By now, you’ve likely caught wind of the fact that skinny jeans are over, replaced by cargo denim and low-rise, wide-leg jeans. The trend, spearheaded by millennials in the ’00s, was declared dead by TikTok last year. If you were a fan, I apologize for your loss. Of course, you can wear whatever jeans you please — more power to you if you rage against the Gen Z machine — but since the youngest generation doubles as the one with the fastest growing economic power, there’s a good chance that the vast selection of skinny jeans you’ve grown accustomed to seeing in stores won’t be as wide for much longer. And when that happens, one question will inevitably follow: What shoes do you wear with jeans that aren’t skinny?
Finding shoes to go with the tight-fitting silhouette was simple: Heeled booties, over-the-knee boots, or pumps, if you’re a heels person; ballet flats or low-top sneakers, if you weren’t. But these days, when footwear trends range from chunky loafers to even platform boots, skinny jeans can feel like an odd pairing. Just think about the proportions. Throw on a pair of slightly baggy — but fitted in the butt and waist — vintage jeans, though, and just about every on-trend shoe style of the season is a perfect match, no matter how bulky.
But switching to non-skinny jeans doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite footwear. You can still wear black booties with flares and ballet flats with slouchy jeans. If you ask me, they’ll look even better. But there are a few types of footwear that pair especially well with a less fitted denim style.
Click ahead to find out what shoe styles to buy, now that old mom jeans are “in” and skinnies — the new mom jeans — are “out.”
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Fancy Shoes
There’s no shoe-jean partnership more visually satisfying than a pair of baggy, light-wash jeans paired with a fancy, colorful shoe. There’s something about the high-low mix that makes a cusper like me — someone who loves both Carrie’s Sex And The City shoe collection and Depop’s vintage denim selection — excited to wear jeans, even in quarantine.
Badgley Mischka Collection Clara Embellished Sandal, $, available at
Nine West Zooza Heeled Slide Sandals, $, available at
Schutz Anessa Nubuck Pump, $, available at
Zara EMBELLISHED BOW HEELED SLINGBACKS, $, available at
Chunky Loafers
With skinny jeans, loafers had a tendency to feel outdated. But, with slouchy jeans and an added heel or two-tone colorway, these former prep school styles become surprisingly cool. Don’t believe us? Just check social media, where loafers are impossible to miss.
Sam Edelman Laurs Lug Sole Loafer, $, available at
ASOS Square Heeled Loafers, $, available at
Charles and Keith Perline Beaded Platform Loafers, $, available at
Clogs
Whether they’re Birkenstock-style clogs (or the high-fashion equivalent by JW Anderson) or cottagecore-esque rubber alternatives that are perfect for gardening, clogs of all shapes and styles are a comfortable and chic sidekick for your non-skinny jeans. There’s something very satisfying about the way slouchy jeans just fall on top of them, the rounded toe popping out ever so slightly. And for a dressier, more put-together alternative, dare I suggest a wooden heel?
Zappos Boston Soft Footbed, $, available at
JW Anderson JW Anderson Leather Loafer Mules, $, available at
Hunter Play Clogs, $, available at
Kkerelé Mai, $, available at
M. Gemi Greta Clogs, $, available at
Sneakers
Yes, you can wear sneakers with non-skinny jeans. Just opt for athletic pairs that have a chunkier sole — something with a little more height. New Balance 990v5s and Adidas Falcons are a safe bet.
Nike Daybreak Sneaker, $, available at
New Balance Grey Made In US 990 v5 Sneakers, $, available at
Adidas Originals Rod Laver Leather Sneakers, $, available at
Madewell Kickoff Trainer Sneakers in Neutral Colorblock Leather, $, available at
Adidas Falcon Sneakers, $, available at
New Balance 574 Core, $, available at
Platform Shoes
With the return of Y2K trends, platform heels have become the must-have shoe of 2022. Even if many of us have relegated heels for good amid the pandemic, platforms are the best remedy to combat the collective disdain for uncomfortable, tall shoes.
Jeffrey Campbell Platform Boot, $, available at
Naked Wolfe Sugar Boots, $, available at
Loeffler Randall Loeffler Randall Natalia Platform Pleated Bow Sandals, $, available at
Nomasei Silver Taxi Sandals, $, available at
Dolce Vita WESSI HEELS IN BLACK LEATHER, $, available at
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