Trainers are the perfect office attire – the bolder, the better
This summer, I spotted a super-chic woman dressed in an ever-so-slightly mismatching combination of crisp white shirt, black patterned trousers and pair of fluorescent orange Asics trainers. She looked cool and modern and I liked her style. This wasn’t a 9-to-5 commuting outfit, with sneakers swapped for court shoes at the office; this was the complete ensemble: smart, business-ready clothes teamed with the footwear of a running pro – no under-the-desk shoe shuffle required.
What a refreshing change from white trainers, the ubiquitous urban uniform of the past decade. Though I still love to contrast a pair of low-key, leather sports shoes with sharp tailoring, when Liz Truss starts wearing white sneakers as business attire, you know it’s time for a rethink. Time to free your mind with a pair of statement sneakers.
No woman ever looks glamorous when her feet hurt and this is possibly why I’ve been a sneakerhead all my life. When it comes to clothing and footwear, comfort is the most important thing for me and I am delighted that the sports shoe has been elevated to the position of everyday wardrobe staple. Dress codes have relaxed over the past few years so that practically everyone – including members of the Royal family – now wears trainers.
Alyson wears: Cardigan from Toast and gingham trousers from Agnes B (both spring/summer 2022); Zanzibar Tribe trainers by Hoff (£110.50; atterley.com) and Olivera gold vermeil hoop earrings (£115; aureejewellery.com)
Who doesn’t love a pair of comfy shoes for running around in? (I am talking about proper trainers from sportswear brands as opposed to designer rip-offs. I have never understood the trend for “fashion” sneakers – paying silly money like £800 for a pair of trainers is, quite frankly, ludicrous.
At least with a reputable sportswear company you are buying functional, lightweight footwear at a reasonable price.)
For normcore trainers with a colourful twist, Salomon is the brand being hyped up right now. And the uglier the trainers, the better. Call me old-school, but I’m more of a fan of retro-chic styles from the likes of New Balance, Adidas and Saucony.
On the high street, M&S, Boden and Hoff the Brand (the Spanish label I’m wearing here, available from Atterley and Anthropologie) are all going for vintage-inspired, sporty designs. Whether you show off your shoes with capri pants or culottes, or go for a wide-leg or boot-cut style that falls neatly over the top of your sneakers, stepping into vibrant colour is guaranteed to lift any outfit.
Taking the incremental approach, I have been gradually pimping up my footwear by experimenting with bold colour-block sneakers or splashes of neon on a plain white background. Going from low-key to look-at-me, I’m slowly working my way up to a pair of hi-vis Asics trainers. Once I have made that leap, I intend to double up on snazziness by adding some colourful, patterned socks – because obviously, wearing high-performance trainers with hosiery, like Melanie Griffith in Working Girl, is a 1980s fad too far.
Three of the best bright sports shoes
Clockwise from top left: Gel Nimbus 24 (£165) Asics asics.com; Trainers (£45), M&S, marksandspencer.com; Puma Rider FV (£80), Puma, uk.puma.com
Three tips for sneaker chic
Mix it up
Create a high-low fashion look by adding the casual aesthetic of sneakers to formal tailoring and dressed-up evening-wear. Trainers can give sharper pieces a nonchalant, cool look.
Embrace contrast
Go as loud as you like with high-impact colours and stand-out soles. If that feels a bit too snazzy, keep things more low-key with flashes of colour, such as a go-faster side stripe or contrasting laces.
Add some Flare
Pair chunky, sporty trainers with wide-leg or boot-cut trousers to offset their oversized shape. Tapered twill trousers and sporty joggers work well too – but it’s best to keep the top half tailored.
Complete the look
Clockwise from top left: Chore jacket, £95, communityclothing.co.uk; Striped socks, £25, jogordon.com; Minnie bag, £140, als-of-london.com; Jersey trousers, £89, hobbs.com; Wool Cardigan, £89, cos.com; Wool blazer, £230, jigsaw-online.com
Read more from Alyson at thatsnotmyage.com
