There are so many pants styles to talk about in fashion right now. But If you follow street-style stars like Hailey Bieber, you know that cargo pants have been a major trend over the past year and they’re still going strong. Originally designed for the military, these styles were useful with their many oversized pockets and earthy colors to easily camouflage the wearer. But today’s fashionable versions of cargo pants offer a modern take on the utilitarian style, with a wider, looser fit and an array of fabrics and colors to choose from. If you are someone who likes to partake in the latest trends to keep your fashion game strong, here are some outfit ideas, all completed with a perfect shoe pairing. While there are endless options out there, these top 12 ideas will keep you looking chic all year long. And if you’ve ever asked yourself, “but what shoes to wear with cargo pants?”, you’re in the right place!
STREET SNEAKERS
This look with a blazer and casual sneaker like Adidas sambas, is comfortable enough to run around the city and chic enough to pop into a work meeting or lunch with friends. If your go-to casual pants are usually jeans and you love to wear a pair of sneakers or more performance athletic shoes, this outfit is a great option for you. Read here for the best sneakers of 2024.
WEDGE SANDALS
Wedge sandals are a great way to give cargo trousers an elevated edge. These stylish pants are a great alternative to jeans with their high-waist and clean silhouette.
SLIDES
These easy, oversized pants look great with a pair of high heel slides to dress them up. You can easy make casual pants feel dressy and elevated by adding a heel. For more casual days, flat slides look great with cargos too.
FLIP FLOPS
In warmer weather, comfort is king! And this laid back, casual look is effortlessly chic back to flip flops. Don’t you love when a pulled together look seems like you weren’t even trying?
POINTED PUMP
With oversized pants, oftentimes you need a bit of a lift. A pretty, pointed pump paired with a comfy statement sweater like this one from Loewe is a perfect fall look.
FLATFORM SANDALS
The next step up for warm weather are flatforms. A bit chicer than flip flops, they are still comfortable and casual plus they add a little lift and height if your cargos are extra long.
STRAPPY SANDALS / HEELS
If you’re in need of extra height, want to add a little sexiness to your look, or simply to dress up your pair of cargos, strappy heels are the best shoes to wear with cargo jeans. With these shoes you can go from a meeting to a dinner date easily.
OPEN TOE PUMPS
Pernille is the queen of the ultimate street-style look and has some of the best cargo pants fits. She looks great in an oversized cargo and styles it perfectly with a leather jacket and open toe pumps.
ANKLE BOOTS
Little black boots look great paired back to cargo pants, especially in the colder weather. Worn back to a pretty blouse and you have a perfectly balanced look.
COWBOY BOOTS
If you love cowboy style boots, this pairing is for you. I love the light color of this soft, leather ankle boot worn with the pants tucked in. It’s a perfect styling trick for winter weather to keep you looking cool while staying warm.
KNEE-HIGH BOOTS
A pair of knee-high boots is another good idea throughout fall or on a cold winter day with a pair of cargo pants. Wear a slimmer fit cargo style or tuck the legs in in order to get the full impact of the stylish boots.
COMBAT BOOTS
What shoes do you wear with combat trousers? Combat boots of course!
Combat boots are the perfect shoe in your winter wardrobe to take on any weather. Chunky boots look authentic when paired with the military pants style. My take would be to wear something pretty on top to add a little femininity to this edgier look.
