By Chip Hanna — We Tried It, Fort Collins, Colorado
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TL;DR
A clean white sneaker or a loafer. That’s the answer.
I’ve worn Lululemon ABC Pants for two-plus years — Classic, Slim, Trouser, Jogger and Golf Trouser — and I rate them 4.5/5. Over that time the shoes I actually reach for are the Amberjack Originals ($195), white Rothy’s RS01 ($160), Wolf & Shepherd Crossover Derby ($275), white Allbirds (~$100), and the Hari Mari Adobe Desert Boot ($120) when it gets cold.
The one thing to avoid: tuxedo shoes. These pants came out of a yoga company. Do not dress them like a wedding.
The five pairs I actually wear
Every shoe below has a full hands-on review on this site. Prices are the ones on those reviews.
| Shoe | Price | Why it works with ABC Pants | Our review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amberjack Original | $195 | The one I upgraded to and haven’t looked back. Dress-shoe shape, sneaker comfort, no break-in. Our best-value pick in a six-shoe dress-shoe test. | Amberjack Shoe Review |
| Rothy’s RS01 (white) | $160 | The clean white sneaker that isn’t a gym shoe. Machine washable, which is why I’ll wear it in white. | Rothy’s Men’s Shoe Review |
| Wolf & Shepherd Crossover Derby | $275 | The dressiest thing I’d put with these pants. Italian leather, 4.75/5, our overall dress-shoe winner. | Wolf & Shepherd Review |
| Allbirds Tree Runner (white) | $100 | The everyday, no-thought pair. What I actually wear to work, with a polo and a vest. | Allbirds Tree Runners Review |
| Hari Mari Adobe Desert Boot | $120 | The cold-weather answer. As comfortable as a ZeroGrand Chukka and better looking. | Hari Mari Boot Review |
Why this pairing is harder than it looks
ABC Pants are the most useful pants I own precisely because they refuse to sit in one category. The Classic is a 5-pocket that reads like jeans. The Trouser reads like a chino. Same Warpstreme fabric, two different outfits.
So the shoe has to do the same trick: casual enough that you don’t look like you’re wearing suit pants to brunch, sharp enough that you can wear them to an office. That’s a narrow lane, and it’s why “what shoes go with ABC pants” is a real question rather than a lazy one.
The general rule I’ve landed on after two years: one notch dressier than a running shoe, one notch more casual than a real dress shoe.
The picks, in detail
1. Amberjack Original — $195 — the one I upgraded to
I used to wear Cole Haan ZeroGrands with these pants. I don’t anymore. I upgraded to Amberjack and it’s the pair I’d hand someone who owns exactly one pair of ABC Pants and wants exactly one pair of shoes to go with them.
In our six-shoe dress shoe test, the Amberjack Original scored 4.5/5 and won Best Value — about 80% of the comfort of the winner at 65% of the price. Comfortable out of the box, no break-in.
If you want the same brand in a sneaker shape, the Amberjack Low Tops are $179 and were built for exactly this problem: shoes that look grown-up without giving up comfort. If you want a slip-on, the Amberjack Loafer is $175 in Grizzly suede, true to size, and it’s what I wear all winter.
2. White Rothy’s RS01 — $160 — the clean white sneaker
This is my most-worn pairing with the ABC Pants, and the reason is a boring one: they’re machine washable. I’ll actually buy a white shoe if I can wash it.
Full disclosure from our Rothy’s men’s review: we returned our first pair and then bought them again. They’re nearly twice the price and weight of an Allbirds Tree Piper — $160 and 430g against $100 and 226g — but they’re better built.
One warning: skip the Rothy’s Driving Loafer ($185). It gave both of us heel blisters.
3. Wolf & Shepherd Crossover Derby — $275 — when you need to look sharp
The dressiest shoe I’d put with these pants. Italian leather that outclasses the ZeroGrand, memory foam that molds to your foot after a few wears, and the overall winner of our dress-shoe test at 4.75/5.
They’re 18 oz, so they’re heavier than the alternatives. And skip the $125 leather-care kit — that we would not buy again.
If you’re not attending events where your shoes matter, the Amberjack at $195 is the smarter buy. Be honest with yourself about which one you are.
4. White Allbirds — $100 — the daily default
This is genuinely what I wear to work most days: Ministry of Supply joggers or ABC Pants, white Allbirds, a polo, and a vest. No ironing, no dry cleaning.
The Tree Runner is $100 and it’s the Allbirds we recommend more than any other. Sockless, washable, and it doesn’t fight the pants for attention.
Sizing note: Allbirds only sells whole sizes. I wear a 9.5 and order a 10.
5. Hari Mari Adobe Desert Boot — $120 — for cold months
When the flip-flops go away, this is what goes with the ABC Pants. It’s as comfortable as a Cole Haan ZeroGrand Chukka, lightweight and memory-foam-lined, and it looks good.
One styling note from our boot review: the charcoal colorway takes some work. Pair it with darker pants, not khakis.
Honorable mention: Cole Haan ZeroGrand
These were my ABC Pant shoe for years, and I still think they’re some of the lightest, most comfortable dress shoes made. But quality has slipped, and if you want something that looks like a real dress shoe instead of a leather sneaker, we now point people at Amberjack instead.
Worth knowing: they list around $190–$308 but go on sale constantly, so you can usually get a pair for $90–$180. At $90 they’re still a good deal.
What not to wear
Tuxedo shoes. These pants come from a yoga company. Putting a patent tux shoe on them is like putting ketchup on a fine steak — the pieces are fine, the combination isn’t.
Obvious running shoes. Not because there’s a rule, but because the whole point of the ABC Pant is that it dresses up. A running shoe throws that away. If you want a sneaker, make it a clean one.
The rest of the outfit
Since you’re here: I wear these pants with Mizzen + Main dress shirts or a polo. The Leeward is $158 and looks boardroom-ready while feeling like a t-shirt. That combination — ABC Pants, Mizzen + Main, Amberjacks — is the closest thing I have to a uniform.
More on the full look in our business casual guide.
If the pants are the problem
Some people land here because the ABC Pant is $128–$148 and that’s a lot. The best cheaper pair we’ve found is the Quince Ultra-Stretch 24/7 Chino at about $60 — roughly 80% of the comfort at less than half the price. Full breakdown in our ABC Pant alternatives writeup.
Every shoe on this page works with those too.
FAQ
What shoes go best with Lululemon ABC Pants?
A clean white sneaker or a loafer. Specifically: Amberjack Originals ($195), white Rothy’s RS01 ($160), or white Allbirds Tree Runners ($100). All three walk the line between casual and office.
Can you wear sneakers with ABC Pants?
Yes — that’s most of what I do. Keep them clean and keep them simple. A white leather or knit sneaker works; an obvious running shoe doesn’t.
Can you wear ABC Pants to the office?
I do, constantly. They’re casual but not too casual. Paired with a Mizzen + Main shirt and an Amberjack, nobody has ever asked me about my pants.
What shoes should you avoid with ABC Pants?
Tuxedo shoes and anything shiny and formal. These are pants from a yoga company — dressing them to a black-tie standard fights what they are.
Do ABC Pants work with boots?
Yes, in cold weather. The Hari Mari Adobe Desert Boot ($120) is the pair I use. Darker pants with the charcoal color.
What about dress shoes with the ABC Trouser?
That’s the one ABC style that genuinely handles a real dress shoe. The Wolf & Shepherd Crossover Derby ($275) or the Amberjack Original ($195) both work. The Trouser has chino-style pockets and reads dressier than the 5-pocket Classic.
Is there one shoe that does all of it?
The Amberjack Original, if I had to pick. It’s the pair I upgraded to and the one that covers the widest range of what these pants do.
Related reviews we actually wrote
- Lululemon ABC Pants Review
- Lululemon ABC Pant Alternatives
- Amberjack Shoe Review
- Amberjack Sneakers Review
- Amberjack Loafer Review
- Rothy’s Men’s Shoe Review
- Wolf & Shepherd Review
- Cole Haan ZeroGrand Review
- Amberjack vs Cole Haan ZeroGrand
- Hari Mari Boot Review
- Allbirds Tree Runners Review
- Best Dress Shoes for Men 2026
- Best Business Casual
- Mizzen + Main Review
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