the sparkly life: How to Wear Sneakers Without Looking Like a Slob

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

How to Wear Sneakers Without Looking Like a Slob

sneakers for work


For years, I owned only two pairs of sneakers. They were big and bulky and not cute, so I dug them out from the depths of my closet to wear only for those one or two times a year when I pretended I was a jogger. Or for those one or two times a year when I would randomly find myself on a farm for pumpkin picking or something. (Actually, just pumpkin picking. I can't think of another reason I would have to be on a farm.)

Then I became a Mom In Her 30s, and comfy shoes started to sound a lot more appealing. Luckily this seemed to coincide with sneakers becoming cool...and cute! You guys, there are SO many cute ones these days. I especially love them with gold or silver metallic accents, touches of salmon pink, or anything in a really basic (black, gray) or really fun (burgundy, teal) color.

The key to wearing sneakers and not looking like a slob is to make the rest of your outfit a little fancier. Sneakers with schlubby clothes looks schlubby, whereas sneakers with a midi skirt or skinny jeans and a fancy necklace looks more "Olivia-Palermo-casually-running-errands-in-Soho."

Right now, I especially love slip-on sneakers worn with a skirt like my friend/street style star/master-of-making-sneakers-look-cool Eva Chen is wearing in the center photo above. I'm also really into more athletic styles paired with leggings or skinnies and a big sweater.

If you happen to be feeling the dressing-up-sneakers trend, too, I've pulled a few of my favorite pairs available right now, below.


sneakers for work

Which one is your favorite? And tell me: What's your favorite way to wear sneakers so they look cool/cute not gym-esque?

10 comments:

Mollie @ sweets on point said...

This makes me laugh. I've avoided sneakers for a long time because I'm a runner and I like to compartmentalize my outfits. Sneakers are for running. But then I also (just!) hit the mom-in-her-30's stage and I've been considering buying a pair. I love the aqua Nike's on the bottom...but I've been thinking of going old-school back to my Cali roots and getting a pair of Vans...(especially since my dad showed up recently with vans and a penny board. Too Cool). :)

Jenn Falik said...

Love this post and now of course I want to buy like 10 new pairs of sneakers. Esp. those cream and gold New Balances...

Unknown said...

I love those burgundy sneakers! I really needed this post. I always see people wearing sneakers and making it look cute, but I can't seem to pull it off. I do have a question though. What type of jeans are the best to wear with sneakers so you look cute and not like a slob?

bridezilla said...

Tricia, if I'm wearing sneakers, I usually wear my skinnies OR a pair of boyfriend jeans. :)

Krista said...

I LOVE this post! I have some foot issues and really need to get some cute and comfy sneakers. I have 1 pair of sparkly converse that I love and would like to find a few more pairs. I love the leopard print slip ons!

Shann Eva said...

I definitely need a new pair so I can wear them to more places than just the gym. I love that last pair of fushia Nike's. Those are so cute!

WorkingMomMagic said...

I love this post so much, since I am totally a comfort girl when it comes to shoes!! I need the gold NB pair and the aqua grey nikes.. right now.

MrsTee said...

Great post!! I only recently started wearing sneakers a bit more but I love how they have so many stylish choices now. A lot more than I remember and definitely far from looking like a slob :D Those leopard ones are amazing!

Unknown said...

I am obsessed with sneakers. I wear them with everything, I don't care. Once I can fit into skinny jeans I am going to pair my sneaks with matching sweaters and cute shirts under blazers because why not? I am adding about three of the sneakers you listed to my wish list along with 71 pairs of Sauconys because to me those are the most comfortable shoes ever.

Unknown said...

Great post. To my mind, sneakers is the most comfortable type of shoes I've ever had. I adore wearing white/black sneakers as they look very elegant with jeans or skirt

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