What Kind of Jeans Look Best With Boat Shoes?

Boat shoes are timeless casual footwear.

Boat shoes are moccasin-style shoes with laces that were originally designed for boating and feature a practical, non-slip sole. These sensible shoes rooted in the sea took off as a bona fide fashion trend on dry land which has endured for decades. While the traditional way to wear boat shoes is with chinos or khakis, a more modern way to wear boat shoes is with jeans. Guys and girls alike can appear fashion-forward when sporting boat shoes, but the long-established rule that says never wear socks with boat shoes still stands. Does this Spark an idea?

Skinny Jeans

Wear boat shoes with skinny jeans to give them edge. Boat shoes were inducted into the Official Preppy Handbook in the 1980s, so pairing them with a non-preppy style of jeans will look more of-the-moment. Conversely, by kicking off your black, low-top canvas sneakers and pairing your dark wash, black or grey skinnies with a more conservative shoe style, you'll add a touch of irony to the lean-legged look. Pair with casual tops, like T-shirts, button-downs or cardigans.

Straight Leg Jeans

Pair boat shoes with dark wash, straight leg jeans for casual but polished style. Like boat shoes, straight leg jeans are a classic, perpetually in fashion and flattering for all figure types. Boat shoes are thin and flat-soled and won't give you any extra height, so lengthening where you can is important. A dark wash is not only more refined but also slimming and heightening.

Cuffed Jeans

For a slightly preppy touch, roll up the hem of your jeans a few times and nail the easy, surf-and-sea vibe of these shoes. Whether you like a narrow double cuff or wide single roll, cuffed jeans are the perfect style to wear with loafer-style footwear like boat shoes. Cuffed jeans have a naturally relaxed feel and are the perfect place to wear color. Colorful jeans pair well with white shirts and classic, coffee-hued boat shoes. Wear colorful polo shirts or untucked oxford shirts with white jeans for a bold, summery look.

Jean Shorts

Since boat shoes are primarily geared for warm weather, jean shorts and deck shoes are a natural pairing. Traditionally brown or sandy-colored, boat shoes now come in a rainbow of hues and color-blocked styles that you can have fun mixing and matching to your summer shorts and shirts. Wear with oxford shirts with rolled-up sleeves or loose-fit tees, and throw on a blazer, crew-neck sweater or sweatshirt when the sun sets.

References

• GQ: Dropping Knowledge: The Boat Shoe
• Details: The Complete Guide to Slip-on Shoes
• The New York Times: The Art of the Pants Roll