10 Shoes to Wear With Mom Jeans

Polarizing trends across any part of fashion—from accessories to clothing pieces themselves—are always popping up out of the blue. However, one denim style that’s always held skin in the game are the mom jeans. Known for its high-waisted silhouettes in light denim washes, the hit ‘80s and ‘90s style appears to have stuck around for the time being in 2024.

There’s a relaxed, easy nature that comes with wearing mom jeans that makes them a wise addition to your denim rotation. The style is known for its comfortable shape and feel, as well as its humorous nods to its style predecessors decades before. Mom Jeans have also been cosigned over the years by stars from Jennifer Aniston to Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner, making it a quirky yet style star-approved pair to try out.

When it comes to mom jean shoe pairings, there’s also ample room for play. Contemporary silhouettes like square-toed boots, platforms, and slip-on mules distinctly bring the style into the 2020s. However, the denim can also be worn with pale neutral pumps, thick-soled oxfords, and even high-top sneakers if you want a nonchalant look with a dash of ‘80s nostalgia.

If you’re craving inspiration for what to wear with your own mom jeans, take a look at the ten styles below.

Allover Embellished Slip-Ons

For a relaxed finish, pair your mom jeans with a set of slip-on mules or loafers—but don’t forget the sparkle. A quirky, edgy, or punky statement can be made when opting for a style with closed toes that are coated in crystals or studs. A rounded silhouette will particularly bring an easygoing complement to any wash of the free-spirited denim style.

Chunky Oxfords

For a comfortable, yet sharp flair, contrast your mom jeans with chunky oxford shoes. Round-toed styles in brown or black tones will add a faintly grunge edge to the denim, while thick ridged or lugged rubber soles ensure a balanced base. Take a cue from style star Eva Chen, who wore mom jeans to New York Fashion Week, and complete your look with a collared jacket—or two—for a sharp finish.

High-Top Sneakers

For a burst of sporty color, lace into a pair of high-top sneakers. The hems of mom jeans, which often hit directly at the ankle or even calves, allow for the shoe to be showcased in full. A pair in a vibrant or tonal blue hue will pair smoothly with denim’s typically blue—or darker—shades, though truly anything goes.

Motorcycle Boots

For a tough edge, try tucking your mom jeans into a pair of motorcycle boots. The thick-soled styles, often crafted with dark leather uppers, feature rounded or squared toes that bring a contrasting hardness to mom jeans’ light washes and high silhouettes. Pairs accented by harnesses or buckled straps will also provide a subtle wink to grunge and punk aesthetics.

Sky-High Platform Mules

Platform mules will allow you to stand tall in your mom jeans—quite literally, thanks to their towering heights. Platform-soled pairs with thick heels create a dynamic, eye-catching silhouette that smoothly plays into the denim style’s taller shape, as well. Slip on a pair with a glossy or holographic finish for a slick, sultry boost.

Smooth Leather Boots

Regardless of where you fall on the mom jeans spectrum, nobody can deny that the style will always pair well with a pair of smooth, simple leather boots. Pointed-toe sets with low or mid-height bases are the truest to the denim style’s aforementioned ‘80s and ‘90s roots. Meanwhile, accents like taller shafts and thin heels carry this pairing into the 2020’s, with tones like classic black or warm caramel browns making a truly sharp statement.

Square-Toed Boots

Square-toed boots complement mom jeans in a chic, yet faintly quirky manner. Narrowed, smooth leather pairs with mid-height heels streamline the denim style from their angular appearance, while also nodding to both pieces’ ‘90s roots. Wider-soled pairs—which have been viewed in a polarizing light themselves—also balance out the silhouette with a geometric flair.

Stark Pumps

For a burst of ‘80s nostalgia, boost your mom jeans with lightly colored pumps. Pointed-toe styles in pure white or cream tones embrace the decade’s signature punch, while remaining daring and modern. Similarly to the versatility found in all-white sneakers, equally stark pumps will bring your denim a retro edge while highlighting its lighter tones, as well.

Thong-Strapped Heels

Equally as polarizing as the mom jean is the thong heel—so why not combine the two for a unique, empowered statement? Like its open-toed cousins, the thong-strap sandal provides ventilation and a cutout effect when out and about. A square-toed style in any height will make a truly modern statement, with a quirky edge from its angular base and crossed straps.

Tinted Slip-On Mules

Slip-on mules in subtle colors—particularly lightly tinted hues of yellow, green or purple—will bring a whimsical element to your mom jeans. Lighter blue denim washes pair particularly well with pastel tones, while darker washes allow the colors to pop from a contrasting base. However they’re worn, the pair’s open-toed shape—which can be bolstered through details like gathered satin uppers, block heels or acrylic accents—creates a statement that’s easygoing and sweet.

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