Kate Osman | On September 10, 2015
A few years ago, an unexpectedly practical trend became popular among fashion’s in-crowd: sneakers as an alternative to gorgeous-but-impractical stilettos.
These new cool styles of sneakers can add depth to your wardrobe with their versatility: dresses that would’ve been too fancy for a specific occasion with heels are now street style worthy when paired with a pair of sneakers.
Not to mention, they’re a million times more comfortable than heels. Sneakers have been a street style favorite of even the most avant-garde fashion fans in recent years, and the good news is, they’re not going anywhere anytime soon.If you’re not sold on the trend yet, here’s a guide to this cool-girl style and tips on how to incorporate them seamlessly into your wardrobe:
The Classic White Tennis Shoe
It’s been around forever, but there’s something special about the new versions of this shoe. Adidas’ Stan Smith version adds a little bit of color to the clean white style, and Nike’s version is just about as polished as tennis shoes come. Pair this sleek style with a crisp shirtdress, your favorite jeans and a blouse, or with a colorful dress to make it more appropriate for daytime. The clean feel of the white shoe will add an unexpectedly chic pop to any outfit while simultaneously making your outfit a little more street worthy—there’s really nothing better.
The Heeled Sneaker
This one may take a little more confidence to pull off, but the heeled version of the sneaker really embodies what this trend is about: mixing high and low dressing. It may seem that putting heels on sneakers sort of defeats the purpose (and maybe it would be harder to go for a run in these), but they’re still much more comfy than stilettos and still offer you a lot more support than heels. These sneakers look awesome with black jeans or leather leggings that don’t overpower the shoe, a fashionable sweatshirt (like the classic Calvin Klein version Urban Outfitters currently has in stock) or maybe a slouchy harem pant that makes casual dressing a breeze.
The Statement Sneaker
There’s no need to shy away from a bold and bright version—these shoes are statement pieces themselves and they deserve to be treated as such. Pick a pair with a bright pattern and make them the center of your outfit. It’s perfectly acceptable to wear them with your favorite t-shirt dress for the most effortless going to class or running for coffee look ever, but they also look as insanely stylish as they are unexpected when paired with a printed pant suit. If your sneakers are bright, stick to monochrome neutrals for the rest of your outfit, and you’ll have mastered the high-low mix perfectly.
The Slip-On Sneaker
Somewhere in-between a flat and full-on sneaker exists the slip-on sneaker, a hybrid of the two that embraces all the practicality and comfort of the sneaker without being a full-on athletic shoe. More recently, the variations on this style have become more and more creative. From leather to floral print, the slip-on sneaker has become more fashion-forward than ever. You can even wear them to the office with a dress if you have a more casual dress code. The best thing about these? They’re just as practical as ballet flats, but probably won’t give you nearly as many blisters.
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