These Chic Shoes Will Replace Loafers As Fall 2025's Go-To With Black Trousers

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Loafers are a fall staple because they hit that sweet spot between summer and winter footwear. They work perfectly with black trousers, and offer more coverage than sandals without the bulk of boots. But here's the problem: Loafers are terribly predictable, and black trousers aren't exactly thrilling. This combination fails the seven-point fashion rule, which takes the guesswork out of choosing your outfit by indicating that every 'fit needs at least one unexpected, interesting element. Pairing two expected basics, black trousers and loafers, is a snooze and leaves your bottoms with zero pizzazz.

So, you're probably wondering, what's the fix? Well, per the runways and fall 2025 trends, the better option is to swap the loafers for square-toe ballet flats. Now, we've said before that we're ditching ballet flats for the closed-lace Oxford shoe trend, but every fashion rule has its exceptions, and square-toe flats are one of them. They're not the default (round and pointed-toe flats still dominate), and they're not what you'd expect with black trousers. But this pairing goes beyond what's expected and what is not. Square-toe flats work with black pants specifically because they complement each other, and there are endless options to choose from.

The LUXINYU Women's Slip-On Flats (mislabeled as round-toe on Amazon, but don't be fooled) come in almost 30 colors and have a simple strap design. Meanwhile, the MUSSHOE Women's Ballet Mary Jane Flats give the same minimal look but in matte, so they're versatile enough for black trousers at work and more casual brunch dates alike.

Black trousers are structured and clean, and square-toe ballet flats echo that with their structured feel, and unlike curve-toe ballet flats, they don't feel overly girly. But square-toe ballet flats aren't just for formal black pants. They subtly glam up even your non-formal black pants, and they are more comfortable and won't squish your toes, which is always a fashion plus.

The first step to styling virtually anything is picking the right version, and luckily, there's no shortage of square-toe ballet flats for fall 2025. In fact, one pair might not be enough. Every wardrobe needs both a glossy pair and a matte pair (glossy for when you want shine and polish, and matte for everyday chic). Then it's time to branch out on the style front. Mesh is having a moment, and the Vivianly Mesh Ballet Flats (available in leopard print, red, and metallic, among other hues) are niche but full of styling potential. For a pop of color, the TN TANGNEST Women's Mary Jane Flats, which come in a floral pattern, have personality.

And finally, we come to knitted shoes. Knitwear has been a major fall trend since 2022, so don't stop at sweaters. The CUSHIONAIRE Weston Women's Ballet Flats feature hand-woven wide stitches in seven shades, with many customers noting that they're comfortable to wear.

To select the best picks for black trousers, we narrowed down the best square-toe ballet flats by combing through Amazon's top-rated pairs that were four stars and up. Then we sorted them by style to find which ones work best with black trousers. We also chose various types to give you options, depending on what type of black pants you're wearing.