How to Style Loafers With Jeans: 4 Chic Outfit Ideas

Start by considering how footwear influences your overall wardrobe and outfit choices.

For me, much of my clothing is classic, so my footwear adds interest and drama, making my outfits feel more dynamic. 

I chose a patent texture for added shine, with a crocodile-embossed finish for extra depth.

Instead of black, I opted for a rich brown, which complements my wardrobe of black, white, cream, tan, and blue without blending in too much.

I prefer adding volume on top rather than choosing something too fitted or matching the trousers in color, as that can make the outfit feel flat.

2. Flare leg

If I wanted to wear something fitted with loafers, I would choose flare-leg denim paired with a turtleneck.

This combination creates a beautiful juxtaposition: the sleek, fitted top contrasts nicely with the volume of the flared jeans.

The loafers don’t feel too heavy or out of place because they complement the added volume at the bottom.

Another option with flare jeans is to embrace the romantic and feminine curves they create by pairing them with a blouse.

3. Tapered and cropped

With tapered and cropped denim, there’s less drama, but more ankle skin is visible. The blouse feels a bit bland and predictable, so I would swap it for a button-up shirt worn untucked. This adds more contrast in volume to the outfit.

The cropped proportion is effective here because it showcases the skin and highlights the delicateness of the ankle, creating a strong contrast with the heft of the loafers. 

Tapered and cropped denim is a great opportunity to add socks to your loafers. You can either match the socks with the denim or the shoes.

In this case, since my cardigan and denim are light, I’ll choose socks that blend with those lighter tones rather than the dark loafers.

A black sock would feel too heavy and overshadow the loafers, making them look like a blob at the bottom of the outfit instead of allowing their visual weight to stand out.

A dark sock with loafers looks great with the black mid-rise denim I used earlier in the video. This combination creates a more balanced visual weight and maintains a streamlined look.

I kept the cream cardigan to avoid making the outfit too visually heavy. Since the loafers already have significant visual heft and we’re adding a black sock with the black denim, lightening up the look elsewhere helps maintain balance.

4. Wide-leg denim

With wide-leg denim, I prefer to pair it with a feminine blouse or a more delicate top. The loafers add sharpness and contrast to the overall volume of the denim, giving a sense of dressiness or elevation to the relaxed, casual look.