Here’s how to master the sneaker and suit look
Pairing sneakers with a suit is one of the hottest menswear trends of the past few seasons and judging from the latest looks from Andrew Garfield, Timothée Chalamet, David Beckham, and John Boyega it’s not going anywhere soon.
While sneakers can instantly make your suit more accessible and casual, not all sneaker styles are suitable for the style upgrade. So which sneakers look good with a suit? These 6 style tips will help guide you in finding the perfect sneakers to go with a suit.
- First, pick your suit, then the shoe, not the other way around. Your sneakers should compliment your suit and keep it as the main focus.
- Make sure the color matches your suit. If you’re not comfortable with bright colours, stick to neutrals like gray, beige, black or navy. Slowly as you get comfortable with the trend, you can switch it up and add some pops of colour! A good place to start is to stay within the color family – for example, if you’re wearing a red suit, go with a bordeaux or maroon colored sneaker!
-45%
Puma
Speedcat OG Formstrip sneakers - unisex - Rubber/Calf Suede/Fabric/Fabric - 11.5 - Red
$85.00
$154.00
FARFETCH
New Balance
550 Leather Sneaker Red
$90.00
Rue La La
Ferragamo
Gancini-Print Calf Leather Sneaker - Red
$523.76
Italist
Ferragamo
Gancini Logo-Print Canvas Sneaker - Red
$523.76
Italist
Ferragamo
Cube Leather Sneaker Red
$218.99
Rue La La
Valentino Garavani
Colour-Block Suede Sneaker - Red
$684.47
Italist
Golden Goose
Mens Ballstar Leather and Suede Low-Top Sneakers White
$660.00
Bergdorf Goodman
3. The style of the suit is very important if you’re going to decide to throw in a pair of sneakers. Avoid going with pants that are too skinny, as this will ruin your proportions. The go-to tailored look at the moment is to have the hem of the pants cover the upper part of shoe or even having a more oversized/baggy look.
4. When in doubt, go with white sneakers. They are a classic for a reason, they go with almost every look and instantly make you look polished and put together. A classic white sneaker will always give a crisp and clean look to your outfit. It’s also pretty effortless from your end!
Veja
Volley Sneaker - White/Navy
$212.16
Italist
Veja
Volley Sneaker - White
$177.64
Italist
Comme Des Garçons
Sneakers - Cream White
$106.49
Italist
Calvin Klein
Logo Low-Top Sneaker - White
$114.79
Italist
5. As far as the silhouette goes – don’t be afraid to experiment. High top or low-top sneakers can both work. And while you’re at it, why not elevate your look even more and go for a platform sneaker? 6. Lastly, let’s talk about material. You can’t go wrong with a classic canvas shoe, but if it’s feeling too casual you can always opt for leather. White leather can be a nice contrast to a dark suit, however a black leather sneaker with a lighter suit can feel “heavy” and can weigh down your look. But pairing a black or dark leather sneaker with a dark suit can look ultra sleek and sophisticated.
Veja
Volley Sneaker - White/Navy
$212.16
Italist
-30%
Nike
Mens P-6000 Fade Shoes in Grey | IH4465-095 Gray
$87.97
$125.00
Nike
Veja
Volley Sneaker - White
$177.64
Italist
New Balance
550 Leather Sneaker Red
$90.00
Rue La La
If you’re still unsure about what style or brand to go with, here are some tried and true sneakers that always look good with a suit.
- Adidas Sambas
- Autry Reelwind
- Cole Haan Crosscourt Traveler
- Veja Campo
- Axel Arigato Dice Lo
When in doubt, go with a minimalistic sneaker that is polished and will compliment your look and not distract. Check out some our favorites below!
New Balance
550 Leather Sneaker Red
$90.00
Rue La La
New Balance
204L Sneakers - Beige
$239.71
Italist
New Balance
204L Sneaker - Black
$185.68
Italist
New Balance
2002D Sneaker - Brown
$172.20
Italist
New Balance
Sneaker - grey Gray
$131.41
Italist
New Balance
Leather Color-Block Sneaker - Beige
$121.02
Italist
New Balance
Sneaker - Grey Gray
$139.56
Italist
New Balance
204L Sneakers - Natural/Tan Brown
$128.90
Italist
Original text: Zeinab Saidoun
Updated text: Rebekah Ortquist