The comfort and freedom of shorts in summer outfits are undeniable. They are an essential part of men’s fashion and a must-have for anyone who wants to enjoy summer. The only potential downside of shorts is their fashion appeal.
To put it lightly, shorts are not that stylish. This is not to say that shorts don’t look good, far from it. It’s just that they will have a hard time standing next to the proven greats like jeans.
Luckily, there are ways to improve the overall look and feel of outfits. The most effective of these methods is identifying and integrating the ideal men’s shoes with shorts.
What To Expect In This Article?
Best Shoes to Wear with Shorts for Men
There is a lot you need to learn about wearing different men’s shoes with shorts. It can take quite a long time to fully understand the fundamentals of matching the right men’s shoes with shorts. So, why don’t we jump-start your knowledge by discussing the best shoes to wear with shorts?
These include the various types of boots for men, sneakers, open shoes like sandals, and many more. They are all a near-perfect match for men’s shorts, and each one of them brings something unique to the table.
Here is a list of the most fitting men’s footwear for shorts and some amazing outfits you can craft with them. Let’s get started.
1. Sneakers
Let’s start things off with one of the most popular choices of footwear for men, the humble sneakers. They hold the same status in shoes as jeans do in pants, absolutely unavoidable. Leather sneakers are also just as universally compatible as jeans.
You can rock sneakers with anything from men’s vacation outfits to everyday casual clothes, and they’ll look flawless. This compatibility stays true for shorts as well. If we ranked the most popular leather shoes for shorts from easiest to style to the most challenging to style, sneakers would be around the top.
The best thing about leather sneakers is their diversity. There are so many unique shapes, designs and color schemes that you can find the best sneakers for shorts outfits in any style, no matter how unconventional it may be.
White Sneakers and Khaki Shorts
One of the simplest yet most effective men’s shorts with a shoe combo is white low-top sneakers and a pair of khaki shorts. As far as shoes to wear with khaki shorts are concerned, these white low-tops are the top-tier option. They complement each other perfectly and exude a very casual and laid-back vibe.
As for the shirt on top, you have several choices. You can go with a Hawaiian or colorful button-up with short sleeves or pair them with a polo shirt for extra style points. Even basic V-necks aren’t out of the question either. Whichever shirt you choose, make sure that it has some noticeable color to keep the summer feel alive.
Canvas with Denim
Canvas low-top sneakers hold a special place in the world of sneakers. Their dual-tone design is instantly recognizable even from afar. Plus, they suit almost everyone, no matter their age. So, it’s a surprise to no one that they’re also one of the best shoes for shorts.
More specifically, blue and white canvas low-top sneakers go flawlessly with blue denim shorts. Top them with a light blue short-sleeved button-up, and you’re ready to head out under the summer sun. Additionally, sports coat outfits are an unusual combo you can try with this outfit as well for a certified elevated street style look.
2. Loafers
Loafers are often called the perfect men’s shoes with shorts, and it is easy to see why. Pairing them together is exceptionally effortless without it looking generic or bland. In reality, the power of leather loafers comes from their adaptability. They don’t just blend in with almost any outfit but enhance its looks.
This adaptability is so potent that loafers can act as both dress shoes for shorts and leather casual shoes for shorts. All you have to do is change the outfit above to unleash the true potential of these exceptional men’s summer shoes with shorts.
Black-Brown-Black
This outfit might seem simple at first glance, but it offers one of the clearest demonstrations of how loafers are the ultimate men’s shoes for shorts. All you need for this look is a pair of black leather loafers, brown shorts, and a plain black button-up. That’s it.
Make sure that the shirt is well-fitted and the shorts are long enough to stay just above your knees. The inverse of this look is also possible as brown shoes with black pants. Also, don’t ruin this look by wearing socks. If you absolutely have to, wear low ankle socks that aren’t visible outside the loafers.
Youthful Colors
Black and brown are common colors for loafer outfits, but you can try more colorful looks as well. For example, an outfit with a pair of white loafers, blue denim shorts, and a maroon flannel. You can also change the flannel color around until you find something that fits your taste.
A simpler approach to this vibrant look would feature a pair of black loafers as men’s business casual shoes with shorts. Above the loafers would be a pair of off-white shorts and a red short-sleeved button-up on top of that to complete the look.
3. Brogues
For most people, shorts are only good for casual wear, which is far from the whole truth. Dress shorts are a thing, and you need something like brogue shoes to style them effectively. Oxfords with shorts can work as well, but they are a bit too plain to match the eccentricity of wearing shorts with a button-up, tie and suit jacket.
Brogues men’s shoes with shorts, on the other hand, offer the perfect balance of sophisticated professionalism and cheerful casual tones. Their overall shape and materials make them ideal for business casual and sharp casual outfits, while the dotted design on top makes them more approachable for regular day-to-day use.
With a Shorts Suit
As far as professional-looking shorts and shoe outfits are concerned, nothing surpasses the good old suit. A navy blue blazer with matching shorts and a light blue button-up with a grey blue tie is a fantastic starting point. The item that will make this outfit feel complete is obviously your footwear, and brown leather brogue shoes are the way to go.
This outfit can work and function flawlessly as is but you can take it to the next level by focusing on smaller details. For example, brown leather brogues are the ideal men’s shoes with shorts here, so why not integrate them further by wearing a matching brown leather belt? Or swap out the tie for a white and blue striped one?
Casual Everyday Polo
While the suit outfit for men’s shoes with shorts is brilliant in its own right, it’s not something you can wear regularly. For that, something akin to dress shorts and a polo shirt ensemble would work better. Pair brown brogue men’s shoes and shorts in either off-white or khaki as contrast and change the color of the polo shirt for outfit variations.
4. Sandals and Flip Flops
Let’s step back from fully closed shoes and talk about the ideal men’s summer shoes with shorts. Sandals and flip-flops. While their design cannot be further apart, they serve the same purpose. Both sandals and flip-flops are airy and comfortable. Their open designs keep your feet cool during summer, while the soft soles let you walk everywhere with ease.
Another benefit of choosing these two men’s shoes with shorts is how quickly you can wear and remove them. This is also why you see these two so much in places like the beach.
Carefree Hawaiian Vibe
This shorts outfit is what most people imagine when they think about what shoes to wear with shorts in summer. The star of the show here is definitely the colorful Hawaiian shirt. But that shirt isn’t much on its own. It needs to be paired with white shorts and colorful flip-flops to make a complete outfit.
You can swap out the flip-flops for a pair of sandals if you intend to walk a lot as they’ll be more comfortable. As for what sandals to choose, that’s all up to you. Almost all designs and colors of men’s sandals with shorts look equally amazing, so wear what you want to wear.
5. Boat Shoes
Boat shoes give off a very similar vibe to loafers, and that is by design. Their overall shape is quite similar, and you can swap out these men’s shoes with shorts in most outfits for each other. However, this does not mean that they are the same thing.
Loafers are quite adaptable, but they still lean a bit more towards the professional side of things. On the other hand, outfits featuring men’s boat shoes with shorts are meant to be purely casual. Of the two, boat shoes are the ones that you’d want to rock in your regular day-to-day fashion.
Back to The Basics
Since men’s boat shoes with shorts are meant to be a part of your regular everyday fashion, the outfits you choose should be simple and easy to recreate. All you need is a pair of khaki shorts and a military green crewneck t-shirt. Rock a pair of brown leather boat shoes alongside a matching brown leather belt to complete the look.
Making variations of his everyday men’s shoes with shorts outfit is not that complicated either. You can keep the color of the shorts, shoes, and belt the same and experiment with different t-shirts. Or, you can opt for charcoal shorts and black boat shoes with light-colored and pastel V-necks.
6. Espadrilles
Espadrilles are one of the lightest options for men’s shoes with shorts. They are the ideal choice for folks who live in a location that gets extra hot during summer but don’t want to wear open shoes like sandals either. The term lightweight here isn’t just for weight either, but for material on top, as it tends to be quite breathable.
In most cases, you can see espadrille men’s shoes with shorts as a substitute for flip flops and sandal men’s shoes with shorts. Alternatively, think of the ideal outfit for these shoes as comfortable and loose-fitting, which is also why shorts work so well with them.
Breezy Button-up
The key ingredient for this look is a white loose-fit button-up with short sleeves and white and blue thin diagonal stripes. With the shirt should be a pair of white or navy blue shorts and some blue espadrilles with them.
Comfy Sweatshirt
You can repeat the espadrille men’s shoes with the shorts mentioned above but with one major change for an entirely different vibe. Swap out the button-up for a summer full-sleeve sweatshirt, and you’ll achieve the “just woke up looking great” vibe that’s quite challenging to recreate consistently with anything else.
7. Desert Boots
At first glance, desert boots look incredibly basic and uninteresting. They have a dull matte texture with drab shades of brown, blue, and green as the most popular colors. However, this lack of any eye-catching features is what makes them such ideal men’s shoes with shorts outfits.
In other words, desert men’s shoes with shorts act as a balancing item for the colorful and experimental outfits you can rock on top.
Urban Hipster
Men’s desert shoes with shorts outfit can look super stylish and eye-catching and this ensemble is solid proof of that. The essentials of this look are a pair of distressed brown leather boots and a pair of khaki shorts. Rest of the outfit features a white and black horizontal striped t-shirt with a crewneck collar and a dark blue denim shirt on top. Accessorize with a light brown trilby hat, and you’re the embodiment of modest urban hipster style.
By the way, you can try the same top combo over duck boots with skinny jeans for another brilliantly stylish elevated casual outfit.
What Shoes Go Best with Shorts?
Footwear along the lines of boat shoes, custom leather loafers, and sneakers is a safe pick for shorts. They even work with semi-formal oxford shoes if you pair them with the right outfit.
What Shoes Look Good with Jean Shorts?
Brown loafers and boat shoes look particularly amazing with jean shorts, and so do blue espadrilles. Though, if nothing else comes to mind, just go with white low-top sneakers.
Should You Wear Socks with Shorts?
This depends on the type of shoes and outfit you’re wearing. For example, socks are okay with Brogues with a shorts suit attire, but they won’t work with loafers and a Hawaiian shirt.
How Short Should Men’s Shorts Be?
There is no best length for men’s shorts as they are dependent on the type of outfits and body shapes. That said, a good rule of thumb is to keep shorts just above your kneecaps.
Final Words
The world of men’s footwear is vast and diverse. There are so many unique designs and silhouettes, each with something unique to offer. Understanding the various facets of footwear also opens up so many new opportunities for you. The most prominent example of this is the use of men’s shoes with shorts.
Picking the right type of shoe can transform ordinary shorts outfits into something much more significant. All you have to do is pay a little attention, and the hidden rules that govern men’s footwear fashion will become clear in due time. Once that happens, you’ll be ready with the perfect shoe for every occasion.
