What Shoes To Wear With Linen Pants: A Thorough Men’s Guide With Outfit Suggestions

The footwear you wear with linen outfits can fully transform them. In a way, the footwear you choose is even more important than the shirt you wear. A T-shirt, linen pants, and flip-flops look entirely different from the same outfit with loafers. This guide on wearing men’s shoes with linen pants will show you how to wear them together.

What Kind of Shoes To Wear With Linen Pants Depends on Your Overall Aesthetic

Ultimately, linen pants represent effortless class. They have an inherent casualness as well as an inherent formality. Consider how you wear your linen pants for the day, then pick your shoe. The shoes you wear can bring out their natural casualness or natural formality. There are three overarching ways to choose shoes for these warm-weather pants: casual, formal, and a balance of both.

Strike a Balance Between Elevated and Casual

The most natural shoe pairings include ones that balance formality and casualness. Achieve this with casual loafers like driving mocs, leather or suede moccasins, or thick-soled workwear loafers. Another shoe that’s good for casual but classy dates is Espadrilles, which are the shoe equivalent of linen pants. Pair any of these shoe options with your linen pants, a button-up and a navy blazer for an evening of summer cocktails.

Bring Out Your Casual Side

Solid canvas or leather casual sneakers are naturally understated and sit beautifully beside a pair of casual linen pants. Alternatively, go for flip-flops or other open-toed shoes that complement the vacation vibe of linen pants. Keep the casual look going from head to toe with a simple T-shirt or short-sleeve button-up shirt.

Make It Fancy

Dressing up linen might be controversial, but you certainly can with a pair of dress shoes. Dress loafers have a solid leather build and heel, offering a more elevated silhouette over a driving moc. Wrap up your ensemble with a linen suit and button-down shirt, and add a floral-printed tie or pocket square.

Shoes To Wear With Wide-Leg Linen Pants

Linen pants look perfectly natural in wide-leg cuts since they have a breezy aesthetic. Again, think of your overall look. If you’re going casual, try a pair of sneakers or open-toed sandals. For a pair of linen pants with a clean-lined wide leg, pair with loafers to level up your look.

Dark-Hued Shoes Dress Up Your Black Linen Pants

A pair of black linen pants can dress up your overall outfit. However, you’ll want to choose shoes that bring out your dressy side without sacrificing your personal style. Suede loafers and other dark-hued slip-ons are an excellent way to do this. Try a full black linen suit, a well-structured T-shirt and loafers for a relaxed yet unstuffy look.

What Shoes To Wear With White Linen Pants

Hand down, choosing shoes to wear with white linen pants is the easiest because white and linen go together like whiskey and cigars. You can wear them with just about any type of shoe. White canvas sneakers, slip-ons of any nature, or good leather sandals or espadrilles match the aesthetic of white linen pants. If you’re dressing up your white linen pants with a grey blazer and striped button-down, you can even get away with derbies or dress chukka boots.

Your Shoes Make All the Difference

Let’s be honest. You might wear the exact same linen pant outfit to run errands as you would going to a party. The main thing you would change here is your chosen pair of shoes. Remember, it’s all about context, and shoes make the difference. The following outfit suggestions will give you inspiration for pairing the right shoes with your linen pants.

Linen Pants and Athletic Sneakers for a Casual Morning Coffee Run

It’s natural to wear sneakers for a coffee run in the morning. Instead of sweats, reach for linen joggers with a T-shirt and crewneck sweater over for exceptionally balmy mornings. Balance out the texture of linen pants with a classic print. A striped or plaid shirt helps to take your casual look to the next level.

Linen Pants and Espadrilles for Sunset Strolls on the Beach

If you’re heading to catch the sun and surf, there’s nothing wrong with going full linen on linen–including your shoes. Pair those linen pants with a linen button-up and slip on a pair of espadrilles. The jute soles complement the relaxed vibe of your pants.

Linen Pants and White Sneakers for Weekend Brunch

Wear your linen pants with a polo shirt or sweater and sneakers for a casual brunch date. If you gravitate toward colors, opt for a hue that packs a punch, like blue or red. This ensures your brunch wear is classy and comfy but not stuffy. 

Linen Pants and Leather Dress Loafers for an Ocean-side Wedding

Linens are a fantastic option for outdoor weddings, especially when they take place in warmer weather or on a beach. Wear a more relaxed-fit pair of linen pants with leather loafers for a super casual, barefoot beach wedding. After all, they’re easy to slip on and off when dipping your toes into the water.

Linen Pants and Boat Shoes for Other Coastal Adventures

Going on sea-side or sea-faring adventures is all about practicality. Maybe aside from flip-flops, there are no better shoes to pair with your linen pants for adventures on the high sea (or perhaps the lake) than boat shoes. Top off your look with a Fishermen sweater or a long-sleeve tee with built-in UV protection.

Linen Pants and Open-Toed Sandals for Casual Outings

Linen pants are great for casual days. On the weekend, pair cropped linen pants with leather open-toed sandals and a lightweight button-up shirt loosely front-tucked. This look will have you covered whether you are walking around town, heading to lunch, or an afternoon of wine tasting.

Footwear To Avoid When Wearing Linen Pants

While linen pants are easy to style, there are a few footwear choices you might want to avoid. First, linen pants don’t have that practical workwear aesthetic, so heavy workbooks may clash with them. Next, sure, you can wear cheap flip-flops, which may work on the beach, but for all other occasions, stick with espadrilles, boat shoes, loafers, and other elevated casual shoes.

Pairing the Right Shoes With Linen Pants: It’s Easy!

The main thing to remember when figuring out the right shoes to wear with linen pants is not to overthink it–linen pants are easy to style. Finding the right shoe is a matter of context, dress code, and, of course, what feels most like you. Regardless of your personal style, you can sport linen pants. Just choose the right shoes, and you’re good to go!