15 Shoes That Will Make Your Wide-Leg Pants Look More Elegant

Raise your hand if you've had one of those moments in the wee hours of the morning when you're overcome with emotions because you can't decide what to wear. Yep, same here. If we're being frank, looking elegant requires, well, effort. That goal becomes even harder to achieve when you have way too many shoes to choose from. And then, there's the additional challenge of having to navigate styling specific staples (I'm looking at you, wide-leg trousers).

In those moments, you'd likely give anything to have some sort of guidance. Luckily, we've got your back. To make getting dressed in the morning dressing easier (and more manageable), we've put together a handful of guides about which heels, sandals, boots, and sneakers pair best with the staple pieces in your wardrobe. In this installment, we'll be covering what are the best shoes to wear wide-leg pants.

ICYMI, relaxed, billowy silhouettes have gained popularity on the runway and in real life in recent seasons. But what exactly makes this style of trousers so compelling? Unlike other types of bottoms (such as cigarette trousers or bootcut jeans), these pants are characterized by how they're more voluminous around the ankles. The shape not only makes them more comfortable than other styles, but they also typically look way chicer, too. Now, we'd be lying if we said they're innately sophisticated, as they do require styling, after all! Therefore, we've spent hours combing the internet to provide a comprehensive guide on not only how to wear wide-leg pants, but also how to look elegant while doing so.

Ahead, we're sharing the 15 best shoe styles to wear with these pants, some styling tips, and a curation of designer shoes that will elevate your look even further. Prepare to say sayonara to your styling woes.

1. Pointed Pumps

a photo showing what shoes to wear with wide-leg pants with a woman wearing a white t-shirt, beige belt, beige cardigan, white wide-leg trousers, white pumps, and a brown handbag

(Image credit: @cassdimicco)

One of the greatest challenges about styling wide-leg pants is their length. Luckily, pointed pumps exist. What's great about styling your trousers with this type of heel is that it adds height so that they don't puddle on the floor (unless that's your prerogative).

2. Sleek Slingbacks

a photo showing what shoes to wear with wide-leg pants with a woman wearing a black trench coat over a black and white striped sweater styled with black wide-leg pants and black slingback heels

(Image credit: @_livmadeline)

What's another shoe style that always makes any pair of wide-leg pants look way more sophisticated? Slingbacks. Whether you opt for a pair of these heels with a cap toe or pointed toe, the classic silhouette will always complement wide-leg pants of any length (or style, for that matter).

3. Kitten Heels

a photo showing what shoes to wear with wide-leg pants with a woman wearing black sunglasses, a green Gucci bag, a gray blazer, gray wide-leg trousers, and white kitten heels

(Image credit: @sobalera)

If you're not one to spend time worrying about the length of your wide-leg pants being too long, then kitten heels are right up your alley. Not only will opting for these types of shoes ensure that your ensemble is more comfortable, but the shorter heel height will make your trousers a bit more relaxed on the form, inevitably giving off a cooler energy.

4. Platform Boots

a photo showing what shoes to wear with wide-leg pants with a woman leaning against a wall wearing a black turtleneck shirt with high-waisted wide-leg gray trousers styled with black platform ankle boots and a red handbag

(Image credit: @taniasarin)

Let's be real—we can't always make time to go to the tailor. When you've got a pair of wide-leg pants that are far too long to wear any form of short heel, consider platform shoes instead. These shoes will operate as a last-minute fix to larger pants and provide a bit more comfort compared to thinner heels, which is a win-win in our books.

5. Unique Ankle Boots

a photo showing what shoes to wear with wide-leg pants with a woman standing outside against a tan building wearing a long black coat layered over a white button-down shirt with black wide leg trousers and round toe ankle boots and a black Hermes bag

(Image credit: @gosiaboy)

Although most wide-leg pants and even denim cover your footwear entirely, the front of your footwear will still peek through (especially when you walk). Therefore, it's imperative to pick a pair of unique ankle boots that will add an element of surprise and delight to your ensemble. Pay attention to the details such as footbed shape, heel shape, colors, and materials when picking out a pair of boots.

6. Pointed-Toe Ankle Boots

a photo showing what shoes to wear with wide-leg pants with a woman wearing a white coat over a black top with wide-leg jeans and black pointed-ankle boots

(Image credit: @dawn.tan)

If you happen to be on the petite side, it can be particularly hard to style a wide-leg silhouette in a way that doesn't make you look too short. But we're going to let you in on a little secret: it's all about selecting the right shoes—more specifically, pointed ankle boots. By pairing your favorite wide-leg jeans with a pointed footbed, you'll give the illusion of having longer legs.

7. Lug-Sole Ankle Boots

a photo showing what shoes to wear with wide-leg pants with a woman standing against a white backdrop while wearing a black long coat over a gray t-shirt with a studded black belt, black wide leg jeans, black chunky Chelsea boots, and a red Loewe bag

(Image credit: @monikh)

Depending on your local climate, wearing heeled boots in the fall and winter can be, well, impractical. If you must wear a pair of flat boots, opt for styles with a chunkier shape, such as lug-sole ankle boots. The elevated platform will ensure your pant's hemline does not get too exposed to the elements, while the flat footbed will make navigating colder weather easier.

8. Chunky Sneakers

a photo showing what shoes to wear with wide-leg pants with a woman sitting on a bench wearing a long tan trench coat over a white t-shirt with black wide leg trousers and white chunky sneakers

(Image credit: @meganadelaide)

By now, you might be wondering if there is a way to dress down your wide-leg pants for the weekend. Enter chunky sneakers. What's great about thick-sole trainers is that they not only make any pair of pants 10 times cooler, but they are also comfortable.

9. Classic Loafers

a photo showing what shoes to wear with wide-leg pants with a woman standing in a doorway wearing a leather jacket over a white t-shirt with tan wide leg trousers and black leather loafers

(Image credit: @ingridedvinsen)

Don't be fooled—you can wear flats with these pants. In fact, we'd argue that there's no better shoe to pair with pleated wide-leg pants than a pair of classic loafers. Not only will they match the more prep-forward feel of the bottoms, but they'll add an element of polish to your look overall. Just keep in mind that if your trousers are on the longer side, you'll want to look for a pair of loafers with chunkier soles.

10. Cozy Clogs

a photo showing what shoes to wear with wide-leg pants with a woman standing outside wearing a tan blazer over a gray sweater and white t-shirt styled with white wide leg jeans and black flat clog shoes

(Image credit: @taffymsipa)

One of the best things about wide-leg trousers is that they're incredibly comfortable. Therefore, it only makes sense that you'd want to pick shoes that are equally as cozy. Thankfully, clogs are up for the job. Look for a version of this footwear with extra cushion in the footbed and a bit of a chunkier sole to ensure you feel like you're floating on a cloud while wearing this outfit.

11. Ballet Flats

a photo showing what shoes to wear with wide-leg pants with a woman on the sidewalk wearing a white tweed jacket with black wide leg pants and two-tone tan and black ballet flats

(Image credit: @fakerstrom)

Another great footwear option? Ballet flats. The benefit of styling your baggier bottoms with ballet flats is that they'll not only be incredibly comfortable, but downright chic, too. Just be sure to look for a pair of flats with interesting design details to ensure they draw a bit of attention when peaking out from your pants.

12. Slide Sandals

a photo showing what shoes to wear with wide-leg pants with a woman wearing a white tank top with a beige belt, white wide leg pants, and tan slide sandals

(Image credit: @coco_floflo)

What's one warm-weather shoe style that can look as polished as any pair of closed-toe options? Slide sandals. The secret to making these shoes look as luxurious as any other pair is to pay attention to the details. Not only do you want to invest in a well-designed version, but don't be afraid to embrace styling them in a more "relaxed" way. Try wearing them with a simple tank and white wide-leg pants for a look that screams "I just vacationed in the Hamptons!"

13. Stappy Sandals

a photo showing what shoes to wear with wide-leg pants with a woman walking on the sidewalk wearing a blue and white striped button-down shirt tucked into white wide leg pants styled with white strappy heeled sandals

(Image credit: @thecarolinelin)

When temperatures allow, there's no better shoe to wear with wide-leg pants than strappy sandals. The footwear adds height, dimension, and seasonality to the staple. Plus, the effortless shoe shape allows more billowy pants to blow in the wind, which is ideal in the spring and summertime.

14. Open-Toed Mules

a photo showing what shoes to wear with wide-leg pants with a woman on the sidewalk wearing a white blouse with wide-leg cropped black trousers, brown open-toed mule sandals, and a brown handbag

(Image credit: @sylviemus_ )

Wondering what type of sandals you can get away with wearing to work during the warmer months? Look no further than the open-toed mules. They're far more demure than other sandal silhouettes and the classic shape will adhere to most office dress codes.

15. Flat Sandals

a photo showing what shoes to wear with wide-leg pants with a woman standing in front of a door wearing a white draped blouse with black wide leg linen trousers and black strappy flat sandals and a black handbag

(Image credit: @deborabrosa)

Last but certainly not least, the final shoe style that always pairs well with wide-leg pants is flat sandals. It might be surprising considering that most of these err on the longer side, but with a bit of intentional styling, that's not an issue. In fact, opting for flat footwear further emphasizes the relaxed shape of the pants, thereby making this staple stand out. If that's not what you want from your shoe-and-pant pairings, then we don't know what other advice to share.

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman
Editor

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman is a fashion editor living in New York City. What began as a hobby (blogging on Tumblr) transformed into a career dedicated to storytelling through various forms of digital media. She started her career at the print publication 303 Magazine, where she wrote stories, helped produce photo shoots, and planned Denver Fashion Week. After moving to Los Angeles, she worked as MyDomaine's social media editor until she was promoted to work across all of Clique's publications (MyDomaine, Byrdie, and Who What Wear) as the community manager. Over the past few years, Jasmine has worked on Who What Wear's editorial team, using her extensive background to champion rising BIPOC designers, weigh in on viral trends, and profile stars such as Janet Mock and Victoria Monét. She is especially interested in exploring how art, fashion, and pop culture intersect online and IRL.