How to Style Wide Leg Jeans (and what shoes to wear with them)

Wide-leg jeans are having a major moment, and it’s no surprise why. They’re chic and comfortable, and they look very on-trend and stylish without a ton of effort. However, I know that learning how to style a new fit of jeans can be challenging– especially if you’ve been on the skinny jeans train for a long time.

In this blog post, I share my favorite wide-leg jean styles for fall, my tips on what shoes to wear with wide-leg jeans, and a few outfit ideas and inspiration for your closet. I love jeans (I have 40+ pairs in my closet), and teaching women how to branch out of their typical denim styles and embrace new, emerging styles is one of my favorite things to do. I hope you feel more confident ordering and wearing wide-leg jeans after you read this post.

If you’re looking for other styling tips for your jeans, read how to wear ankle boots with jeans here, or what shoes to wear with mom jeans here.

How to Style Wide-Leg Jeans

The best wide-leg jeans

Before you can style wide-leg jeans, you have to find the right pair to buy. As someone with a petite frame (I’m 5’1″), finding jeans that fit well can be difficult. (However, I did find eight great petite jeans that don’t need alterations, which you can see in this post). These are my favorite pairs of wide-leg jeans (that will also look great if you’re taller, since you won’t need to hem them).

Meg High Waist Raw Hem Ankle Wide Leg Jeans

These are a great budget pick. The Meg High Waist Raw Hem Ankle Wide Leg Jeans are cropped, which makes them even easier to style (we’ll get into that later). They’re stretchy and comfortable. If you’re just branching into wide-leg jeans, the Meg jeans from Kut from the Kloth will be a great gateway pair. Plus, you can order them from Nordstrom and get free shipping and returns. Fit is true-to-size.

Joe’s Jeans The Mia High Waist Ankle Wide Leg Jeans

Another great pair of wide-leg jeans that are easy to style are these Mia jeans from Joe’s. They’re cropped, so you can wear many different shoes with them, and the light wash is casual and laid-back. The high waist is essential for accentuating the waist, which is important when the rest of the leg gives an A-line shape. Fit is true-to-size.

Abercrombie High Rise Cropped Wide Leg Jean

Another cropped wide-leg jean, this time from Abercrombie. I ordered this pair of High-Rise Cropped Wide-Leg Jeans this summer and still wear them into fall. I’ve harped on it a few times already, but a cropped wide-leg is much easier to style than a full-length wide-leg. I sized down one size in these.

Agolde Harper Jeans

The best pair of wide-leg jeans I found this year are the Agolde Harper Jeans. They are technically “straight-leg” jeans online at AGOLDE, but even Nordstrom calls them wide-leg since that’s how they fit. Most straight-leg jeans taper just a tad toward the ankle, but these do not. They keep their shape all the way through the hem and have a wide opening at the ankle that covers my shoes. They’re pricey, but Agolde holds up year after year. If a super wide-leg fit makes you nervous, this is a fantastic option to start with. Size down if you’re on the fence; I have a size 26 in these and wear a 27 in most brands.

Pistola Penny High Rise Wide Leg Crop

If you’re looking for a non-blue wide-leg jean, this pair of Penny High Rise Wide Leg Crop from Pistola is perfect. They’re comfortable and flattering and have a unique look since they don’t have front pockets. They feel like a blend of chinos and denim, perfect for this bluff green wash. I highly recommend this style for offices where blue jeans are a no-go, but you can still be business casual.

Unfortunately, the bluff colorway I own is mostly sold out, but the Penny Wide Leg is available in a ton of washes here. I wear a size 27 in this style.

Target High-Rise Sailor Wide Leg Ankle Jeans

I was shocked when I tried on these High-Rise Sailor Wide Leg Ankle Jeans from Target. The fit is perfect, the length is ideal for me (but will be cropped on most), and they come in many colors. They are a great dupe for the Pistola pair above, however the Pistola waistband is a smidge more comfortable. For under $30, you just can’t beat these. If you’re on the fence, I recommend sizing up one size in these.

What Shoes to Wear with Wide-Leg Jeans

Full-length, wide-leg jeans

Figuring out what shoes to wear with wide-leg pants is easier once you’ve identified whether your jeans are full-length or cropped. Full-length wide-leg jeans will cover most of your shoe (your toes may peep out), so the idea is to use the length of the jeans to make your legs look longer. I recommend a heel (platform or just a pump), heeled booties, or a tall boot. Before hemming your jeans, try them on with the heels in your closet. You want the pants hem to kiss the floor with your shoes on.

Because wide-leg jeans don’t show much of your body shape (apart from accentuating your waist), use them to give the illusion that your legs go for miles. Wearing flats or sandals is perfectly fine, too, but this won’t give you an elongated effect like heels (especially pointy-toed heels). I wear flats and sneakers with full-length wide-leg jeans often, but I make sure my jeans are hemmed so that they just barely hit the ground in this case. Here’s an example!

For easy reference, here are my recommendations for shoes to wear with full-length wide-leg jeans:

• Heels
• Pumps
• Heeled booties
• Tall boots with a heel
• Sneakers
• Ballet flats

Cropped wide-leg jeans

Cropped wide-leg jeans are a bit different than full-length jeans, which means you need to style differently. The hem hits above your ankle bone, which means your ankle and foot will show, so your shoe choice is more important. Since these won’t go all the way to the floor, they will not work to elongate your legs in the same way as a full-length pair, but they allow for your shoe choice to add interest to your outfit. I like to wear sandals, loafers, kitten heels, and even sneakers with cropped wide-leg jeans. Cropped jeans tend to feel more casual and laid back.

Here are my recommendations:

• Sandals
• Loafers
• Ballet flats
• Heeled booties (only if the hem of the pant covers a little bit of the bootie shaft)
• Sneakers

Styling Wide Leg Jeans

Tucked-in Tee

A classic tee tucked into your wide-leg jeans is a no-fail look. The high waist of the jeans makes your waist look smaller, while the wider legs give a flattering balance. Since wide-leg jeans are interesting on their own, keeping the top simple is a great option. I love this BP Body Suit that I got from Nordstrom this summer. I don’t snap the bottom part, but I wear it like a regular top tucked in.

Structured Blazer

Want to make your wide-leg jeans office-friendly? Pair them with a tailored blazer. A structured blazer balances the flowy nature of the jeans and adds a polished, sophisticated touch. Wear a tucked-in blouse or fitted top underneath (that bodysuit from above is perfect), and finish the look with heels or sleek ankle boots. If you wear ankle boots, be sure that the shaft of the boot is covered at least partially by the jeans if they are cropped.

My favorite blazer for the fall is this Halogen One Button Blazer from Nordstrom.

Cropped Jackets or Sweaters

Because wide-leg jeans have so much volume, pairing them with a cropped jacket or sweater helps create a balanced silhouette. The shorter length of the top draws attention to your waistline and keeps your look from feeling too oversized. A chunky knit cropped sweater with wide-leg jeans is perfect for fall. My favorite chunky cropped sweater is this v-neck cable cropped sweater from Topshop.

Don’t Forget to Front-Tuck Longer Tops

If you have a sweater or blouse that is a little longer, you can still style it with wide-leg jeans. Just tuck the front part of your top into the front of the jeans to show the waistline. This is called a “French tuck,” and it’s the best way to wear longer tops with long pants while still giving your outfit some shape. A great options for this styling is this Topshop sweater from Nordstrom.

Bottom Line

Wide-leg jeans might feel like a bold choice at first, but with the right styling, they can be your go-to for all kinds of occasions. The key is balance—whether it’s pairing them with a fitted top, adding accessories, or playing with proportions. So don’t be afraid to experiment and make this trend your own. Happy styling!

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