The Shoes to Skip With Jeans This Fall

This fall, there are plenty of new shoe trends on the horizon. Animal prints aren’t just reserved for clothes—they’re showing up in shoes like tiger-stripe pony-hair pumps from Loewe and a zebra-print style from Saint Laurent. But also, cowboy boots, which are rounding out the Western trend that swept the fall runways; high-shine ankle boots; revamped pumps; and new-age sneakers. (More on the biggest shoe trends here).

If you’re wondering which styles to pair with your jeans and which ones to skip, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most-asked reader questions our Who What Wear editors receive, so here’s what you need to know. Most shoe styles can be worn with jeans, but it really comes down to styling. When pairing jeans with shoes, you need to consider the cut of the jeans and the silhouette of the shoes. But one you can cut out for good? Long, flared jeans and sneakers. Instead, opt for heeled boots or sandals to lengthen your legs. Ahead I’m breaking down fall’s most popular shoe styles along with the best denim pairings.

When you slip into a pair of form-fitting sock boots, choose jeans that fall past the top of the shoes and aren't too tapered at the ankle.

In this editor's opinion, loafers are one of the best shoe pairings for cropped jeans.

Sneakers can be paired with a variety of jeans, but you can't go wrong with a pair that falls just over the top of the shoes.

You can pair slingbacks or pumps with a classic straight-leg jean for a classic look every time.

Here's another shoe that looks great with a straight-leg jean. Are you sensing a trend here?

If you have an eye-catching shoe like a high-shine boot, pair them with cropped flares to draw attention to the standout style.

Next: I lived in Paris for three months and learned to dress French.