The once opposing categories of dress shoes and sneakers have united, resulting in the rise of the elegant sneaker. Steering away from the sporty provenance of sneakers, luxury designers and fashion houses are applying their elevated design codes to the inherently comfortable shoes, resulting in sneakers that can take the place of oxfords, loafers, or derbies and don’t look out of place paired with a suit.
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How to wear sneakers with a suit
Wearing sneakers with a suit has gradually evolved from a fashion faux pas to a radical styling move and is now considered the norm. However, it’s not a free-for-all. To convey a sense of sophisticated irreverence — and not merely look like you forgot to change your footwear after a gym session — leave the tattered trainers and sports-specific sneakers behind. Instead, opt for streamlined, low-profile silhouettes in elevated materials; think leather, suede, and faux leather over more technical fabrics such as mesh and foam.
When it comes to selecting the right sneakers to wear with a suit, taking proportions into consideration is key. The slim-fitting suits that have dominated menswear (think Tom Ford, Thom Browne, Theory, and Calvin Klein) over the past decade are best paired with equally streamlined sneakers. Opt for slim, sleek leather kicks in neutral hues of black, brown, beige, and charcoal. Some of the best brands for elevated slimline sneakers include Berluti, Brunello Cucinelli, Oliver Cabell, Common Projects, Zegna, and even certain Adidas varieties. When styling sneakers with a slim-fitting suit, ensure your trousers have little to no break (opt for no break, quarter break, or half break) — this ensures your sneaker and suit combo looks intentional rather than sloppy.
However, oversized tailoring has also gained traction of late, with dramatic shoulders and billowy hems allowing for more experimentation when it comes to footwear accompaniments. Oversized suiting — such as that sported by the likes of Justin Beiber and Sebastian Stan — has the ability to be teamed with bold, chunky sneakers. Consider bulbous Balenciagas, New Balance’s ever-popular array of dad sneakers, and even trail-ready iterations courtesy of hiking brands like Salomon.
The best sneakers to wear with a suit
From failsafe favourites to avant-garde options, these are the best sneakers to style with a suit.
1. Common Projects Original Achilles Leather Sneakers
Characterised by clean lines and simple forms, the Original Achilles Leather Sneakers are a foolproof style to team with a slim-fitting suit. Devoid of extraneous details — save for the golden heel stamp bearing the sneakers’ style number, size, and colour — the leather construction of these sneakers lends them to wear for smart casual occasions. Black is a failsafe colourway, however, the olive green and blue shades work to add a touch of interest to otherwise staid get-ups.
2. Oliver Cabell Low 1
The very definition of minimalism, these decidedly pared-back sneakers pair well with relaxed and smart casual wear alike. Their leather composition and lack of obtrusive branding make them a versatile staple to have in your style arsenal; try teaming the Oliver Cabell Low 1 sneakers with a slim-fitting suit in grey, black, or charcoal. In deference to your footwear, lose the shirt and tie and opt for a t-shirt or fine merino turtleneck instead.
3. Zegna Triple Stitch Sneakers
Revered for its high-quality suiting fabrics and impeccable tailoring, Italian fashion house Zegna has been pioneering the luxury leisurewear movement of late. A sartorially viable alternative to loafers and derbies, the Zegna Triple Stitch Sneakers are at home paired with a suit. The trio of crossed elastics traversing up the tongue of the sneakers adds a hint of visual interest to the otherwise structured shoe, making for an interesting visual detail. Available in myriad colours and materials, we’re leaning towards this two-tone black and brown deerskin iteration.
4. Adidas Stan Smith
You can’t go wrong with the OG. A hit since its rebrand in 1971, a pair of Adidas Stan Smiths is a must-have in any sneakerhead’s wardrobe. Best still, the minimalist aesthetic of these vegan-friendly kicks allows them to be teamed with slim-fitting suits. More casual fabrications like lightweight cotton or lining in shades of light grey, cream, navy, or tan work particularly well with Stan Smiths.
5. Maison Margiela Replica Sneakers
An elevated take on German military trainers, the Maison Margiela Replica Sneakers boast a little heft while still being streamlined. Adorned with suede accents and a gum sole, it adds interest to classic suiting while still being office appropriate. We’re particularly partial to the brown, tan, and coffee-hued takes on the style.
6. Berluti Fast Track Leather Sneaker
Luxury French fashion house Berluti is famed for its leather creations, and it’s not hard to see why. The gradient-effect leather, hand-burnished details, and brouge-inspired decorative perforations on the Berluti Fast Track Leather Sneaker impart an undeniably elevated feel, making it the ideal style to introduce a little tonal experimentation. While the style comes in standard neutral hues, we’re drawn to the Beetle Green variation, which would be an apt fit for a straight-cut suit in tan, brown, or cream.
7. New Balance 990v5 Vegan Friendly
One for lovers of classic and oversized tailoring. The New Balance 990v5 Vegan Friendly sneakers make for a foolproof way to anchor a neutral suit, with their monochromatic nature and textural variation adding interest to otherwise standard ‘fits. Pair the grey version with black or grey suiting.
8. Brunello Cucinelli Knit Runners
From the patron saint of cashmere comes these impossibly lightweight runners. Inspired by the Italian fashion house’s knitwear, the Brunello Cucinelli Knit Runners lend a sporty feel to tailoring. Opt for casual suiting in similarly lightweight fabrics; think linen, cotton, seersucker, and chambray.
9. Adidas Samba Vegan Shoes
The low profile and streamlined silhouette of the Adidas Samba Vegan Shoes allows the ever-popular three-striped style to be paired with a straight- or slim-cut suit. An elegant classic.
10. Salomon XT-6
When it comes to slim- and straight-cut suiting, low-profile, streamlined silhouettes are best. However, oversized suiting calls for oversized sneakers. Inject an element of gorp-core into your outfit by teaming a louche suit with the Salomon XT-6 sneakers. Are you traversing a mountain or pounding the pavement of the concrete jungle? Who knows, but it looks good anyway.
11. Balenciaga Track Sneaker
Note: don’t try this at work. For a strictly off-duty suit-and-sneakers combo, the overall heft and plethora of overlays on the Balenciaga Track Sneaker make them the perfect way to ground an equally bulky suit. Don’t be afraid to deviate from neutrals and try tailoring in a bold hue.
12. Nike Air Jordan 1 Mid
For a casual all-rounder that adds interest to any type of suiting, opt for the Nike Air Jordan 1 Mid sneaker in a classic shade or black or white. Simultaneously classic and contemporary, they’ll act as the cornerstone of your casual Friday wardrobe.
13. They New York Circle Low
Proving minimalism needn’t come at the cost of visual interest, the They New York Circle low is equal parts pared-back and striking. Despite the geometric cutout effect, the sneakers retain a seamless silhouette, with the black-and-white colour scheme lending them the gravitas needed to wear with tailored garments. We’d recommend pairing them with slim-cut black suiting.
14. Pangaia Grape Sneakers
Sometimes the ‘wrong shoe’ is in fact the right one. Crafted from grape waste from the wine industry, these plant-based sneakers team a clean silhouette with pastel hues, making for the ideal pair of sneakers to brighten up an otherwise neutral outfit.
Words by T. Angel
