It’s nearly that time of year when wearing jeans starts to feel repetitive and thinking of new denim outfit ideas runs dry. Don’t worry—there’s a fresh way to style your favorite jeans, and it revolves around the shoes, specifically eel-leather flats. This exotic animal print features a smooth texture, a natural stripe pattern, and a high shine. The best part is that the pattern is timeless and ageless, so anyone can wear it at any time of the year. Celebrities like Courteney Cox and Harry Styles have adopted this look, pairing jeans with eel-leather flats.

Cox and Styles have an almost 30-year age gap and distinct fashion tastes, but despite their differences, they have proven that eel-leather loafers can make your “basic” jeans look and feel new and elegant in 2026. Take, for example, Cox, who was spotted in L.A. wearing frayed-hem jeans with a beige knit cardigan, a Gucci bag, and eel-leather loafers. Meanwhile, in Rome, Styles was seen in a beige car coat with straight-leg jeans, The Row’s Soft eel-leather loafers, and a beanie.

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While croc or snakeskin flats are chic and pair well with jeans, the eel-print flats feel noteworthy because not everyone has their hands on a pair—yet. That said, if you’re inspired to add rich-looking eel-leather shoes to your rotation, keep scrolling. Ahead, we’re sharing the best flats, along with fresh straight-leg jeans to pair with them.

Shop the Best Eel-Leather Flats and Jeans: