10 Shoes Stylish People Pair With Bootcut Jeans

Shoes rank as one of the most important pieces in a look. They have the power to transform any ensemble in an instant, so it's essential to pick the right footwear (because, yes, certain shoes simply look better with certain pieces). Since skinny jeans have been on the downfall (sorry, millennials), many are opting for more relaxed denim. There are countless other pieces to hone in on, but today, we've decided to highlight the best shoes to wear with bootcut jeans because we know that can be, well, a tad tricky.

Bootcut jeans have a slight flare—they don't have a super-wide cut, but they're certainly not straight-leg either. In order to ensure the billowy bottoms look streamlined, it's best to pair them with shoes that add some height. Simple heeled booties are a great comfortable pick, and pointy-toe styles that ever so slightly peek out from the pants are a fun (but safe) choice, too. Next time you're unsure about which shoes to pair with your bootcut jeans, turn to our easy-to-follow guide. Below are our favorite boots, heels, and sandals to wear with this type of jeans.

1. Chelsea Boot

You can't go wrong styling bootcut jeans with a classic pair of Chelsea boots. The ankle height of the shoe sits perfectly underneath the flared edge of the jeans, ensuring they don't create that unappealing scrunched-up look.

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2. Heeled Ankle Boots

For bootcut jeans with longer hemlines, opt for footwear that will give you a bit of height—like heeled booties. During colder months, a heeled ankle boot will transition these jeans into the season and keep your denim from dragging on the ground, which is a win-win in our books.

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3. Chunky Loafers

With bootcut jeans, the flare can range from '70s-inspired to slightly more minimal. If your pair falls in the latter category, it's easier to get away with styling them with flats as the hemline won't drag on the ground. But to be safe, with flats, you want to opt for a style that will still give you a little lift, like a pair of chunky loafers.

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4. Platform Sneakers

Another flat footwear option you can rely upon to look good with semi-flared denim? Platform sneakers. The chunkier silhouette will keep your pants from dragging while also dramatizing the relaxed silhouette.

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5. Ballet Flats

Unless you just bought a brand-new pair of jeans, chances are you've worn them in quite a bit. Rather than ditching a pair of bootcut jeans that have maybe shrunk or frayed over time, consider embracing the more relaxed look by pairing them with ballet flats. By doing this, you'll give the jeans a baggier appearance, which is trending at the moment. Plus, you'll get more wear out of them!

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6. Heeled Mules

Let's be honest: We might love flats, but they don't always work with bootcut jeans. Whether the fit of your denim doesn't work with flat shoes or you're dressing for a more formal occasion, you want to have a foolproof footwear option to turn to when styling these pants. Enter heeled mules. No other footwear can elevate this denim (in every definition of the word) like these shoes can.

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7. Cowboy Boots

Since bootcut jeans have been considered a Western-inspired silhouette for decades, it doesn't hurt to lean into the history of this type of denim by pairing it with cowboy boots. While the idea might seem a bit too on-theme, the truth is that many fashion people regularly pair these jeans with this footwear. The key to pulling it off is pairing your flared denim with an ankle cowboy boot that feels contemporary so that it doesn't feel cliché.

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8. Slingback Heels

If you're not a fan of Western-inspired footwear, there's another style you can rely upon to give this "dated" denim a contemporary touch: slingback heels. Although this type of footwear has been around forever, with so many modern iterations on the market, it makes them the perfect item to pair with these jeans.

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9. Winter Boots

Although bootcut jeans are a staple that can be worn year-round, it can be a bit more challenging to style them during colder months as one might be worried about the hemline dragging in the snow. Rather than packing away these pants until the springtime, try pairing them with winter boots. Not only will opting for this footwear allow you to navigate winter storms with ease, but its height allows it to be comfortably worn underneath the flare of your jeans without having to tuck them in.

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10. Strappy Sandals

Hopefully, you've got ample inspiration on what footwear to wear with your bootcut jeans by now. But if you need one last suggestion, let us leave you with this: strappy sandals. By pairing bootcut jeans with this footwear, you'll be able to show off your favorite open-toed shoes and prove once and for all that bootcut jeans are the only denim silhouette that matters.

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This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.