If You Know, You Know: This Anti-Black Shoe Color Looks Best With Jeans and a Black Bag
Sorry, black flats—Jennifer Garner's heeled-shoe color with jeans creates a much chicer pairing.
Are jeans and a black bag one of your go-to pairings? Do you always automatically style the look back to black shoes? If you answered yes to both, we completely understand—matching your bag to your shoes has been the gold standard of styling for as long as we can remember. But in 2026, fashion insiders are rewriting the rule book, showing that choosing a non-black shoe is actually the chicest way to refresh your denim outfit while keeping it timeless. One smart dresser who is backing this shift is Jennifer Garner.
While out in NYC, the star of Peacock's The Five-Star Weekend was spotted styling her blue bootcut jeans with a maroon V-neck sweater and a black tote from Chanel's Métiers d'Art 2026 collection. Rather than playing it safe with black shoes, she chose brown pointed-toe pumps. The "unexpected" combination felt incredibly forward, intentional, and uniquely her.
While black shoes are a classic, they can sometimes look a bit too stark against casual denim. Brown shoes offer the same level of versatility and polish but with an added layer of warmth and depth. On top of that, Garner's choice of heels rather than flats elevated the entire outfit, making it feel sophisticated and beautifully put-together.
If you've been inspired to break the matchy-matchy habit and upgrade your favorite denim-and-black-bag pairings, keep scrolling to discover my edit of the best brown heels.
Shop Brown Heels
Sleek and sophisticated.
You can't go wrong with these.
I'd style these now with Bermuda shorts and a tee, and in the fall with straight-leg jeans and a lace-trimmed blouse.
Who What Wear editors are obsessed with these designer-passing kitten heels.
Meet Jude, the rising shoe brand that's become a buzzy must-have.
Kaia Gerber and fashion people in Paris agree—ballet pumps are essential.
My jaw dropped when I saw these on Net-a-Porter.
Stunning.
Open-toe heels with a pointed toe design are so flattering.
The brown-and-blue color combination feels very 2026.
These are for those who love stilettos.
