color for your shoes that matches or flows cohesively with the color of your jeans. White shoes are an excellent choice for black, indigo or similar dark-colored jeans. The white on dark creates an attractive appearance in which the two colors contrast with one another.
The Occasion
Something else to consider when choosing shoes for use with jeans is the occasion during which you’ll wear them. If you’re going to the beach, perhaps sandals or flip-flops are an acceptable choice. But if you’re going out to dinner with friends, you’ll want to avoid these open-toed shoes and instead choose something a little more formal. In terms of accessories, no other item in a person’s wardrobe holds more influence over his or her look than shoes. It’s the single most influential accessory in determining a person’s appearance, more so than a wristwatch, necklace, cufflinks, handbag, etc. Therefore, you need to choose the right shoes for the occasion, following a similar style as the rest of your outfit to achieve a cohesive appearance that’s appropriate for the occasion.
Formal Shoes
So, what are the best shoes to wear with a formal outfit featuring jeans? One of the great things about jeans is the simple fact that you can wear them for casual or formal outfits. For the latter, it’s best to avoid traditional tennis shoes and sneakers, and instead choose something a little more dressy. Some excellent footwear ideas to consider wearing for formal looks include leather loafers, oxfords, derby shoes or Chelsea boots. Just remember to choose a color that contrasts or flows cohesively with your jeans.
Boots
There’s just something naturally attractive associated with the combination of boots and jeans. Perhaps it’s the subtle height increased offered by boots, or maybe it’s the design. Regardless, you really can’t go wrong with boots and jeans, assuming you choose the right type. Again, boot-cut jeans are the perfect style for this look. Featuring a wider and more open area around the ankles, they allow you to place the top of your jeans over the top of your boots, essentially concealing the top of your boots.
Keep in mind that not all styles of jeans are suitable to wear with boots. While boot-cut is the best all around cut, other cuts like relaxed and loose-fit may also be suitable. Styles such as skinny or straight-leg, on the other hand, are typically a poor choice to wear with boots.
Comfort
Of course, it’s a good idea to choose shoes that are comfortable to wear, regardless of whether or not you are wearing jeans. This is particularly important for highly active individuals who are always on the move. If your shoes have little-to-no support, you may discover blisters developing on your heels. And continuing to wear shoes that cause blisters will only increase the risk of a more serious injury, such as an injection. To prevent problems such as these, choose shoes with adequate support that aren’t too big or too small.
What About Slip-on Shoes?
Some people assume that slip-on shoes are a poor choice of footwear for jeans, believing the two clash with one another. While there are certain times during which slip-on shoes should be avoided, there are other times that are perfectly acceptable for them. Boat shoes and canvas loafers, for instance, are perfect for a day on the lake or walking on the beach. They provide an exceptional level of comfort while keeping your feet cool in the process. And slip-on shoes such as these are also highly stylish, especially when paired with the right jeans. The bottom line is that you shouldn’t assume all slip-on shoes are bad. When paired with the right jeans, you can achieve an attractive look while maximizing your level of comfort in the process.
These are just a few tips to follow when choosing shoes to wear with jeans.
