Pants and closed-toe shoes? - YouLookFab Forum

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Pants and closed-toe shoes?

rachylou

Veteran

Had a thought: I don’t wear open toe shoes any more, no sandals. Do you think there are certain shoe styles that go better with certain pants styles? I’m thinking I like looser, wider pants with sandals more and maybe that’s why I have so few pairs of wide hem pants. Do you have a preferred combination?

Dressing

24 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Perhaps it's a question of balance -- you need to show some (foot!) skin and add some structure to balance out the wide pants.

YKK

I favor side zip boots or black water shoes I wear them on the street hundreds of miles from water they just look really sharp to me. My choice of pants is kind of bland black dress pants or just elastic waist pants like athletic warm up pats I guess. I really favor those types of pants as you don't need a belt and as a man you can't possibly leave your zipper down as there is none. Once you pull your pants on you're dressed, no zipper to to worry about. Lots of times these pants don't have pockets but I usually use a waist pack which I find more convenient though it's hard to run in one. Another draw back is in some parts of the country people think it's a holster and you're open carrying a gun. Do your own thing but some places get pretty worked up if you have a gun on you. Not sure why given your young adult in the middle of New York or LA probably has one in his pants anyway.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I think there are definitely some combinations that work better than others. I saw a chart or graphic recently about this- I wish I remembered where!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Rachy, Summery soft and loose wide pants do look nice with sandals or a more caged style. Their more substantial cold weather version look great with high shaft booties, sneakers, and loafers. Could those work?

Like you, I am a closed shoe gal 99.9% of the time. But this year I am having a good run with these VERY comfy pairs of sandals. I wear them with dresses, white jeans (wide or relaxed), long shorts, and skirts.

Bella-Vita Ira Strappy Sandal

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Bella-Vita Holden Sandal

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Brooklyn

Veteran

I do think sandals look nice with wide leg pants in Summer. But I also think wide leg pants look great with sneakers or any kind of platform shoe (like a platform brogue). Would either of those be an option for you?

Sal

Veteran

It's a hard thing to define yet if the shoe/pants combo is wrong it feels all off.

With wider leg pants I like a platform sneaker the best. Better than my Dad sneakers or boots.

I do like sandals and wear them from October to March (not exclusively but often and as much as I can from December to February).

The shoes that I find the hardest to wear and look good in are ballet flats. I saw Irina's post with her modern ones and they look so good on her but I just feel I need more substance to my shoe to balance out my hips (unless it's a heel). I don't know if I am right or not. I used to wear them with skinny jeans and like them, or with leggings and a tunic.....but since then I have struggled to feel good in them.

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rachylou

Veteran

I do think it’s the structure aspect - that sandals show skin. Platforms make a lot of sense too for their visual solidity: I’d have to find a pair that bend when you walk. I’m pretty clumsy.

Angie, point taken about more substantial versions of wide-hem pants. Maybe I should turn my eye to a winter version. Yes, I think I’ll do that

rachylou

Veteran

And yes re ballet flats. I’m no viking, but I’m medium boned. Ballet flats can look too tiny on me for my liking.

Runcarla

Veteran

My footwear of choice for long full leg trousers are Converse sneakers or pointy toe flats. I’ve worn them with stompy boots, and an almond toe loafer as well - but Cons are my firsts choice.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

I think it depends on the toebox shape, right? As dated as some people may find it now, there's a reason folk would wear pointed toes with bootcut jeans in the past

rachylou

Veteran

Oh interesting point about pointy toes. Would it be right to say they give a sense of structure? But they don’t disappear your feet in any case… yes, good points (oh dear, and is that a pun that’s been lurking here?! ).

Column

Veteran

Am trying fisherman sandals this summer. They seem to span the difference between summer shoe and sandal, and there is a little foot peeking through for structure. I prefer a dainty or sleek foot, but the fisherman is kind of a balance between refined (as Angie would say) and hefty trend, so I am experimenting. I splurged on Me and Em as a warm-weather work shoe. Will see how much wear I get.

Bijou

Veteran

I find it is a combination of fabrication and pant style that dictates the footwear I chose for wide leg pants. I have some wide leg cords that I wear with boots and sneakers, my wide leg chinos (that are able to be worn in all seasons) are great with sneakers, boots and sandals yet my wide leg trousers (that match a suit jacket) are best with heels, either a pump or sandal.

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Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I still like pointy toes under wider legs, but if the pants are super voluminous I also like a platform so my feet don't seem so tiny. So a pointy toed platform (which I don't own) would be perfect .

Anonymous

I struggle w pants + shoes every winter! When I can wear sandals or boots it's easy- tall boots w skinny pants, booties under wide pants. I only wear almond or pointy toes. Flattering is more important to me than trends.
Transitional shoes though are challenging, and not just due to fitting them on my duck feet :p

Mules/slingbacks can work w my feet, but I step on the back of my pants.
I have loafers, but they felt way too classic. Ok maybe to elevate jeans, but with trousers I felt normcore and older.
Ballet flats feel too Ingenue, especially with skirts. Pumps feel too bombshelly with skinnies. Sneakers, I just can't outside the gym.

I bought sandal booties, which will be my transitional shoes. To me they're 50-60 degrees shoes, not real summer shoes. I remember them working well for me before, but will report back in November when it's cold enough to wear them!

COMFORTIVA Faye

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cat2

Veteran

I have been wearing my wide leg pants with some old pointed toe loafers and with some new leather espadrilles.

Mirjana

Veteran

In summer I usually wear ballet flats, but this summer is very hot, temperature 35-40 degree Celsius last week, this week little better 30-35, and I wear sandals, but prefer ballet flat.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

@rachylou I think you're right about structure, but they also don't make the feet seem 'blunt' if that makes sense? But I suspect that's only one part of the equation for the overall 'harmony' of the look - affected by both the trouser material (as @Bijou points out) & your own foot size (@suntiger). My compromise is usually to wear almond toes instead (too rounded can look 'stubby' on me, & squared/ snip toes just look strange on me for some reason). YMMV though - e.g. I know that round toed trainers/ platform sneakers are popular right now under wide legged 'medium weight' trousers & athletic gear!

@Jaime I still wear pointed toe shoes too But what I meant is that it was a particularly popular look a few years back, back when trouser jeans were also trending (ok so not just a 'few' years, more than a decade ago lol *gulp*!)

rachylou

Veteran

I was thinking maybe mules, but forgot about the issue of the hem getting caught underfoot.

…Espadrilles! There’s a thought!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Seeing as I wear clunky oxfords with everything, I’m not much help at all. To me, the width of the pants has more to do with the height of the shoes than with the shape of the toe.

by Stagiaire Fash

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kkards

Veteran

I’m struggling with the same thing. As noted already pointed toe flats and platforms, including sneakers are my go to. But as I’m slowly realizing it’s also different depending on how wide the wide leg is. I’m finding that the wider the leg the more I want height. For me, #1 was more successful than #2.

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rachylou

Veteran

Ohhh… height hadn’t even crossed my mind, not really. Hmm. That’s a bit of dilemma. I haven’t many opportunities to wear any sort of heel. Need bendy platforms.

wwyyss

My combination is wide leg pants with white sneakers because it's the most comfortable, but sometimes wearing espadrilles depends on the TPO that day.
https://www.jellibeans.com/pro.....01580d2a69

rachylou

Veteran

Curious wwyyss, what sort of top do you like when you wear sneakers?