Elevator sneakers look like normal sneakers with slim or straight jeans and chinos hemmed to just touch the top of the shoe, with little or no break, in a colour close to the shoe. On VAHL sneakers only 3.4 cm of the 6 cm lift is visible outsole; the other 2.6 cm is built into the inside of the shoe, so the hem and a tonal outfit do the rest. For smarter chinos, the Venice suede loafer has a 5 cm lift with 2.2 cm of visible outsole.
The quick guide
| Trousers | Hem | Shoe that matches |
|---|---|---|
| Dark indigo jeans | Just touching the shoe, little or no break | Stockholm (deep navy suede) or Oslo (black suede) |
| Black jeans | Just touching the shoe | Oslo (black suede) |
| Light or mid-wash jeans | No break, or a small single roll | Copenhagen (beige suede) or Stockholm |
| Beige or stone chinos | No break | Copenhagen (beige suede) |
| Navy or grey chinos | No break | Stockholm, or Venice for a smarter look |
| Model | Type | Total lift | Visible outsole | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockholm | Deep navy suede sneaker | 6 cm | 3.4 cm | 1 900 SEK |
| Copenhagen | Beige suede sneaker | 6 cm | 3.4 cm | 1 900 SEK |
| Oslo | Black suede sneaker | 6 cm | 3.4 cm | 1 900 SEK |
| Venice | Deep navy suede loafer | 5 cm | 2.2 cm | 2 100 SEK |
How long should jeans be with elevator sneakers?
Aim for a hem that just touches the top of the shoe. That way the trouser leg runs straight into the shoe and the eye reads one line. Two things break it: fabric that stacks in folds on the shoe, which shortens the leg, and a hem that ends well above the shoe, which shows the full side of the sole and the sock.
The lift raises your heel, so jeans hemmed for flat shoes can end up sitting higher on the shoe. Try your trousers with the shoes on, and bring the shoes if you visit a tailor.
Slim, straight or wide: which cut works?
Slim and straight cuts work best. A slim, slightly tapered leg sits neatly on top of a low sneaker, and a straight leg falls cleanly over it. Very tight jeans make any sneaker look bigger by contrast. Wide and baggy legs hide the shoe, but they also cut the leg line, which works against looking taller.
The same goes for chinos: slim or straight, with little or no break.
Which colours work with navy, beige and black suede?
Keep the trousers and shoes in the same colour family. A tonal line from leg to shoe draws less attention to the shoe and makes the legs read longer.
- Stockholm, deep navy suede, 1 900 SEK: dark indigo jeans and navy chinos. Our best seller.
- Copenhagen, beige suede, 1 900 SEK: stone and beige chinos, light-wash jeans.
- Oslo, black suede, 1 900 SEK: black jeans and charcoal chinos.
More on colour and fit in how to look taller: style tips for men.
Chinos and the elevator loafer
For the office, dinners and smart-casual events, swap the sneaker for a loafer. The Venice loafer in deep navy suede has a 5 cm lift, of which 2.2 cm is visible outsole, and costs 2 100 SEK. It suits navy, stone and grey chinos with no break. Pair it with no-show socks, or socks in the colour of your trousers.
Cuffs, rolls and socks
A small single roll on light jeans is fine. Heavy cuffs add a thick band at the ankle and shorten the leg, so skip them. Socks matter whenever an ankle shows: socks in the colour of your trousers keep the line, while bright or white socks under dark trousers draw the eye straight to the shoe. If you are unsure how the shoe itself reads, see do elevator shoes look obvious?
Not sure about colour or size? Try the shoes indoors with your own jeans. Size exchanges are free, and returns within 14 days have a return fee deducted. Full terms: returns and exchanges.
Jeans and chinos questions
How long should my jeans be with elevator sneakers?
Long enough that the hem just touches the top of the shoe, with little or no break. Fabric that stacks on the shoe shortens the leg, and a hem far above the shoe shows the whole side of the sole.
Can I wear elevator sneakers with skinny jeans?
Yes, but slim or straight jeans usually look better. Very tight jeans make any sneaker look bigger by contrast, and wide jeans hide the shoe but cut the leg line.
Which colour sneaker goes with dark jeans?
Navy or black. The Stockholm (deep navy suede) and Oslo (black suede) sneakers keep dark denim in one line from leg to shoe. Copenhagen (beige suede) suits lighter washes and stone chinos.
Will people notice the lift when I wear jeans?
What people see is the outsole. On VAHL sneakers that is 3.4 cm of the 6 cm lift, and on the Venice loafer 2.2 cm of the 5 cm lift. The rest is built into the inside of the shoe.
Should I hem my trousers after buying elevator shoes?
Check them first. The lift raises your heel, so trousers hemmed for flat shoes can sit higher on the shoe. Bring the shoes to the tailor so the hem is set with them on.
Do elevator loafers work with chinos?
Yes. The Venice loafer in deep navy suede has a 5 cm lift and suits navy, stone or grey chinos with little or no break, for the office or a dinner.