Ankle-Length Trousers, Jeans and Leggings are Notoriously Tricky To Style—These 6 Shoes Suit Them Best

As much as cold weather is an invitation to show off your collections of sophisticated bottoms, there’s really one style that reigns supreme throughout the season—ankle-length trousers. Indeed, pants that graze along the ground will always be polished, but they’re just simply not practical when you have to combat countless puddles and slush.

Cropped right at the joint, it’s these sorts of jeans, leggings and woollen options that truly come into focus once the temperature drops. But what are the chicest shoes to wear with ankle-length trousers?

I’m firmly of the opinion that pants of this nature can take you in two very different directions. The foremost choice would be to lean into the crisp quality inherent to the shape by embracing more refined footwear iterations like heeled boots, ballet flats or slingbacks—a trifecta of silhouettes you’d definitely find in any French girl’s wardrobe. The subsequent alternative is to reject these notions altogether, wearing something languid and casual to offset the graceful length of the trousers.

But you don’t need to just take it from me. As autumn continues its slow descent into winter, the fabrics are starting to get thicker and hemlines are getting longer, meaning that there are quite a few notable ankle-length trouser outfits that are proving my point entirely. What you’ll notice from these looks, including an effortlessly elegant ensemble from Kendall Jenner featuring a sheer slip skirt from St. Agni layered over graceful trousers while in Paris, is that there’s assuredly an absence of specific shoe styles.

Like how there are specific shoes that complement ankle-length trousers most, there are some that aren’t necessarily the most compatible, simply because of the proportions that they create. And while I’m not suggesting that you need to go out and purchase the below styles, these combinations might spark some novel ideas about how to style your own ankle-length trousers, or other styles altogether for that matter, in new and fresh ways. So, without further ado, keep scrolling through for the 6 shoes that suit ankle-length trousers best.

The 6 Chicest Shoes to Wear With Ankle-Length Trousers:

1. Loafers

Style Notes: While loafers originated in 19th Century Norway, the sleek shape and discerning format have made them a beloved minimalist staple around the world. Given the fact that ankle-length trousers allow you to show off slightly more of your shoes than most, bonus points are allotted to those who reach for a suede interpretation or pieces that gather around the edge of the foot.

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2. Ballet Flats

Style Notes: With a lower profile and graceful connotations, ballet flats are a shoe versatile enough to enhance almost anything they’re teamed with. However, what I love most about the pairing of ballet flats with ankle-length trousers is the way the union subtly subverts the notion of what’s flattering for each style. Given the delicate nature of the dance-inspired shoe, you’d think that whimsical dresses and floaty skirts would be the perfect match. This isn’t to say they’re not harmonious, but the tension between practical pants and a dainty shoe is one that I’ll always endorse.

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3. Heeled Boots

Style Notes: One of the more functional shoe options is heeled boots. This is one that will particularly appeal to petites, thanks to the way they elongate the leg, but I find that anything with a slight raise to it will intensify charm and poise intrinsic to ankle-length trousers. Personally, I think that a razor-sharp pointed toe is the best shape, but slouchy round shapes and micro-heels work well, too.

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4. Slingbacks

Style Notes: Ask any Parisienne what they’re wearing with ankle-length trousers and they’d probably tell you it’s a slingback. A favourite since Coco Chanel introduced them to the mainstream back in 1957, with an elasticated strap that wraps around the heel and provides a glint of skin, these shoes are the most sultry, albeit timeless, of the bunch.

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5. Trainers

Style Notes: One style that doesn’t adhere to seasonal volatility is trainers. Rain, hail or shine, this is a style that will always complete any ankle-length trainer outfit simply because of how all-round and resourceful they are. This season in particular, however, opt for sneakers that have retro accents and slim soles.

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6. Sandals

Style Notes: Another lesson in contrast, especially for those with shorter frames where pants naturally crop at the ankle, sandals provide a great way of balancing out the tailoring in built to ankle-length trousers with something more balmy. Save this one for when the weather warms.

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