Wide leg, cropped, skinny, boyfriend, flare. So many pant silhouettes are on trend but finding the right shoe to compliment each style can be a daunting task – until now!
Relationships are tricky. The relationship between a pant leg and shoes; even trickier. We all know the right shoe can make (or break) an outfit. Pants and shoes together take up almost half of an outfit so finding the proper proportion and relationship between the two is essential. But fear not, in this blog post I am sharing three simple guidelines (there are no absolute rules in the fashion world, just guidelines) to help you navigate what shoes to wear with different pant styles.
Guideline 1) Opposites Attract
Simply put, the wider the pant leg the slimmer the shoe. This applies to both the shoe toe and shoe sole. Skinny and straight leg silhouettes are off set by chunkier soles (think moto boots or Doc Martens) and rounded toes (ballet flats, mules sneakers, and mary janes). But pair these short stocky shoe silhouettes with a wide, cropped or flare pant and the proportions are literally “bottom heavy” and can look squatty. Instead, opt for a pointy or tapered toe shoe with a slim sole or thin heel (like the trending kitten heels) to wear with your flares and wider leg pants.
Guideline 2) Length Matters
This guideline primarily focuses on styling boots or booties with cropped hemlines. Showing skin is good but showing too much skin (more than 1/2 inch) between the boot and hemline is not good. Ideally, no skin should show between boot and pant but wearing a color coordinated sock with your outfit can help minimize the gap. This will help elongate the line of the leg which is flattering to us all. With wide leg pants, make sure the boot shaft is long enough for the pant to not get caught in the boot when you walk. And similar to guideline 1, the wider the cropped pant leg, the narrower you want the boot shaft.
Guideline 3) Ankles Anchor the Outfit
If your pants show your ankles, it is important to keep proportion. Slim fit boots and booties work best with wide hem lines. They offer a visual contrast between the width of the pants and the delicateness of the ankle. Skinny, straight and stovepipe jeans can go with boots with a wider opening because the pants provide the narrow contrast to the wider boot.
A lot to take in, I know. But hopefully these three guidelines on what shoes to wear with different pant styles will have you on your way to becoming a hemline hero. The complex world of shoe and pant pairings is always evolving but these tips should help you wear them with style and confidence. Or at least take a step in the right direction (pun fully intended)!
**all images from Pinterest**