Running sneakers have always been there in the back of my closet, only to be taken out every couple of weeks when I actually decide to exercise. I never really thought that they could be worn with anything but yoga pants and a sports bra. I mean of course I know that you CAN wear them with anything, but that doesn’t mean you should.
You see I live in an area where most people just wear sneakers to work every day and then wear the same pair of sneakers to the grocery store, to a concert, or out to dinner. I always thought that wearing sneakers with anything was just the lazy way of getting dressed and that people who wore them didn’t care about how they looked, it was just easy and comfortable.
I really wanted to write this blog post because the issue of wearing running sneakers with an everyday outfit and or actually wearing it to work has always perplexed me. A lot of research had to be done and I read a lot of others blog post to discover that there are ways to style sneakers to actually make them look cute. Below I go through different scenarios and alternative ways you can dress up sneakers to make your outfit look put together.
When your out shopping to buy a new pair of sneakers you probably take into consideration a number of things. Like comfort, are they actually made for running, is there a good tread on them? You probably say the color is cute but, do you ask yourself “would these sneakers go with my non-workout outfits?” It’s important to think about that if you want to get the most use out of these expensive shoes. I think the most important thing to pay attention to is color. Don’t pick any crazy prints or shoes that have 5 different colors on them. Stick to monotones hues and solid colors that have only have 2 or 3 colors on them. The more monotone the color is the more outfits you can wear them with.
Like I said before I struggle with putting together a cute and casual outfit that actually looks good with sneakers. After going through a lot of outfit inspiration on Pinterest, I think that I have finally come up with the perfect (and full proof) outfit that will always look good with sneakers. Pair a striped long or short sleeve shirt with skinny jeans that are cuffed that the bottoms. This way you can show off your ankles and the cuffed jeans look will make your outfit seemed more polished. Pair this outfit with black, white, or grey sneakers for a really cute look.
Also, just a word of advice, try to wear low ankle socks so that the socks don’t show over the sneakers. You don’t want to look like a middle school boy who is trying out for the basketball team.
For a cute weekend look let’s add some color to your outfit with cute pastel sneakers. I personally own a pair of lilac purple tone Nike sneakers that are the perfect color for spring. I love matching the purple of the sneakers to a lavender cardigan or lightweight sweater. Like the I have the ShopStyle widget below, I show that you can pair blush pink sneakers with a long millennial pink cardigan. Pair with a statement graphic tee and some distressed light wash skinny jeans for a cute look. This outfit is perfect for when you still want to be comfortable and still show off your style and show that you actually care about your weekend wardrobe.
Dressing up sneakers can prove to be a little more difficult than just a casual weekend look. You may want to wear sneakers with a cute skirt but maybe you don’t want to look like a cheerleader. The solution is to find the perfect white sneakers! It’s starting to get warmer out so wearing a lot of the color white at one time is acceptable again. If you want to wear a dress or skirt with sneakers, I would suggest wearing a midi length one. That way the bottom of the fabric hits around mid-calf and will show off your legs. A perfect example is to wear a cute pink flowy midi skirt with a white top tucked into it, pair with a pair of white ankle sneakers, and a brown circle bag. And there you go, the perfect dressed up but still feeling comfortable outfit.
It can be hard to wear running sneakers with outfits that aren’t yoga pants and a tank top. You may feel weird stepping out of the house in a cute dress and sneakers, you probably would rather throw on a pair of cute sandals for a really dressed up girly look. But let’s all just step outside of our comfort zone of cute sandals and wedges and pair our dresses and skirts with a pair of monotone sneakers for a more sporty look. If you are still confused at what type of sneakers to buy that will match any outfit, just buy white sneakers. They will go with almost any outfit.
Athleisure is one of my favorite types of styles — it’s so easy to make a cute outfit out of some yoga pants and a cute top and I also like to throw on a pair of cute sneakers with professional outfits to bring a sense of casual-ness to the outfit.
I love athleisure too! I was really trying to style sneakers with outfits that weren’t leggings and a t-shirt so your idea of pairing sneakers with a professional work outfit is great!
Love your tips! Nice sneakers too!
Yes, there are sooooo many different ways to dress up sneakers! Thanks for reading!
Thanks so much for liking my post! Styling sneakers can be difficult but there are so many ways to wear them!
Such a sweet comment Bexa! I’m glad I could be an inspiration to you!
i loved this post!! nice way to get some inspiration since i LOVE nike sneakers, i actually just got a new pair that i’m obsessed with and will definitely be taking these tips into consideration when styling future outfits!
Yay for new sneakers! Thanks so much for reading and using my styling tips!