The Best Shoe Colors to Wear With Black Pants, According to a Fashion Editor

Not to generalize, but I think we can all agree that black pants are the backbone of any woman's wardrobe. OK? We all own at least one pair, and each one serves its purpose, whether for work, weekend or evening wear. However, despite their status as a wardrobe staple, a pair of shoes often proves to be a sticking point.Well, luckily for you, part of my job as a fashion designer is finding solutions to style problems, and this one comes up quite often. Black may be neutral and offer endless outfit possibilities when it comes to clothing, but shoes are a different story. With a very limited range of colors, finishes and silhouettes to choose from, the wrong shoe pairing can quickly throw off an otherwise polished look.The good news? There are certain shoe colors that work especially well with black pants, taking it from casual to chic and appropriate. Whether you're wearing straight, relaxed wide legs or sleek, straight leg styles, here I break down the winning formulas that will help your black pants look sharper and more polished. You might like it The Best Shoe Colors to Wear with Black Pants:1. Red Style Notes: The 'pop of red' has quickly evolved from a microtrend to a basic style hack, and it's something to keep in mind the next time you pull on a pair of black pants. It works best if the rest of your outfit is a neutral color, allowing the red shoes to take center stage while your black pants become the ultimate staple.Buy Red Shoes: Popular with fashion editors. Nice denim match too. Le Monde Beryl Babouche satin pumps Nice to see this silhouette make a comeback. With a touch of French style. Boden Classic Penny Loafers Add a pop of color to your work wardrobe. 2. Navy Style Notes: Ignore any outdated fashion rules you've heard about black and navy not working together. They're a departure from traditional menswear and a time when exploring texture and silhouette wasn't what it is today - something that opened up a whole new set of color combinations that worked really well. The trick to pulling off this combination is to use a texture that prevents the two from fading together, so a navy suede heel with black cotton pants, or in the summer black linen pants with navy raffia or denim sandals.Shop Navy Shoes: ZARA Velvet-Effect Slingback Ballet Flats These will look great with cigarette pants. Le Monde Beryl Ballet Mary Jane Manolo Blahnik Maysale 50 mules covered in suede A revolution The Terra Sneaker Statement rope style is going strong. 3. Silver Style Notes: Silver can be treated very similarly to red, in that you can use a 'pop' of silver to break up your look. It doesn't add color per se, but the light and sparkle that draws the eye to a certain area. Clean, simple silhouettes work best, such as ballet flats or trainers, especially with wide-leg trousers. For slim-leg pants, look for silver shoes with texture and structure, such as a pointed heel with a large bow detail.Buy Silver Shoes: Staud Leather Slingback Pumps Perfect with black pants and a blazer for an evening out. Anthropology Bow Point Mary Janes A chic addition to wide leg pants. Decoration counts too. COS Little leather Ballet Flats These will never go out of style. 4. Dark Brown Style Notes: The suede craze continues, and with it a chocolate brown dip into our everyday wardrobes. Whether it's with suede tote bags or blazers and jackets, the dark brown and black color combination is one we're used to now, so try using it in your shoe collection. Chocolate brown suede is a guaranteed win, but leather works great too. Just make sure the shoe is small and light to prevent the combination from looking dated.Shop Brown Shoes: Tony Bianco Estelle Suede Heeled Ankle Boots A New Look Vamp High Mary Jane Ballerina Flats ALOHAS Sway Suede Leather Ballet Flats Square toes give ballet flats a modern edge. Russell and Bromley Northfleet Can't get enough of the aged skin look. 5. Black Style Notes: This may sound like an unnecessary addition, but to do a lot of combining black shoes and black pants, I still believe that there are a few rules if you want to create a look that is styled instead of just worn. Here, texture and silhouette are very important. Wide-leg trousers work best with a flat and pointed shoe, while a barrel-leg style will work well with chunky loafers or black Dad trainers. Cropped trousers look very French with a soft ballet flat and a loose straight leg can look slimmer with Monochrome Converse.Shop Black Shoes: Le Monde Beryl Luna Slipper / Black Leather I love this new 2026 status. A classic pair of heels that you can reach for time and time again. YSL Le Loafer Supple in Matte Leather Discuss Chuck 70 Vintage Canvas These are coming back! MANGO Ruched Shoes With Bow It's a new silhouette, and we're hooked!