3 Shoe Styles That Go With Leather Pants (and One That Doesn't)

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(Image credit: Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images)

There's no doubt that leather pants may not be new on the fashion scene, but they reached an all-time high of wear this past year. I'm not surprised, because they make any outfit look expensive and are the perfect alternative to jeans when the temperature drops. But while pairing shoes with jeans is relatively easy, it can be tricky to figure out what to put on when wearing the edgy trend, and that's where I come into play. I've been wearing leather pants all season, so I did the work and tested the waters to see which shoes pair the best. 

Below, I've listed 3 shoes that style best with leather pants, along with outfit inspiration straight from our favorite street-style stars, and one that doesn't. However, feel free to disagree with me and wear whatever you want, this is purely based on my experience. 

Do: Ankle Boot

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Ankle boots are the fool-proof shoe to wear with leather pants, whether you opt for a classic black bootie or a printed one.

Do: Loafers

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Loafers have become my favorite shoe to trend this year, especially with the embellished ones that were seen on the runways. They add a more upscale look to leather pants, which I am 100% for. 

Do: Sneakers

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(Image credit: Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images)

Sneakers go with almost everything, and paired with leather pants you're pretty much set for a cool-girl outfit. 

Don't: Knee High Boots

While layering knee-high boots over denim pairs well, over leather pants can make for an uncomfortable situation. Since leather is already structured and heavier fabric, pulling knee-high boots over them probably won't make the best mix. Plus, if you do a leather ankle boot and pant combo, you'll essentially get the same vibe. 

Up next, My 57-Year-Old Aunt Just Gave Me Her Zara Wish List, and Damn, It's Good

Associate Fashion Editor
Yusra Siddiqui is an editor who resides in New Jersey but bounces between the suburbs and NYC. (She's a Jersey girl at heart.) After interning at Who What Wear in 2019, she found her way to the team after graduating from LIM College in 2022 with a fashion media degree. She's also spent time writing and working for publications such as Fashionista, Coveteur, and Nylon, but she always knew that Who What Wear was where she was meant to be. When she's on the job, she's perusing runway shows, analyzing the latest thing fellow Gen Zers are up to on the internet, and sharing what she can about the modest-fashion market. You can also catch her dabbling in entertainment, talking about the costume choices of the latest Netflix series or diving deeper into how the plotline affects the viewers in a myriad of ways. Lastly, she likes to create content for Who What Wear's TikTok. Her personal time is spent doing similar but also different things—deep diving into almost every new TV show (Bridgerton, Gilmore Girls, and Stranger Things are favorites), planning her next local getaway (whenever that may be), and reading the latest Emily Henry or Sally Rooney novel in one sitting.