Knowing this will not just make you look good. It will make you look really good.
if you are looking for an answer
Well, then you’ve come to the right place. I’ll show you the 10 dress and casual men’s shoes that happen to be the perfect shoes to wear with jeans.
The 10 Shoes to Wear With Jeans
First of all, let me tell you the most important thing about jeans:
Darker jeans have a much dressier look than lighter jeans. This, combined with the casual nature of denim, means that you can wear dark jeans with almost any type of shoes.
There are a couple of shoes that will look too dressy. Don’t despair; I’ll get to those shoes in a bit.
But first:
Here are the 10 shoes to wear with jeans in dark washes.
Sneakers
Sneakers with jeans is a proven casual look. Just to make it clear, we’re not talking about technical sneakers, such as the signature sneakers of LeBron James or the latest running shoes from Salomon.
classic sneakersGood sneakers to wear with jeans should be classics. Like Chuk Taylors from Converse and the Authentic model from Vans. In other words, lace-up canvas sneakers with a low top.
To wear these men’s shoes with jeans successfully, the occasion needs to be somewhat casual.
If you have a dress code at work, casual Fridays would be the only time to wear these to the office. Otherwise, sneakers and jeans are perfect for:
Weekends
Dates
Eating out
Everyday activities
To really nail it when wearing sneakers with jeans, make sure you match the colour of your socks with that of your pants (no white tennis socks here).
To learn more about matching sock colour and which socks to buy, click here and check out my men’s sock tutorial.
Also, if it’s a warm summer day …
… try sporting sneakers without socks, like you do when wearing shorts.
If you find it uncomfortable for any reason, put on a pair of no-show socks, also called ‘sneaker socks’. Unlike ankle socks, these look great. Because they don’t show at all (wink).
Speaking of shoes that can be worn without socks …
… slip-ons are perfect.
Slip-Ons
When it comes to slip-ons, you basically have three choices:
Leather loafers
Canvas loafers
Boat shoes
Slip-ons are just the thing if in the summer. Especially if you’re looking for some nice black or brown casual shoes to wear with jeans.
By the way, brown shoes looks better with blue jeans than black jeans. That’s because brown is a warm colour and don’t match cool black pants.
Black shoes on the other hand, can be worn with both blue and black jeans.
Today they have become classic casual wear, no longer reserved for the docks. Boat shoes are great shoes to wear with jeans. This type also looks good with chinos if you prefer something preppier than denims.
To look your best, here’s what to do to really nail slip-ons:
If the occasion isn’t formal or business-related, lose the socks (or wear sneaker socks). Also, never wear them in winter. Rather, wear these casual shoes with jeans as often as you can in the summer.
Desert Boots, Chelsea Boots, and Dress Boots
Boots have gotten an unfair ‘casual’ label.
Of course, casual and hiking boots should never be worn in combination with jeans and a blazer.
But some boots—like desert boots, Chelsea boots, and dress boots—can.
In the spring, summer, and autumn, chukka and desert boots are perfect with jeans.
Chukka and Desert Boots
Desert boots are a type of chukka boots. Chukka’s usually have two to three pairs of eyelets, a plain leather finish, and a crepe (white) rubber sole.
Unlike Chukkas, desert boots always have suede uppers. They’re also unlined and often lighter, and so the desert boot is the one I prefer.
Chelsea boots have a solid pedigree and date back to the Victorian era (mid-1800s). For these boots, plain leather is the only option. They can be higher than chukkas, and instead of laces, they have elastic side panels.
As with dress shoe soles, a Chelsea sole is usually made of stained leather or rubber. This gives them a dressier look than the white soles of chukka boots. It also makes the boots easier to take care of, since you don’t have to worry about staining the sole when polishing you boots.
Chelsea boots are best worn on rain-filled days and in colder seasons. They look great with jeans, a sweater, and a casual jacket—if casual is what you’re aiming for. However, they can be worn with a suit and coat.
If you don’t fancy the elastic sides of the Chelsea boots or you’d like something a bit more watertight, open-lacing boots are the answer.
Unlike casual boots, these boots can and must be polished to look good. You can also get them with different degrees of brogueing. If they’re your first pair of dress boots, forget full brogues and half brogues. Quarter brogues are more than enough, since that means you can wear them with suits as well.If you don’t like brogueing, boots in plain leather with a toe cap are very versatile and is what I would have chosen as my first pair of boots. Also, open-lacing boots, like the ones in the picture, are less dressy than closed-lacing boots (we’ll get to those in a bit). That’s good news, because the open lacing makes them the perfect everyday boots to wear with jeans.
Brogue and Derby Open-lacing Dress Shoes
When it comes to classic open-lacing leather shoes, we can basically divide them into:
Derbies
Brogues
‘Open-lacing’ simply means that the shoelace eyelet tabs are mounted on top of the vamp. Oxfords, which we’ll talk about in a bit, are closed-lacing leather shoes. These have eyelet tabs that are located under the vamp.
Derbies
Derbies are about as simple as shoes get. Apart from occasional toe variations, such as apron, cap, and split toes …there isn’t much more to these shoes
The simplicity of open lacing dress shoes is also what makes them dressy and versatile. These will look just as much at home with a pair of jeans as with a suit.
If I had to start my wardrobe all over again, black or brown leather derbies would be the first pair of shoes I bought.
Brogues
As I’ve already mentioned, brogue shoes are a type of open-lacing shoe. In fact, most open-lacing brogue shoes look much like plain derbies, but with added decoration.
The degree of embellishment differs, from long-wing brogues to quarter brogues.That’s why brogue shoes are great as shoe pair number two.
If you’re looking to wear black or brown dress shoes with jeans, I’d go for brogues.
Brogue shoes are best worn with jeans and dressy tops, such as polos and collared shirts with a well tied tie, plus a blazer or classic casual jacket.
Monkstraps
Here’s a shoe with just as many devotees as haters. Some can’t stand the buckle fastening, which reminds them of monks in their sandals. While others simply love this cross between. loafers and open-lacing shoes.If you haven’t already decided on your pair of shoes, these could be it.
Is there an effect in how we are treated by the world on the bases of what we wear?
Fortunately, guys, we have some scientific evidence to support what you wear does make a difference in how you influence the world around you.
First impression is the best impression
When your credibility is crucial, in situations such as job interviews, court testimony, sales presentations and first dates (or even second and third dates) it is important to made a “good” first impression.
“You never get a second chance to make a first impression“ – Will Rogers
Behavioral scientists tell us that this “first impression” is a strong one. And the process of sizing you up is on a subconscious/emotional level of the brain. Your evaluation by a stranger takes 30 seconds or less and can be so strong that it could take as much as five years to erase.
Don’t you think it’s easier to make a great first impression with you appearance and then follow up by showing what a capable, impressive and trustworthy person you are with a winning performance?
A good example of “how you look being more important than what you say” is the first Kennedy-Nixon presidential debate. Radio listeners thought that Nixon had won while TV watchers gave Kennedy the win. Kennedy looked great, fresh and vigorous while Nixon appeared tired and rumpled. The TV audience gave more credibility to what they saw than what they heard.
When I describe someone as an assistant manger at a fast food restaurant you immediately conjure an image of that person, maybe without much conscious thought. When I mention a high level executive you get another, different image in your mind. There is a definite picture of a person with credibility, authority and power – a professional image.
The Latest Research
Why not take advantage of the research on human nature and utilize the knowledge to enhance and control how you are accepted?
The research reports that people notice the following about another human being and in this order. Remember this is a prehistoric/subliminal evaluation.
Skin color
Sex
Age
We can do nothing about the first three, but we can work on the next four factors.
Bearing – This includes height (taller people receive higher starting salaries), head movement (nodding is negative with regard to perception of authority) and body language (smiling is perceived as weakness if over done).
Appearance-Since about 90% of you is covered by apparel, the clothing you choose makes a significant impact. This is such an important area, and on in which you can effect the greatest impression. We’ll discuss it detail below.
Direct Eye Contact – Don’t stare, but look others in the eye 40 – 60% of the time, otherwise you’ll be perceived as having something to hide or that you don’t know what you are talking about.
Speech – 55% of communication is non-verbal. It’s not what you say, but how you say it.
What you wear makes a difference in how you influence the world.
Dressing badly can be taken as contempt for other people or the situation you are in. Clothing is a way to show others that you have respect and consideration for the situation. If you have respect for the theatre, you don’t show up in shorts and a T-shirt to a Broadway play. (The same goes for church, a job interview, etc.).
So it’s not a question of being judged. We are judged thousands of times everyday.
It’s a question of whether we want to have an affect on that judging or not.
Are we ready to see what we can do to present ourselves in the best package to project a credible, professional image?
“Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not express’d in fancy; rich not gaudy For the apparel oft proclaims the man” Polonius to Laertes HAMLET, Act I, Scene III
Here are some basic tips, and faux pas to avoid in order to look your best:
1. Never wear a short sleeve shirt with a tie. Short sleeve shirts are perceived as lower class apparel. Fine as part of a uniform or if you aspire to be a fast-food manager, not if you want to project a professional image.
2. Shoes are one of the most evaluated elements of men’s wardrobes. Your shoes should be clean, shined, in good repair and appropriate for the occasion. If you are wearing a suit, wear lace-up shoes. Don’t wear the same shoe on consecutive days and keep shoetrees in your shoes when you’re not wearing them.
3. Trousers should be long enough to cover your socks, and socks should cover your shins even when you cross you legs. Pants are long enough if they have a slight break in the front. Pleats and cuffs are traditional and functional. Pleats let you sit down comfortably and cuffs add weight to the bottoms allowing for proper drape.
4. Wearing both a belt and braces make you look insecure. One or the other please. And if you opt for the braces, please make certain they are the kind that fasten inside your trousers with buttons. It’s very easy to have a tailor or the alterations person at your dry cleaners put brace buttons on your pants if they don’t already have them. The metal clip-ons are for the guys who wear short sleeve shirts with ties.
5. Socks should match your trousers.
6. Belts should match your shoes in color and texture.
7. Ties should reach your belt line. This is neither arbitrary nor negotiable. Too short of a tie makes you look like a rube.
8. Properly knotted ties have a “dimple” under the knot. Clips and tacks are out of date.
9. Suit and Sports jackets are symbols of authority. However the bottom buttons of men’s jacketsare not designed to be buttoned, since King Edward VII gained weight, and started a fashion trend (see detail below).
Single Breasted suits can have one, two, three or more buttons. Two and three button jackets are classic, one or more than three get you into the fashion forward arena, which is more suitable for social events than business. With two button jackets only the top button is fastened. With three button jackets, you can close the middle, or middle and top button. Some suits are made so that the lapels roll to the middle button. On those suits you leave the top button unfastened. Some East Coast hipsters fasten only the top of three buttons! Four or more button jackets may be designed to fasten all the buttons, even the bottom. If the bottom button of a four button can be closed without a noticeable pulling of the fabric, it’s ok to close or leave it open. Double Breasted suits are the more formal of the two styles and can have four to six buttons with one or two “to button”. They are often identified by a two-number designation such as 4/2, 4/1 or 6/2 (also “four to two”). Translated, the first number gives the total number of front buttons and the second is the number of functioning buttonholes. It doesn’t always mean that all the buttons have to be fastened. Often only the middle or upper button is secured on a 4/2 or 6/2, but the Duke of Kent started buttoning only his lower button creating a longer diagonal line across his chest giving the wearer a thinner, more dynamic look.
To know how to were a suit checkout my another blog Click here
Why do men never button the bottom button of your suit, sports jacket, vest or Cardigan sweater? King Edward VII, “Bertie”, son of Victoria (1841 – 1910, King 1901 – 1910) was so heavy that he could not get the bottom button fastened on his vest or to be more historically kind, maybe he just forgot. His subjects taking it as a fashion statement followed his lead and today most men’s suits, sports jackets or vests are not designed to button the bottom button.
The tradition of not buttoning the bottom button may have also come from the early waistcoats, which were very long. It may have been out of necessity of being able to walk that the bottom buttons were left undone.
10. Suit and Sports jackets should fit properly which includes showing ½” of “linen” or shirtsleeve at the jacket sleeve.
11.No pens or pocket protectors in your shirt pocket. Pens go in your suit coat inside pocket, out of sight. Also applies to telephones, etc. worn on the belt. Think about getting a nice briefcase!
12. Hair longer than shoulder length for women and over the ears for men diminishes perception of authority, but increases accessibility.
Keeping all of this in mind dress well and look good. Remember first impression is the best impression!
