This may be controversial, but I don’t believe in denim trends. Instead, jeans styles fluctuate in favor, and the number of people wearing them rises and falls, but I don’t think any style ever becomes truly dated or goes out. For instance, stovepipe jeans are incredibly popular right now. However, this doesn’t mean you should avoid their polar opposites, like wide-leg and bootcut jeans. The current popularity of the straight-leg, slightly fitted silhouette means that now is the ideal time to wear it if this style suits you.
In the past month, stovepipe jeans have become a fashion-person favorite. From L.A. to New York and even Paris, they’ve been spotted on stylish celebrities like Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, Alexa Chung, Olivia Munn, and Sadie Sink. Fashion editors and insiders have also been embracing the look, posting on Instagram in their elevated denim outfits. While it’s fun to see the designer bags and statement outerwear everyone pairs with the jeans, my focus is always on footwear. Choosing the right shoes for a specific style of jeans can be challenging. Chunky shoes can sometimes overwhelm the silhouette, making the lower half look bottom heavy, but a slim style can make the ensemble appear too narrow.
I spent a few hours researching the shoe trends that pair best with stovepipe jeans in 2026 and identified five silhouettes. If you’re ready to add stovepipe jeans to your everyday rotation, keep scrolling to discover the five chic shoes to pair with them.
1. Black Heeled Boots
Style Notes: If you’re asking yourself, “Don’t all jeans look good with heeled ankle boots?” the answer, at least in my opinion, is no. For example, I wouldn’t style heeled ankle boots with barrel-leg or baggy jeans, as the proportions would be unbalanced. However, the slim silhouette of stovepipe jeans, which narrow at the ankle, perfectly accommodates ankle boots, especially a heeled style. This combination effectively extends the leg and creates an elongated effect. Associate fashion director Eliza Huber demonstrates this perfectly by styling her dark-wash stovepipe jeans with heeled ankle boots, a fur coat, and a Bottega Veneta crossbody bag.
Shop the shoe trend:
Staud
Wally Sock Ankle Boots
ZARA
Embossed Heeled Ankle Boots
2. Low-Profile Loafers
Style Notes: Leather loafers and stovepipe jeans give you the perfect foundation to build on. For example, you can add an oversize sweater, a long wool coat, and a scarf—as seen here—or a suede jacket, a turtleneck, and a baseball cap. There are many more elegant styling options, and you can’t go wrong. The trick, though, is to finish with white or gray ribbed socks in the fall and winter to prevent any skin from showing. It also makes the outfit look more dimensional and interesting.
Shop the shoe trend:
Tony Bianco
Gatsby Loafers
Jamie Haller
Buckled Glossed-Leather Loafers
Reformation
Ani Ruched Loafer
3. Animal-Print Ankle Boots
(Image credit: The Style Stalker)
Style Notes: Just like black heeled boots, animal-print ankle boots pair well with stovepipe jeans. The jeans, whether in blue or black, tone down the shoes’ boldness, which is great for minimalist dressers. Follow this Copenhagen-based fashion person’s lead and style snakeskin-, leopard-, or zebra-print ankle boots with mid-rise stovepipe jeans, a long wool coat, and a chunky sweater draped over your shoulders.
Shop the shoe trend:
KHAITE
Ona Zebra-Print Calf Hair Ankle Boots
4. Kitten-Heeled Pumps
(Image credit: Asia Typek)
Style Notes: Sometimes, it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. A great example is kitten-heeled pumps. With just a slight lift off the ground and a closed-toe design, these shoes lend an inherently refined look that also says you mean business in a cool way. With stovepipe jeans, the shoes play up the pants’ streamlined cut and dresses them up. If you plan to pair your jeans with this shoe trend, choose a pair with an elongated toe box and either a high vamp or a V-cut vamp—two key details that will make your outfit look more 2026 than 2016.
Shop the shoe trend:
ZARA
Leather Kitten Heel Shoes
Tony Bianco
Cameo Black Vintage
Toteme
Patent-Leather Pumps
5. Ballet Flats
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Style Notes: To dress down your stovepipe jeans with casual footwear, skip sneakers and opt for ballet flats. Whether square or rounded toe, these shoes will give your denim an effortlessly chic Parisian feel. Since they’ll reveal a bit of skin on the top of your foot and your jeans won’t cover it, layer sheer tights under your jeans in winter to stay warm and add a touch of polish.
Shop the shoe trend:
Nordstrom
Maddox Ballet Flats
Reformation
Inez Ballet Flats
Madewell
The April Ballet Flat in Suede
Mansur Gavriel
Square Toe Ballerina
Shop Stovepipe Jeans
gap
High Rise ’90s Slim Straight Jeans
Levi’s
Wedgie Slim Fit Jeans
Citizens of Humanity
Zurie Jeans
Madewell
High-Rise Stovepipe Jeans
AGOLDE
High Rise Stovepipe Jeans