What Shoes To Wear With Yoga Pants: 27 Trendy Pairings!

Yoga pants have gone from being a gym staple to a regular part of everyday wear, but what shoes to wear with yoga pants to avoid looking shorter, having thicker legs, or looking odd?

It is the question I get asked most often by my friends and readers.

Don't worry, ODODOS yoga has compiled a list of the best shoe choices for these 7 different styles of popular yoga pants!

• Bootcut yoga pants
• Flare yoga pants
• Wide-leg yoga pants
• Straight-leg yoga pants
• High-waisted yoga pants
• Capri yoga pants
• 7/8 length yoga pants
  

At the same time, I will share the pitfalls I've encountered in dressing and common user experiences to help you quickly find ways to dress that are both good-looking and flattering to your proportions.

Introduction

What shoes to wear with yoga pants? Honestly, yoga pants are a "shoe-picky" type of pants.

Especially for styles like flare, bootcut, and wide-leg, which have significant variations in hemline, the right shoes can make your legs look incredibly long, while the wrong ones can instantly make your proportions look 5:5.

I've made quite a few mistakes myself when wearing yoga pants.

For example, pairing wide leg loose yoga pants with narrow-soled sneakers makes the legs look like they're "tapering" at the bottom, creating an odd proportion.

Or, wearing 7/8 length pants with overly thick shoes makes your feet look bulky.

So in this article, I'll clearly outline the best shoes, suitable occasions, and appropriate styles for each type of yoga pants, so you can simply copy these tips and look great!

What Shoes To Wear With Yoga Pants: 27 Shoes to Match!

#1 Bootcut Yoga Pants

 

What shoes to wear with bootcut yoga pants? 

The most captivating feature of bootcut yoga pants is their subtle flare that gradually widens from the knee down.

It flatters the calves, conceals the ankles, and creates a natural sway when walking.

Therefore, the key principle when choosing shoes is to select shoes that enhance this line, rather than disrupt it.

🟢 Chunky Sneakers

Chunky sneakers complement bootcut yoga pants because of their unique properties. 

Bootcut yoga pants naturally flare out slightly below the knee.

If worn with a skinny or small shoe, it may cause the pant leg to be left in mid-air, disrupting any vertical proportion. 

Chunky sneakers offer a larger footprint and more support through lower body visualization, providing a natural drape on the leg and creating a smooth vertical line from the waist to the ankle, thus adding height to the wearer. 

At least in my experience, switching from a regular sneaker to a chunky sneaker makes a significant difference in how I look when I look in the mirror. 

I appear approximately three centimeters taller, and my legs appear straighter, longer. 

If you're looking for a sportier, Y2K or athleisure style while out walking, commuting, etc., chunky sneakers provide both functionality and style.

• Suitable Occasions: Shopping, urban leisure, commuting to work
  
• Style: Sporty, Y2K, Athleisure

🟢 Running Shoes

The Running shoes are the safest and most foolproof way to pair with bootcut yoga pants.

Since running shoes provide more stability than doing so with regular shoes, as well as the support needed.

In addition, running shoes with a thicker soles and curved outsole will naturally shape the pant legs as they drape over the shape of the shoe, partially covering the shoes at the top and creating a neater and more tailored appearance. 

Using running shoes to walk will allow for greater free movement of the pant legs, which is why the combination is ideal for wearing while walking outdoors, running on treadmills, or simply going for a leisurely walk. 

• Suitable occasions: Gym, outdoor walk, brisk walking
• Style: Sport Performance, Casual

🟢 Slip-On Sneakers

Slip-on shoes feature clean lines that won't overpower your outfit like chunky-soled shoes, keeping your overall look relaxed and polished.

Boot-style yoga pants already have a natural drape, and paired with understated slip-on shoes, they create a casual yet sophisticated look.

This outfit is the kind of everyday look that appears effortless yet remains neat, perfect for a relaxed weekday or weekend outing.

• Suitable occasions: Office work, grocery shopping, working in a coffee shop
  
• Style: Minimal, Clean, Everyday Look

🟢 Low Heel Ankle Boots

When it comes to achieving that "celebrity look" with bootcut yoga pant styling, low-heeled ankle boots are probably the best option - an extremely popular example is Lisa Rinna's iconic '90s style.

By giving just enough rise at the instep of an ankle boot, you allow the pant leg to gently cascade down over the shaft of the boot, which creates an illusion of longer and slimmer calves.

Using a pair of low-heeled ankle boots will allow your pant legs to swish as you walk and will give your outfit a "Y2K casual" vibe without having to put excess strain on your feet and legs from wearing high-heeled shoes.

• Suitable occasions: Autumn/Winter, urban casual, evening activities
  
• Style: Y2K, 90s, Chic Casual

#2 Flare Yoga Pants

What shoes to wear with flare yoga pants?

Flare yoga pants have wider hems and a more pronounced swing than bootcut pants.

Therefore, when choosing shoes, the shape and width of the shoes should naturally connect with this outward flare, rather than leaving the hem "hanging in the air" or making the pants look top-heavy.

🟢 Platform Shoes

Flare yoga pants paired with platform shoes are practically the ultimate combination for making legs appear longer.

The platform shoes subtly add height, and the flared hem of the pants, covering the top edge of the platform, creates a straight line that runs from the thigh to the bottom, making the legs appear naturally longer.

The slight sway of the pant legs with each step makes the wearer look more upright and stylish, making it a very photogenic combination.

• Suitable occasions: Photography, urban outfits, shopping
  
• Style: Y2K, Street style, Minimalist style that elongates the legs

🟢 Retro Trainers

The retro trainers themselves are slightly flared, mirroring the flared lines of the pants that start to flare out from the knee, and gradually everyone's legs look relaxed and stylish.

If you love Bella Hadid's Y2K style, which is laid back and cool, then this outfit is an almost guaranteed hit for you.

When you actually wear the flared pants with the retro sneakers, they create a natural flow in movement when walking. 

The hem will just slightly touch the top of the sneaker, producing an effortless and flowing beauty as you walk down the street.

• Suitable occasions: Shopping, attending class, weekend outings
  
• Style: Y2K, Sporty Streetwear

🟢 Slip-On Sneakers

What shoes to wear with yoga pants? Pairing flare yoga pants with slip-on sneakers creates an effortlessly clean and natural look.

The flare pants themselves have a strong silhouette, while the simple shape of the slip-on sneakers perfectly balances the overall look, making the outfit appear more streamlined.

Especially with pure white or solid-color styles, a clean and simple everyday look is achieved almost effortlessly.

• Suitable occasions: Commuting, coffee shop, gatherings with friends
  
• Style: Effortlessly Clean

🟢 Heeled Boots

When paired with heeled boots, flare yoga pants create an incredibly elongating effect on the legs.

A small heel will have the effect of elongating your legs slightly, but when the hem of a pair of flared yoga pants just covers this heel with only the very tip of the toe showing.

It will give your leg an appearance of being 1.5 times longer and create an illusion of having been "Photoshopped" to the user who is walking.

I have used this for many of my photoshoots and dates in both autumn and winter months, each time wearing a pair of black heeled ankle boots to get the full effect of this look.

The overall appearance is effortless and naturally very sophisticated, and has a very urban feel without the need for many additional accessories.

• Suitable occasions: Evening activities, dates, autumn/winter street style
  
• Style: Chic, Minimal, City Look

#3 Wide Leg Yoga Pants

What shoes to wear with wide leg yoga pants？

Yoga pants wide leg have a loose, draping leg with a natural sway, making them perfect for pairing with the following four types of shoes.

🟢 Minimalist Sneakers

Wide-leg yoga pants inherently have a substantial volume, and the swaying motion while walking accentuates the lower body's visual presence.

Pairing them with minimalist sneakers is the smartest choice.

Clean shoe designs and understated colors restore balance to the overall proportions, highlighting the pants' relaxed and casual feel rather than making them look bulky.

Especially minimalist shoes in white or cream colors, which make wide-leg pants look even lighter and more streamlined.

• Suitable occasions: Commuting, daily life
  
• Style: Minimalist, Clean Fit

🟢 Slides/Sport Sandals

Slides/Sport Sandals and wide-leg yoga pants create an outfit for a vacation.

The relaxed style of wide-leg pants combined with the comfort of sandals gives the outfit that vacation vibe.

It makes you feel like you've just come off the beach or are about to jump into a lounge chair.

When worn with sandals, whether they are the classic Birkenstock, sport-style buckled sandals, or basic slide sandals, your yoga pants become much lighter and less bulky as a result of the sandals creating a more casual look.

• Suitable occasions: Summer, beach, vacation
  
• Style: Casual, Resort

🟢 Chunky Dad Sneakers

Wide-leg pants are designed with a very large silhouette, made with lots of fabric, which can make your overall appearance top-heavy when worn with a narrow shoe.

However, chunky shoes provide wide soles and silhouettes that completely counterbalance the visual weight of wide pants and therefore provide a more balanced look from the bottom up and a straighter line from top to bottom.

"Wides on wides" style combinations are frequently seen in street-style photos because they emphasize the drape of the wide-leg pant, and still allow the wearer to look put together.

When the pants just cover the upper of the shoe, only exposing the toe and the heel of the shoe, the line of the leg is very smooth and creates an elongated appearance, which adds to the overall balance of the outfit.

• Suitable occasions: City street photography, weekend shopping
  
• Style: Street, Athleisure

🟢 UGG/Plush Slippers

Wide-leg pants are cut from heavier fabrics that have a softer drape, and they match well with UGG slippers because of the overall shape of both the pants and the boots. 

This combo of wide-leg tapered pants and UGG boots produces a more calming and pleasing visual image. No more "loose top, tight bottom" contrast!

Loose-fitting pant styles paired with voluminous footwear produce a natural, relaxed, soft and comfortable feeling, giving way to the idea of "oh, this is so comfortable."

My go-to outfit during the winter months while working from home is always a pair of wide-leg yoga pants with UGG boots. 

When putting them on the body, the warmth of the fabric and cozy feel they give a person will instantly have a calming or relaxing effect.

• Suitable occasions: Winter at home, work, shopping malls
  
• Style: Cozy, Warm autumn/winter aesthetic

#4 Straight-Leg Yoga Pants

🟢 White Sneakers

Straight-leg yoga pants paired with white sneakers are, in my opinion, one of the safest and most versatile combinations.

The clean lines of the straight-leg pants, combined with crisp white sneakers, create a clean, sharp, and comfortable look, whether you're walking, commuting, or heading out after a workout.

Especially since the pant legs fall naturally over the shoes, the overall lines are smooth, giving off a minimalist yet sophisticated smart casual vibe.

• Suitable occasions: Commuting, shopping, heading out after a workout
  
• Style: Minimal, Smart Casual

🟢 Running Shoes

These straight-leg pants have a naturally flattering shape that doesn’t wrap around your legs or create bulk in that area.

The addition of lightweight footwear gives the appearance of a longer leg line and enhances the overall feel of the outfit.

The lightweight cushioning in the shoes allows for a natural running or walking motion, while the moderate width of the pants allows for greater ease of movement, providing an efficient and streamlined look.

This combination makes for everyday use. The look is not necessarily extremely athletic, nor does it have an overly casual feel; rather, it creates a subtle sporty-casual impression.

• Suitable occasions: Gyms, running, walking every day
  
• Style: Sporty, Casual

🟢 Canvas Sneakers

Straight-leg yoga pants paired with canvas sneakers make for a casual yet stylish look perfect for young people. 

The clean, natural lines of the straight-leg pants, neither too tight nor too loose, instantly add a street style vibe when paired with classic canvas sneakers, creating an effortlessly chic and energetic look.

The lightweight and breathable shoes ensure comfort all day long, while the pant legs fall naturally over the shoes, adding a touch of casualness and sophistication.

• Suitable occasions: Campus, weekend activities
  
• Style: Casual, Youthful

🟢 Loafers

Loafers are, quite simply, one of the best choices for elevating the look of your yoga pants from sporty to chic. 

The combination of straight leg style with the clean lines of a loafer gives the appearance of an elongated body shape, which is not only comfortable but also has a polished appearance.

Straight leg pants fall over the top of the shoes and therefore do not bunch or cause any bulkiness in the lower body.

The addition of detail and subtle sheen in the loafers adds aesthetic value to the overall look of the outfit and therefore creates an impression of both professionalism and effortless chicness.

• Suitable occasions: Work, business casual.
  
• Style: Smart Casual

🟢 Heels

Straight-leg yoga pants paired with heels create an effortlessly sophisticated yet comfortable look.

The clean lines and natural flow of the straight-leg pants, combined with heels, instantly elongate the legs, resulting in a polished and confident style without the stiffness of traditional suit pants.

As you walk, the hem falls naturally over your shoes, creating a light and airy feel while maintaining a graceful and upright posture.

• Suitable occasions: Office, business lunch, date
  
• Style: Effortless Chic, Smart Casual, Chic and polished

#5 High-Waisted Yoga Pants

🟢 Yoga Shoes

Yoga shoes complement high waist wide leg yoga pants, providing superior comfort and utility. 

The lightweight, non-slip soles allow for great stability when performing various yoga poses, while the high-waisted design creates a natural cinching effect at the waist, producing a long and lean appearance.

The leg openings of the pants follow the natural line of the legs without excess material or restriction, allowing for a full range of motion. 

The combination of flexible, supportive soles and the stretchy material of the pants lends itself to smooth, easy movements and professionalism in appearance.

The whole look exudes a balance of pragmatism and dynamic aesthetic with usable functionality. 

• Suitable occasions: Yoga classes, pilates, indoor training
  
• Style: Professional sportswear, Minimalist comfort

🟢 Slip-On Shoes

High-waisted yoga pants have a more relaxed style when paired with slip-on shoes, giving off the right amount of comfort, along with an everyday type of "laid back" style.

The minimalist design of the slip-on shoes lends itself to an easy-to-wear product that works well with high-waisted yoga pants. 

The high-waisted fit creates an illusion of length through the legs, which elongates the look of the body, making you look taller and thinner than you really are.

As you walk in your high-waisted yoga pants, the width of your pant leg gently hits the top of the slip-on shoes as you walk and sways back and forth during each step.

It create a more comfortable and mobile experience than what is perceived to be bulky around the feet and knees.

• Suitable occasions: Daily outings, commuting, casual shopping
  
• Style: Minimalist, Casual, Relaxed for everyday wear

🟢 Running Shoes

About 90% of women wear high-waisted yoga pants with their running shoes at the gym.

The soles of running shoes are of medium size, so they provide enough cushion and support for longer strides, while high-waisted yoga pants help create a more elongated leg line and give a smoother appearance to strides.

When worn snugly around the calf area, the high-waisted yoga pants provide added comfort for activities such as running, jumping, and stretching, while allowing the wearer to move freely without feeling weighed down. 

The slight movement of the leg when running helps to create an appealing visual aesthetic.

• Suitable occasions: In the gym for workouts, running, or strength training
  
• Style: Sporty Casual, Dynamic

🟢 Ankle Boots

High Waist Yoga Pants & Ankle Boots = More leg-lengthening variety. 

Pairing these two pieces together is an excellent way to achieve a flattering elongation of the legs during the winter months.

When you wear these ankle boots with the pants, they will help raise the instep slightly, thus allowing for the pant legs to hang down naturally and over the top of the boot.

Thus forming a clean line from the waist line to the ankle, thereby visually elongating the leg proportion.

The sway of the pant legs gives them a comfortable, casual feel on those cold winter days, as well as a comfortable feel from the high-heeled height of the boots, creating an effortless blending of style and practicality.

• Suitable occasions: Autumn/Winter, urban casual, nighttime moments
  
• Style: Y2K, Chic Casual

#6 Capri Yoga Pants

🟢 Running Shoes

Cropped yoga pants sit just below the mid-calf when worn with running shoes, which creates an elongated leg line that complements the running shoes.

The running shoes contain thicker, cushioned soles, enabling the wearer's leg to remain stable throughout the workout and providing an elevated stature without being overtly tall.

The fitted design of the cropped yoga pant hemline sways as one moves, creating an illusion of movement without excess bulk. This results in a well-defined, dynamic, and energetic appearance.

• Suitable occasions: Gym, athletic/running, pilates
  
• Style: Sporty, Casual

🟢 Slip-On Sneakers

When wearing cropped yoga pants with Slip-On Sneakers, the cropped length allows the wearer's lower mid-calf to be visible. 

This length in a shoe helps create a seamless visual transition from the pants to the shoe to the entire leg, thus making the wearer appear longer and leaner.

In addition, Slip-On Sneakers provide comfort with less weight than other running shoes due to their lack of laces. 

It makes it easier for the wearer to quickly put on and remove them.

The pant legs enhance the shape of the wearer's legs as they move smoothly from side to side with a soft, flowing motion.

• Suitable occasions: Everyday outings, shopping, casual outings
  
• Style: Minimalist casual, Comfortable for summer

🟢 Sandals

When wearing cropped yoga pants with sandals, your calves and ankles can be seen, giving off a very light and airy vibe like a traditional summer look. 

Open-toed sandals are lightweight and breathable, which allows your feet to breathe freely, and they will create a natural visual echo with the pant legs to make your legs look longer.

Both of these looks create an extremely comfortable combination that is also very photogenic, creating the ideal relaxed summer vibe for beach vacations, shopping on weekends, or doing a city street style photo shoot.

• Suitable occasions: Summer outings, beach vacations, weekend fun
  
• Style: Relaxed, Casual, Summer Chic, American Casual

#7 7/8 Length Yoga Pants

🟢 Running Shoes

The increase in height provided by the slightly thicker-soled running shoe, together with the 7/8 length yoga pant, will result in a continuous visual lengthening of a person's calves.

It, in turn, gives the overall leg better definition, resulting in an overall more slender leg look. A person can wear this combination, and it looks good as well.

The 7/8 yoga pants do not cover the upper portion of the running shoe, nor do they tend to bunch up over it

They will provide an uninterrupted level of support to the person's instep while running.

• Suitable occasions: Running, gym workouts, outdoor sports
  
• Style: Sporty, Casual

🟢 Slip-On Sneakers

The slim appearance and light feel of the slip-on shoes does not detract 7/8 length yoga pants, therefore, allowing for a clean, structured look, while simultaneously giving off a relaxed, airy summer feel.

In addition, the sleeves of the pants sway along with the shoe's lightweight design with each step, creating a simple, fluid motion that complements one's style.

This style is a particularly good fit for shorter women because it makes their legs appear longer.

• Suitable occasions: Everyday outings, casual commutes, weekend relaxation
  
• Style: Minimalist casual, Light and relaxed

🟢 Casual Flats

A casual flat complements your 7/8 length yoga pants and can convert athletic clothing into everyday attire.

7/8 length yoga pants fall just above the ankle, naturally elongating the leg as they create a straight line with the low-top, flat styles of the shoes and give a more polished appearance to the ankles by making them appear leaner.

By avoiding heavy bulkiness, flats maintain a sophisticated appearance while allowing the yoga pants to be worn as regular clothing.

• Suitable occasions: Commuting, city walks, business trips
  
• Style: Smart Casual, Clean Look, Minimal Chic

What Shoes Are Unsuitable For Pairing With Yoga Pants?

Overly narrow-soled sneakers

Flare-style trousers are designed to have a heavy feeling and a broad outward line.

Running shoes with a narrow sole, as well as a long shape with little support at the instep, can lead to an off-balance appearance for flare trousers. 

The pant leg portion will hang off the outside edge of the shoe and provide no physical support to the pant leg, which is why it looks like "there is nowhere for the pant leg to go or rest."

Ballet flats with too narrow an upper

Ballet flats, with their shallow uppers and narrow lasts, significantly expose the instep area.

When paired with tight-fitting or high-waisted yoga pants, this narrow and flat shoe shape makes the feet appear small and weak.

It draws all visual attention to the calves and thighs, directly enlarging the leg circumference and making the legs look thicker and shorter.

Verdict

After reviewing these 27 shoe and yoga pants pairings, you should now have a good grasp of what shoes to wear with yoga pants!

Follow the advice of experience, and you won't have to worry about making a fashion faux pas!

If you're still undecided, remember this selection formula: 

• Narrower trouser legs → Lighter, cleaner shoes
  
• Wider trouser legs → Shoes need more weight for balance
  

In practice, I suggest using a mirror to test and observe your outfit.

Stand straight and observe whether the trouser legs naturally cover the shoes. If there are strange creases, gaps, or disproportionate shapes, it means the shoes are wrong.

Of course, ododos.co always encourages girls to be creative and confident in their outfits.

As long as you think it looks good, then it's the right choice!