We Crunched the Numbers: Blue Jeans and Black Shoes Will Always Look Extremely Cool (2024)

Conventional wisdom (and, like, math) holds that when two good things get together, the results should be greater than the sum of their parts. (One plus one is two, last time we checked.) But conventional wisdom ain't always what it's cracked up to be. Chocolate and kimchi? Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson?! The list goes on. In a world full of questionable combos, what can we trust if not the underlying rules of the universe? Easy: blue jeans and black leather shoes. Sure, we might not have a PhD in differential equations, but we know a thing or two about unbeatable wardrobe combos—and according to our extensive research, there isn't another pairing that yields such consistently stellar fits. Allow us to convince you.

Let's start with the obvious: the versatility of a good pair of blue jean really needs no explanation. (When we can't figure out what to wear, they're the first thing we default to.) That easy-going attitude is what helps your favorite dungarees sync up seamlessly with just about every type of shoe in your cluttered front hallway—but, it turns out, when your pair them with black leather shoes, specifically, whether they're cowboy boots or penny loafers, a magical sartorial alchemy ensues.

When you're in a fashion rut, there's no shame in revisiting what works. Don't want to take our word for it? Take it from Marlon Brando in The Wild One, or Frank Ocean at fashion week—the annals of menswear history are riddled with style gods proving the formula's effectiveness time and time again. So below, we broke down just a few ways we've been wearing it recently. Who says math isn't fun?

501s and Loafers

A pair of Levi's 501 jeans will always hit, whether they're a box-fresh buy straight from the factory or a beat-to-hell vintage grail. They look great tailored to a clean crop and with pretty much any type of boot, but with a just a kiss of break hanging over your penny loafers you've got a tried and true casual outfit that's a couple of notches above your chinos and ratty sneakers—with the same low-energy effort.

Flared Jeans and Giddy-Yup Boots

We endorse the cowboy boot in settings other than saloons and rodeos, but we also can't deny their swagger when paired with the right flared jeans. Add a denim shirt on top (and maybe even a tuxedo jacket to the mix) and roll through to all your black tie events like the OG menswear god himself.

Baggy Jeans and Sturdy Derbies

Go to any punk show and the pit will definitely include a few pairs of Docs stomping around. These days, though, try wearing 'em with big, baggy blue jeans, your comfiest hoodie, and a drape-y leather coat.

Straight Jeans and Hiking Boots

Oh, you thought hiking boots only played nice with swishy cargo pants? Clearly, you've never seen Frank Ocean's all-time fashion week fit.

Freaky Jeans and Even Freakier Slip-Ons

Yes, the blue jeans and black shoes formula can make even your freakiest fashion fantasies come true. To wit: Why not pair your wackiest denim with your gaudiest slip-ons?

Slim Jeans and Sleek Boots

Big pants are here to stay—but that's not to say slim jeans are totally out. A clean or ever-so-slightly cropped pair with a dark finish and slick, minimal-leaning boots (like, say, these) will never not look cool.