Stovepipe Jeans Are The Style of the Season—5 Sandals That Actually Look Good With Them
Sandals with jeans is my favourite duo, so here are the shoes that actually work with the "not-too-skinny and not-too-loose-fit" style we're all backing for spring.
As a summer person, I'm keen to kick off my boots and ditch my coat at the first glimpse of spring sun. But as someone who is also notoriously chilly (I should have been born in the Mediterranean, really) I'm not about to dust off my linen and bikinis just yet. Instead, I tend to stick to an outfit formula that never fails at this in-between time of year: jeans + sandals.
While I've been accustomed to adding flip flops to my looks for a few years now, I've recently been looking to invest in a pair of stovepipe jeans ,so I wanted to get some inspiration on how to wear the denim fit my fellow fashion people can't get enough of right now. Firstly, if you're unsure what 'stovepipes' actually are, I would say if skinny jeans and straight-leg jeans had a baby, this is what it would look like. Slim from hip to ankle without tapering, the high-waisted styles are loved for their sleek, polished appearance. But since I've been on the lookout for the best stovepipe jeans, I've discovered that while boots, ballet flats and pointed-toe heels always look chic with them, it's only certain sandals that actually work with the slimline jeans.
I'm not one to gatekeep, so let's just get into the 5 sandal styles that work best with stovepipe jeans for spring/summer 2026.
5 Sandals To Wear With Stovepipe Jeans For Spring Summer 2026
1. Flip Flops
Style Notes: Long gone are the days of flip flops being a beach-only style. They add an undone "I barely tried to look this good" vibe to any style of jeans, but especially more structured, streamline stovepipe pairs. Clara opts for timeless black, but I love all the bright shades and rubber versions around.
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2. Kitten Heels
Style Notes: As the owner of far too many pairs of kitten heels, of course I'll be adding them to my stovepipe jeans. Whether it's an ankle strap pair, like Anne-Laure Mais, or a thong style, you'll wear them on repeat with your jeans—and for every upcoming wedding, too.
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3. Toe-Post Sandals
Style Notes: Whether you get a minimalist pair, as seen on Sara, or ones with toe ring-style jewellery (I have a Zara pair I haven't taken off for two seasons now,) toe-post sandals are not to be ignored. Detailed enough to add interest to your stovepipes, but not too fussy, you'll end up wearing this duo for pretty much every plan.
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4. Super Strappy
Style Notes: 2012 me would have called these 'caged sandals', but for now we'll go with 'super strappy'. Sylvie shows how multi strap pairs can add interest to an otherwise simple outfit, and I now can't stop seeing iterations from the likes of Khaite and Aeyde to H&M and Nobody's Child.
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5. Metallic
Style Notes: Are you team gold or team silver? Lucy Williams has backed a golden double strap style with her mid-blue stovepipes and it adds a fancy feel without having to wear heels. Some metallic sandals can look dated, though, so make sure to stick to 2026 silhouettes to keep your look feeling current.
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Harriet Davey is a freelance fashion editor who has been part of Who What Wear's extended team since 2017. She previously worked in print at Look magazine and has since worked across print, digital and social for many other titles, including British Vogue, Stylist, Grazia, Refinery29 and Marie Claire. Also a stylist, Harriet has had the pleasure of producing cover shoots and editorials along with commercial shoots for brands including Boux Avenue, Watches of Switzerland, Benefit Cosmetics and Revolution. To add to this, Harriet also works in live TV styling for ITV’s This Morning.