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What Color Shoes And Boots Go With Black Jeans?

December 22, 2022
What Color Shoes And Boots Go With Black Jeans?

Black jeans are known for their gloriously casual aesthetic, as well as their versatility. However, color-coordinating footwear can sometimes be tricky. 

So, here are some great shoe and boot colors you can wear with black jeans: 

  • Brown
  • White
  • Blue
  • Grey
  • Navy
  • Burgundy 

That’s the short answer. A list is all well and good, but you need a whole lot more. 

After going through a couple of essential tips for color-matching black jeans with shoes in the best way possible, we’ll run through the specific combinations in more detail. 

Let’s get to it. 

How To Color Coordinate Black Jeans With Shoes And Boots

Consider both of these tips/factors before putting your black jeans outfit together. 

brown belt with black jeans
Image From Deposit Photos

1. Consider The Dress Code

The more casual the setting, the more likely it is that a pair of shoes or boots in a light, bright, or bold color would be suitable to wear with your black jeans. 

In less casual settings where there’s more of a risk of underdressing (eg. smart-casual events), consider a darker and more neutral-colored pair of shoes. 

Here are some truly casual footwear colors you could consider: 

  • White
  • Medium Blue
  • Burgundy
  • Light grey

Here are some “smart-casual” footwear colors: 

  • Brown
  • Black
  • Navy

Ultimately, black jeans should only ever be worn in casual settings. But there are certain settings that are truly casual, while others are “smart-casual”. 

It’s worth mentioning that it isn’t just the color you need to consider when it comes to the dress code. 

Here are some truly casual footwear options: 

  • Sneakers
  • Trainers
  • Lace-up boots
brown boots with tucked black jeans
Image From Deposit Photos

Here are some “smart-casual” options: 

  • Loafers
  • Boat shoes
  • Suede Derby shoes
  • Chelsea boots
  • Chukka boots

So, consider how casual the setting you’re attending is when selecting the right color and style of shoe/boot to wear with your black jeans. 

Here are a couple of examples: 

Truly Casual – Salmon Pink T-Shirt, Black Jeans, All-White Sneakers

Smart-Casual – White OCBD shirt, Black Jeans, Brown Suede Derby Shoes or Chelsea boots

2. Consider Your Other Items   

When choosing the right shoe or boot color to wear with your black jeans, consider the other items you’re wearing. 

You’ll want to do this for two main reasons: 

  1. Consider coordinating the shoes with a different item you may be wearing
  2. Consider whether you want your shoes to be a “pop” of color in your outfit

Let’s talk about each of them in turn. 

You may want to coordinate your shoes or boots with another item you happen to be wearing with your black jeans. 

blue blazer with black jeans
Image From Deposit Photos

For example, you could wear a brown leather jacket, black jeans, and a pair of brown Chelsea boots. 

Or, a white T-shirt, black jeans, and all-white sneakers. 

Color-matching items like this is a simple way to make it clear that an outfit is well-coordinated. 

The second reason why you want to consider your other items is to determine whether you want your shoes to be the one “pop” of color in your outfit. 

In general, having a single pop of color in your outfit is a style trick that’s simple to get right. Throw too many colors into the mix and things often get overcomplicated. 

So, consider an all-neutral outfit + a colorful pair of shoes. This is especially effective in truly casual settings. 

For example, a white linen shirt, black jeans, and a pair of burgundy loafers. The neutral shirt and jeans combination is offset and made more interesting by the vibrant choice of footwear. 

6 Shoe And Boot Colors You Can Wear With Black Jeans

Let’s go through each combination one by one, with pictures to help you choose. 

Black Jeans With Brown Shoes

black jeans + dark brown dress shoes +  brown chukka boots
Images From Deposit Photos

Black jeans can be worn with brown shoes or boots such as Derbys, loafers, or chukkas in smart-casual settings. 

Don’t be fooled by the common misconception. 

Black coordinates exceedingly well with brown. In fact, it produces a great sense of contrast. 

In general, darker shades of brown are easier to coordinate with black jeans, so bear this in mind. Having said that, lighter shades of brown do produce a nice sense of contrast. 

If you’re looking to dress up those black jeans, a pair of brown shoes or boots would do it. 

You could choose a shiny grain of leather if you wanted to (eg. calfskin). 

However, it’s worth noting that brown suede shoes work extremely well here. The napped texture of suede looks phenomenal with the rugged texture of denim. 

The two often go hand-in-hand. 

Black Jeans With White Shoes

Black jeans + white sneakers
Images From Deposit Photos

Black jeans can easily be worn with white shoes, with white sneakers being the obvious choice here. The two items make for a great high-contrast and casual combination. 

The contrast between the black jeans and the white shoes is eye-catching and attention-grabbing. 

It’ll coordinate, but may not be all that low-key. 

All-white leather low-top sneakers are an essential item in anyone’s wardrobe given how simple they are to slot into any outfit you can think of. 

A black jeans ensemble is no exception. 

Consider cuffing the black jeans and wearing your white sneakers with ankle-exposing no-show socks. 

Cuffing produces a great, laid-back streetwear aesthetic. 

Black Jeans With Blue Shoes

Black jeans + blue suede derby shoes
Images From Deposit Photos

A pair of blue shoes would work well with black jeans, especially those in medium shades of blue (eg. azure). 

What you want is a pair that’s dark enough to sync well with the black jeans, while still being light enough to produce a noticeable and eye-catching contrast. 

It isn’t hard to find shoes in these colors, with suede Derbys and loafers coming to mind immediately. 

If you were dressing down, of course, a pair of medium blue sneakers would be perfectly acceptable too. 

What’s great about blue is that it coordinates effortlessly with black. 

Consider coordinating the blue shoes (or boots) with a different item in your outfit. 

For example, you could wear a navy blue blazer over a white T-shirt worn with a pair of black jeans and blue tassel loafers. 

Black Jeans With Grey Shoes

Black jeans + grey sneakers
Images From Deposit Photos

Black jeans look great when worn with grey shoes. It produces a near-monochromatic combination with black jeans. 

While it’s generally best to avoid wearing black shoes with black jeans (not enough contrast), a pair of grey shoes often works very well. 

Grey shoes may not be all that common, but in many ways, they’re a perfect addition to anyone’s wardrobe. 

The reason for this is that they’re effortlessly neutral. 

You can easily combine a pair of grey shoes with any color you can think of. In addition, they’re more unique and eye-catching than a simple pair of black or brown shoes. 

Once again, you could consider coordinating the grey shoes with a different item you may be wearing – for example, a grey blazer or T-shirt. 

Black Jeans With Navy Shoes

Black jeans + blue suede derby shoes + suede tassel loafers
Images From Deposit Photos

Black jeans look great when worn with navy shoes in casual and smart-casual settings. This is a testament to how easy it is to combine black with the similarly dark and muted navy. 

Navy shoes, much like grey shoes, aren’t exactly common. 

However, they’re still neutral enough to wear in smart-casual settings without drawing too much attention. 

Navy shoes will generally look dressier than the shoes in medium shades of blue we described earlier on. 

However, they’re still different enough from the black jeans to easily be distinguished from them. 

Black Jeans With Burgundy Shoes

black jeans +  burgundy dress shoes
Images From Deposit Photos

Black jeans can be worn with burgundy shoes for a high-contrast and eye-catching combination. 

Burgundy shoes are great because they’re dressy but fun and exciting. 

They make for a more vibrant alternative to black or brown shoes. Burgundy is a dark shade of red and as you’d expect, has noticeably “warm” undertones because of this. 

Burgundy shoes would make an otherwise simple and straightforward black jeans outfit a little more exciting. 

But at the same time, they’re not so colorful and vibrant as to be in-your-face or excessive. 

You could still easily wear a pair of burgundy shoes in smart-casual settings. In many ways, it’s perfect for this dress code. 

Dressy, but not too dressy. 

The same principle applies whether we’re talking about burgundy dress shoes, suede shoes, or boots. 

Conclusion 

Black jeans, much like other black items, are incredibly easy to coordinate. The process of color coordination takes very little thought and effort. 

But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a “best” or most suitable option for your specific circumstances. 

Consider whether the setting you’re attending is truly casual or smart-casual. In addition, consider whether you want to coordinate your shoes or boots with any other items you may be wearing. 

Enjoy.