What shoes to wear with wide leg pants

Wide leg pants move. The fabric falls straight from the hip, so the shoe has two jobs: give the hem something to rest on, and add enough weight at the floor to balance all that fabric. A shoe that is too delicate disappears under the hem, and the pants look too long.

The simple rule: the hem should graze the top of your shoe or the floor. Hem for the shoe you wear most.

The pants

Tailored wide leg pants in a camel tone go with grey, white, black and brown, so they work with most of a closet.

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#007

Camel-tone pants

PRETTYGARDEN Tailored Wide Leg Dress Pants

Khaki

Camel with grey reads polished.

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A loafer: the safest choice

A loafer has the right weight for a wide leg. The hem rests on the vamp, the toe shows, and the outfit looks finished. A smooth leather loafer with a small hardware detail dresses the pants up without a heel.

#037

Loafers

Sam Edelman Loraine Bit Loafer

Terrazzo Brown, size 8

A smooth brown loafer that carries chocolate and gold to the floor.

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A block heel: for a longer line

When the pants are long, a block heel lets them hang straight to the floor. A chunky heel suits the volume of a wide leg better than a thin one.

#053

Loafer pumps

DREAM PAIRS Block Heel Loafer Pumps

Dark Brown

A loafer on a low block heel polishes jeans and pants.

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Flats and sneakers: hem them shorter

Wide leg pants can work with ballet flats or white sneakers, but only if the hem is short enough not to drag. With flats, a hem that grazes the floor is right. With sneakers, a cropped wide leg looks intentional; a full-length one tends to bunch.

#052

Ballet flats

Amazon Essentials Round Toe Ballet Flat

Black Faux Leather

A black flat that dresses up jeans without a heel.

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#051

Sneakers

Keds Champion Leather Sneaker

White Leather

A clean white sneaker that makes jeans and dresses casual.

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What to wear on top

Wide legs want a fitted or tucked top so the outfit has a waist:

• A fine light grey crewneck (#039), tucked in front, with the loafer (#037).
• A black turtleneck (#040) with the block heel (#053) for evening.
• A white tee (#038) with sneakers (#051) for the weekend.

#039

Crewneck sweater

Amazon Essentials Lightweight Crewneck Sweater

Light Grey Heather

Light grey takes gold, brown and camel equally well.

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Quick answers

• Do wide leg pants need heels? No. A loafer or a flat works if the hem is the right length.
• What shoes look wrong? Very thin sandals or small, delicate flats under a long hem. The pants swallow them.
• Can I wear boots? Yes, if they are slim at the ankle and the hem covers them.