There is a sneaker for every outfit. And not just because of the different designs and colors, but also how they can be paired with your outfit. Sneakers are casual, so they will work well with easy-to-wear pieces such as jeans or shorts.
However, if you’re looking to invest in more formal sneaker options, check out our guide below. From the right pairs that are appropriate for semi-formal and formal situations to keeping them clean with some neutral colors (and no dirty feet!) – read on to learn more.
Pair Sneakers With Formal Attire
You can pair sneakers with most formal outfits. For example, if you’re wearing a suit, you can pair sneakers with the suit. That said, sneakers don’t have to be the only sneakers option for pairing with outfits. You can also pair sneakers with other clean options such as loafers, oxfords, and pumps. For example, when wearing a suit, a pair of leather sneakers would look best as they’re the only sneakers option that doesn’t clash with your outfit (and the suit).
When pairing sneakers with formal outfits, keep in mind that sneakers are not appropriate for every occasion, especially if you’re attending a wedding. They’re not appropriate for a wedding as a suit is the expected attire. Also, sneakers are not appropriate for a dinner or a dinner party as they’re not the right footwear for a dinner scenario. For example, if you’re attending a dinner where dinner jackets are the norm, sneakers would be a glaring error.
Semi-formal Sneaker Pairs
For semi-formal shoes, we suggest wearing a pair of low-profile sneakers with a semi-formal outfit such as a knit dress, khakis, or navy blue jeans. You don’t have to go for one pair of sneakers; instead, you can go for a combination of sneakers and beach shoes. When wearing sneakers with khakis, go for a pair of low-top sneakers so that they don’t clash with the outfit.
Pairing sneakers with a dress is a little tricky, but we suggest going for leather sneakers as they’re the only kind of sneakers that won’t clash with a dress. For example, if you’re attending a friend’s wedding, sneakers are not appropriate and you don’t want to cause an awkward situation. If you’re attending a dinner party or a party that demands a suit and tie, sneakers are not appropriate.
Formal Sneaker Pairs
For formal outfits, we suggest wearing high-top sneakers as they’re more formal than low-top sneakers. When wearing sneakers, you can either pair them with other outfits or you can go for more casual sneakers that are versatile enough to be worn with a more casual outfit. For example, if you’re attending a wedding, sneakers are the only option that’s not appropriate.
That said, you can pair sneakers with more outfits such as a navy blue suit, white shirt, and navy blue tie. Alternatively, you can pair sneakers with a navy blue suit, navy blue shirt, and brown belt. When it comes to sneakers for weddings, we have one word – no. Sneakers are not appropriate as they’re not the right attire for a wedding.
Yes, some people like to wear sneakers to weddings, but the vast majority of the people attending the wedding will not like that you’re wearing sneakers.
Neutral Sneaker Pairs
For neutral sneakers, we suggest wearing low-top sneakers with a neutral outfit such as a navy blue jeans, khakis, or a grey hooded sweater. Low-top sneakers are more formal than high-top sneakers, so wearing low-top sneakers with a neutral outfit is more appropriate than wearing high-top sneakers with a neutral outfit.
When wearing low-top sneakers with neutral outfits, you can either go for a pair of black low-top sneakers or a grey low-top sneakers. You can wear neutral sneakers with a variety of outfits. For example, if you’re attending an office party, you can pair neutral sneakers with a neutral outfit such as a navy blue jeans, a grey sweater, and a grey bag.
You can also go for a pair of black sneakers as they’re more formal than neutral sneakers. When attending a dinner party, you can pair neutral sneakers with a navy blue or grey suit, a navy blue or grey blazer, and a light blue or grey shirt.
Avoid Sneaker with Formal Clothing
In general, sneakers are not appropriate for formal attire. That said, if you’re wearing sneakers with a formal outfit such as a suit or a pair of grey slacks, sneakers are not a bad choice. However, if you’re wearing sneakers with a casual outfit such as a pair of jeans, go for other options such as shoes, boat shoes, or sneakers.
That way, you don’t cause a clash between your outfit and the sneakers you’re wearing. For example, you can wear sneakers with a suit, but we’d suggest going with low-top sneakers as they’re more appropriate for suits. You can also wear sneakers with a pair of grey slacks, but we’d suggest going with neutral low-top sneakers as they’re more official than low-top sneakers. That way, your outfit doesn’t clash with the sneakers you’re wearing.
Avoid Sneaker with Semi-formal Clothing
For semi-formal attire, we’d suggest avoiding sneakers. That said, we don’t mean that you can’t wear sneakers with semi-formal attire; rather, we mean that we’d suggest avoiding sneakers with semi-formal attire. That means that we’d suggest going for other options such as sneakers, boat shoes, or sneakers.
For example, if you’re attending a friend’s wedding, sneakers are the last thing you want to wear as they’re not the right attire for a wedding.
That said, you can go for sneakers, boat shoes, or sneakers as they’re more formal than sneakers. That way, you can still wear semi-formal attire without causing a clash between your outfit and the sneakers you’re wearing.
Avoid Sneaker with Casual Outfits
For casual attire, we’d suggest avoiding sneakers. That means that, for example, if you’re wearing a pair of jeans, you can’t go for a pair of sneakers as they’ll clash with your outfit. That said, you can go for sneakers, boat shoes, or sneakers as they’re more formal than sneakers. That way, your outfit doesn’t clash with the sneakers you’re wearing.
That said, you can wear sneakers with jeans, shorts, or track pants. For example, if you’re attending a day out with your friends, sneakers are more appropriate than other options such as loafers, oxfords, or boat shoes as they’re more casual than other footwear options.
Summing Up
Sneakers are very popular, and for good reason. They are comfortable and stylish. Sneakers are a great option for everyday wear, but they’re also perfect for style-conscious folks who want to make a fashion statement with their footwear.
However, sneakers aren’t appropriate for every outfit. That means that, when wearing sneakers with your official attire, you don’t have to go overboard as they’re not the most formal shoe choice. That said, when wearing sneakers with your semi-formal and formal attire, we’d suggest going with low-top sneakers as they’re more formal than high-top sneakers.
