As stovepipe styles and relaxed straight-leg jeans continue to dominate this season, cropped denim hasn’t quite enjoyed its usual spring spotlighting. But while they may be taking a quieter role, they’re certainly not forgotten, and when the fashion set are styling them, they’re looking chicer than ever.

Down to the perfect shoe pairing, instead of defaulting to predictable white trainers or leaning into the resurgence of loafers, the most stylish dressers are turning to a more refined alternative: ballet flats.

Case in point: Katie Holmes was spotted out this week, giving her cropped jeans a polished update with a pair of jet-black ballet flats. The perfect springtime pairing, the cropped hem offered a subtle flash of skin, working well with the delicacy of the streamlined flat.

Katie Holmes walks down the street in New York wearing cropped jeans with black ballet flats, a black blazer and an oversized scarf.

(Image credit: Backgrid)

Tapping into the enduring appeal of ballet flats, this combination feels especially relevant for 2026. If you’re looking for the chicest way to wear cropped jeans right now, this is it.