In years gone by, wearing trainers with a dress may have turned heads - and not for the right reasons. But nowadays the combination is in vogue - quite literally - with sporting hero's such as Serena Williams and fashion icons like Kendall Jenner.
If you're interested in combining trainers with a dress but don't know where to begin, let us help. In this blog post we'll cover everything you need to know to get started, including:
- Is it ok to wear trainers with dresses?
- What trainers to wear with dresses
- Tips for wearing trainers with maxi and mini dresses
Is It Ok to Wear Trainers with Dresses?
Short answer, absolutely YES. It's "OK" to wear whatever you want.
But if you're wondering whether the combination works; whether it's considered "stylish" or fashionable, then the answer is still yes.
Wearing trainers with a dress is stylish, practical, comfortable and elegant. It's flexible, too: you can dress it up or down depending on the occasion, meaning trainers and dresses can be made to work just as well for red-carpet events as a casual lunch.
Better yet, while the combination may no longer bee seen as rebellious it harks back to different cultural touchpoints to a dress with more formal shoes. This expands the occasions where you might feel comfortable wearing a dress.
So, if you want to be relaxed and comfortable without sacrificing style, here's how to do it.
The Scarlette Leather Trainer, from our range of women's trainers.
What Trainers to Wear with Dresses?
The trick to pulling off trainers with dresses is having confidence in your decision, and in building an understanding of your personal style. If you're into sporty, athleisure looks, the dress trainer combo you wear will be different than if you're looking for something more feminine, or maybe even an edgier look.
Here are a few trainer and dress combinations that work particularly well.
Classic White Trainers
Classic white trainers are clean, casual, and versatile enough to pair with almost any dress - whether it's a colourful floral sundress, a monochrome sheath dress, or something else.
The Amaliada Leather Platform Trainer, from our range of women's leather trainers.
A white trainer like the Amaliada above will bring a fresh, modern elegance to your outfit, and will compliment your dress rather than competing with it for attention. What's more, they lend themselves well to casual and more formal settings, making them just as suitable for a coffee date.
High-top Trainers
High-tops bring retro flair to any outfit, and this element opens up some exciting dress combinations: a mini dress or one with a flared silhouette, for example. This trainer type is on the edgier side, drawing attention down from the dress to your legs and shoes.
The Elenore High-Top Trainer, from our range of women's trainers.
A high-top dress combo is lively and energising, working well for active daytimes or evening meetups with friends.
Slip-on Trainers
Slip-ons are convenient and stylish, and a popular choice for people who like easy outfits that don't compromise on style. Neutral tones work well if you're looking for a sophisticated look, while bold prints and colours are a reliable way to add some spice to your outfit.
Pick Fernanda2 slip on trainer from our range of casual women's trainers.
Slip-ons work well with midi or knee-length dresses, as their sleek design complements the streamlined shape of these dress types. The resulting look is balanced, elegant, and casual.
Canvas Trainers
Moving onto materials rather than styles, canvas trainers are lightweight and comfy, making them a good choice for summer. Their casual style works really well with casual dress designs like sundresses, shirt dresses, and wrap dresses.
Leather Trainers
Leather brings an air of sophistication and polish to a dress-plus-trainer outfit, which can be used to great effect when creating memorable, fashionable combinations. If you're planning to wear something formal like a midi pencil dress, a smooth, sleek leather trainer will add a touch of luxury. this combination is a reliable choice for evening events in more formal contexts.
The Antheia leather trainers, from our range of women's leather trainers.
Can You Wear Trainers with a Maxi Dress?
Trainers with a maxi dress is definitely a combination that works. To achieve a laid-back look with these two styles, concentrate on balance: you want to work with the flowy nature of the maxi dress rather than competing with it or overpowering it, making the following trainer types a safe bet:
- Platform trainers: these add height and prevent the dress from overwhelming your frame
- Classic white trainers: as mentioned above, a classic white trainer complements a maxi dress nicely and leads to a casual look
- Slip-ons: again, a good choice for a casual look that complements the maxi dress profile
Avoid chunky trainers as these will create an unbalanced silhouette, and consider tying the hem of your dress to flaunt the trainers and accentuate the structure of the outfit as a whole.
The Ariella Cut Out Detailed Trainer, from our range of women's leather trainers.
Can You Wear Trainers with a Mini Dress?
You can indeed. Wearing trainers with a mini dress is an easy way to craft a fun, vibrant look - ideal for summer days, in a park, or even a festival crowd. Here are some trainer types to consider with a mini dress:
- High-tops: while chunky high-top trainers may hinder a maxi dress, their cool edginess brings out the best of a lively mini dress while adding proportion to the look
- Classic white trainers: there's nothing these shoes can't do - they'll bring a subtle, sportier feel to your mini dress outfit
Trainers a mini dress lends itself well to augmenting the style with other layers: experiment with jackets, sunglasses and jewellery to bring the outfit to life.
Trainers + Dress = No Stress
If you had doubts about wearing trainers with a dress, we hope this blog post has dispelled them. Not only is this combination "allowed," its versatility and style make it an excellent choice for all types of occasion.
Wearing trainers with a dress is an opportunity to flaunt and explore your individual style and, as we've seen, the combination can work well in all sorts of settings - from casual days out to sophisticated evening meals, and everything in between.
To find the perfect pair of trainers for your favourite dress, check out our range of women's trainers. You can also get in touch with our team and we'll be happy to help.