5 Chic Sandal and Barrel-Leg Jeans Pairings You Can Wear All Summer

My favourite time of year has arrived: Sandal and jean season. It’s the golden in-between where the weather still warrants your favourite pairs of jeans, but you can gently retire your boots and set your trainers aside. In their place sit sandals, which always manage to complete an outfit yet feel effortless and simple. As both a denim and sandal enthusiast, I’m constantly trialling new pairings, from more classic uniforms to looks that embrace emerging trends that have caught my eye. There have been a few silhouettes that have had serious staying power since autumn, including barrel-leg jeans. Their dramatic shape and myriad colour options mark them as a strong candidate for pairing with a handful of different sandal styles, so in turn, we’re exploring which work best.

Whilst it’s possible to really wear any sandal style you like with barrel-leg jeans, some have stood out to me as better pairings than others. From hours of scrolling and pulling ideas from the most inspiring fashion people, I’ve noticed that minimalist styles, narrower straps and the occasional bold colour are most favoured when it comes to sandal trends worn with these jeans. When you’re working with statement jeans that already carry ample volume in the fabric and a unique shape, sandals with subtler details and features tend to be a natural match. Although I’ve noticed a penchant for neutral shades, especially with blue barrel-leg jeans, red sandals have continued to show up as a beloved bolder option. It’s the perfect hue for wearing with ecru, grey, black and even dark indigo jeans.