I love black jeans. I wore my last pair so much that they faded and became gray jeans. I actually still own them as I think the worn design looks great. But it also meant that I had to go out and grab a new pair of black jeans (Uniqlo skinny jeans, since you ask). With this in mind, I figured that now would be a great time to highlight some of my favorite black jeans outfits.
The outfits on this list are pretty varied, but there are a few themes you’ll see throughout. When choosing what to wear with black jeans, I typically go for clothes in neutral shades. There are a lot of gray, white, beige, and other black pieces in my outfits, but not many brighter colors. There are also a few navy pieces. Some people don’t like to wear navy and black, but I think the color works well with black jeans.
I like wearing sneakers and boots with black denim. And sandals are a great choice for summer. In the past, I would wear black jeans with casual shoes quite a lot but I haven’t in any of these outfits. This wasn’t a conscious choice, but maybe it shows how much sneakers dominate menswear at the moment.
Keep reading to discover how to wear black jeans and see some of my favorite outfits.
Styling Men’s Black Jeans: Key Points
- Black jeans are super versatile. They go with everything from smart clothes like shirts and blazers to casual items like t-shirts and sweaters.
- Dark black jeans can look quite smart, while faded or ripped jeans are more casual.
- Sneakers, boots, and canvas shoes look great with black jeans. Dress shoes can work if the jeans are relatively smart and the rest of the outfit is relatively formal.
- Neutral colors like gray, white, and cream go really well with black. Colors like red and navy can also work.
- Fail-safe items to wear black jeans include canvas shoes, t-shirts or sweaters in neutral colors, casual jackets like truckers or bomber jackets, and flannel or other types of casual shirts.
What to Wear With Black Jeans: 14 Men’s Outfits
These are 14 of my favorite ways to wear black jeans. Use them to inspire your own outfits using items in your wardrobe or recreate the fits by adding some of the pieces to your buy list.
A Denim Jacket
Wearing a denim jacket with jeans is one of my favorite outfits. Pairing a blue denim jacket with black jeans is a really easy way to avoid the double denim matching too closely. Wear it with a sweater in winter for some extra warmth or a t-shirt or casual shirt in summer. The jacket in the outfit is a Levi’s trucker jacket, in case you were wondering.
A Black Denim Jacket
This is one of my favorite monochrome outfits. The color and texture of the knit turtleneck and the chunky boots nicely balance out the denim from the jacket and the jeans. I got that denim jacket from Zara but you can see more of the best black denim jackets here.
A Leather Jacket
Wearing a leather jacket with your black jeans is a classic rockstar look that I love. While your leather jacket and jeans are the same color, the vastly different textures of the two materials adds some contrast.
Wearing your leather jacket over a white t-shirt is the obvious choice, although you do risk looking like an extra out of Grease. A black sweater or t-shirt like in the image above is another safe option. Or go for a more out-there look by pairing your leather jacket and black jeans with a patterned shirt.
Inspired to wear leather? Then check out our list of the best affordable leather jackets
With a Black Blazer and Dress Shoes
If you’re going to wear a blazer with jeans, your best bet is to go with dark jeans like the ones in the image above. Wearing a t-shirt under the blazer balances out the look and keeps it smart yet casual.
A Sweater and a Shirt
Wearing black jeans with a sweater and a shirt is one of my favorite date night smart casual outfits. The color and the dark color ensure it’s a stylish yet classy outfit. Meanwhile, the black jeans mean it isn’t too formal.
An Overshirt
Sticking with jackets for a moment, a more on-trend choice is to wear your black jeans with an overshirt. I like to wear mine with a beige shacket for a monochrome look. Pair this with white sneakers and a t-shirt in a similar shade to the jacket.
A Gray Blazer
Black jeans can also be part of smarter, more formal outfits. This stretches to wearing them with a blazer. When I go for this look, I like to wear a gray blazer with a simple t-shirt or sweater underneath. You can wear this outfit with shoes, or keep casual by wearing a pair of minimal sneakers
A Casual Shirt
Putting on a shirt is an easy way to upgrade a pair of black jeans. Casual shirts are an obvious choice. Look for short-sleeve summer shirts with muted colors and patterns for a modern look.
A Check Shirt
Flannel shirts look great with denim, and black jeans are no exception. I chose a dark flannel shirt in the image above, but it would also work with a light version of the style.
An Oversized T-Shirt
I’m guessing that the most common item to pair with black jeans is a t-shirt. It’s simple, affordable, practical, and yes, can also look good. Give this simple black jeans outfit an on-trend upgrade by opting for an oversized t-shirt. This is one with more room around the upper body and longer sleeves, but cut to a regular length. I like to go for monochrome colors like white or gray (or even black) when pairing my black jeans with a t-shirt.
A Turtleneck
A simple sweater is an easy item to pair with black jeans. Although there’s a bit more flexibility due to the many types of sweaters that are available. I especially like wearing black jeans with a turtleneck.
A Button-Up Shirt
You don’t have to limit yourself to a casual shirt. If your denim is relatively unfaded, you can get away with a more formal style. Wear sneakers to keep the outfit casual or shoes to make it suitable for the office. If you want an upgrade from a typical dress shirt, check out our guide to up-to-date shirt trends.
What Color Shirts Go With Black Jeans? 👇
You have many options. White shirts go well with black jeans, as do those in other neutral or off-white colors. The light blue shirt in the image above works too, although I’d avoid going much darker. Gray also works well, and you can even try out more experimental colors like green. Find out more about the colors that go with black clothes here.
Minimal Sneakers
Black jeans go with many different types of sneakers. The kind you choose will depend on your personal sense of style. I like to wear mine with minimal white sneakers like in the image above, or with Vans. You’ll notice that I wore them sockless with my jeans turned up, another look I like. Both of these sneaker styles work well with black jeans.
A Maroon Jacket and Gray T-Shirt
I like this outfit because the maroon jacket adds a burst of color to the fit. The lighter gray t-shirt balances out the outfit by complementing the the two other colors.
What Colors Go With Black Jeans?
I’m a huge fan of wearing black jeans with other muted or neutral colors. Shades like gray, white, beige, or even other black items all go well. If you’re worried about this becoming boring, then you can add a pattern to the mix. Stripes and checks are easy ways to add some interest to your item.
What Color Shoes Go Best With Black Jeans?
Black shoes and boots go great with black jeans. So do white or neutral-colored sneakers. A lot of people advise against wearing brown shoes with black jeans and in many cases, I agree. It’s definitely not as cut and dry as it is with wearing brown shoes with black pants. If you have a pair of brown shoes or boots you like, I say go for it.
More Men’s Black Jeans Outfits
