Best Shoes to Wear With Wide Leg Pants for Women Over 50: 10 Options

If there’s one trend we’re more than happy to have stick around for women over 50, it’s wide leg pants. The versatile pant option is not only so chic and elevated, but they can feel as comfortable as lounge pants. With their roomy and breathable design, they won’t uncomfortably cling to legs or make you feel restricted, and they make walking and moving a breeze. However, while we love the idea of them, knowing how to style them can seem a bit intimidating — especially when it comes to shoes. Not to fear: We rounded up the best shoes to wear with wide leg pants for women over 50. They not only will complete the wide leg pant look straight off your Pinterest board, but they’re comfortable too.

Why wear wide leg pants as a woman over 50?

We’ve seen just about all the types of pants imaginable that have cycled through the trend phases. We suffered through the uncomfy skinny jeans phase (we’d like to never have to walk around in tight denim again, please and thank you), wore puffy parachute pants in the 80s and nowadays, we may be getting back into capris as they’re trending again. And while wide leg pants are nothing new (perhaps you remember wearing pleated wide leg pants to high school in the 80s), they have been modernized to a new and improved style that instantly elevate any outfit.

And for women over 50, they are an especially good choice. For starters, they can make legs look mile-long, due to the flared out bottom that tapers in towards the waist. This creates the illusion of a longer, taller figure. “Wide leg pants, when styled correctly, can be elongating. They can look effortless and chic when tailored to the correct length,” affirms celebrity stylist Samantha Brown.

Plus, they’re just oh-s0-comfortable, making them not only a stylish choice, but a practical choice, too. They’re roomy in the legs, so you won’t have to worry about any uncomfortable clinging, especially in the summer where you may be sweating more. And while they’re loose and breathable in the legs, they still are fitted at the waist to define your shape.

Katie Holmes wearing wide leg pants — Katie HolmesGotham / Contributor/Getty

What shoes look best with wide leg pants?

Styling wide leg pants can be tricky due to the style’s unique structure and shape. Wide leg pants often fall on the longer side, so if you’re shorter, you may be wondering what style of heels look best to add some height. Or maybe you’re more of a flats person, and you’re not sure if you should opt for ballet flats or Mary Janes.

“I always prefer to add some height with wide leg pants to help balance the added volume in the silhouette. Wedges, platforms or even pointed heels will help create length through the legs,” says Brown. While at the end of the day it mostly comes down to personal preference and what feels the most comfortable, we’re here to give you some guidance and tips when it comes to choosing the best shoes to wear with wide leg pants.

Best shoes to wear with wide leg pants: Pointed toe styles

With wide leg pants, it’s all about balance. Since the pant legs are obviously wide, you can balance them out by choosing a narrower shoe, aka a pointed toe shoe. Pointed toe styles draw the eye in and forward, where as wide leg pants draw the eye out; pairing them together creates a perfect harmony of structure and shape. “Ballet flats, while trendy, don’t look best with these wider silhouettes. A pointed toe in a flat will work better!” says Brown.

Best shoes to wear with wide leg pants: Heeled sandals

For summer, aka sandal season, a heeled sandal is a staple to have in your closet — especially if you plan on wear wide leg pants. A bit of a heel helps to elongate legs and the pants, and the sandal aspect of the shoe (i.e. open-toed and the foot not fully covered) will help ensure you’re not adding extra bulk to your outfit. Sometimes, super chunky shoes that are also closed-toe adds too much texture and material that can overwhelm the pants.

The best shoes to wear with wide leg pants

Keep reading for our favorite shoe styles to pair with wide leg pants that will complement the outfit and feel comfortable all day long.

Marc Fisher Luminos Pump

These pointed toe Mary Jane heels are just as great for the office as they are for drinks with the girls. The shiny patent material makes the shoe look dressy and polished, but the slingback style dresses it down just a notch. It has an adjustable strap so your feet won’t slip or slide out. And better yet, they work for both hotter summer weather and the cooler fall days, as they are closed-toe but don’t cover too much skin on the top of the foot.

Sam Edelman Wanda Knit Flats

No desire for heels? No problem. Pointed toe flats look just as cute with wide leg pants. We like this pair in particular because of the breathable rattan-like design and material, which help feet not get too hot in warm weather. Pair with white or linen wide leg pants for a vacation-ready look.

Aerosoles Nixon Wedge Sandal

Wedge sandals are a great heel option for women over 50 because they give you the extra height you may be looking for, but can feel sturdier than pumps with skinny heels. Wedges typically are more comfortable, too. This pair works well with wide leg pants because they aren’t too chunky or clunky, so they won’t add too much visually to the pants.

Open Edit Cammie Kitten Heel Slingback Pump

Kitten heels might just be our favorite shoe trend at the moment; not just because they look oh-so-chic and luxe, but because they’re all about the low heel (say goodbye to pained heels from too tall of heels). Pair these denim kitten heels with denim wide leg jeans for a monochrome moment.

Sam Edelman Saige Cap Toe Ankle Bootie

We couldn’t be any more obsessed with these deep, rich plum booties if we tried. Wide leg pants are the perfect pants for fall, and what’s fall without a good, ol’ reliable ankle bootie? This style has a pointed toe design, and we love the shiny cap toe contrast against the matte material of the rest of the boot.

Vivaia Michelle 2.0 Pointed Toe Loafers

Headed into the office sporting a pair of wide leg pants? Opt for a pointed toe loafer. Loafers are a classic office shoe, and ones with a pointed toe design look great with wide leg pants. This pair is great for women over 50 as it has an anti-slip rubber outsole, heel patch to prevent blistering and rubbing, a comfortable foam insole with arch support and heel rebound and more.

Naturalizer Bristol Sandal

A block heel is great for any outdoor outing you may have planned since they won’t sink in grass. Attending an outdoor graduation party? Wide leg pants and a cute block sandal heel is the perfect outfit for the occasion.

Sam Edelman Moe Stiletto Bootie

Cowgirl boots, but make them wide leg pants-approved. These are great for a country concert you may have planned or any rooftop bars you plan to visit. The pointed toe makes them so chic, and we like that they hit at the ankles so you can wear them under pants.

Vince Camuto Rylen Slingback Flat

Another versatile option, these flats can be worn with wide leg trousers for the office or wide leg jeans for a casual lunch. They have an adjustable slingback ankle strap and padded footbed for extra comfort.

Keds Jump Kick Sneaker

Now, not all sneakers work well with wide leg pants, but the go-to classic Keds sneakers sure do. They are thin enough that they don’t look bulky or too overwhelming, and the all white with just hints of gold make them a shoe that goes with just about any outfit.

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