Sneakers are the shoe of our fashion era. Full stop. The world LOVES wearing sneakers, and retailers stock them in deep assortments because they sell like hot cakes. It helps that these days “almost” anything goes in fashion and style which means that sneakers can be integrated into most outfits. 

Irregular juxtapositions are another benchmark of our current fashion era. Combining items that used to be unthinkable pairings are totally acceptable and often all the rage. Combining a formal trouser suit with sneakers is an irregular juxtaposition, and my favourite way to interpret the Sporty Luxe look. The vibe is an acquired taste and a fun way to dress down a suit.

The suit renditions here are styled with white sneakers because white is the “it” sneaker colour. Crisp, a Trendy Classic, and somewhat iconic. That said, feel free to add any colour sneaker to a suit. Chuck Taylor Converse sneakers and hi-tops in fun brights, pastels, black, blue or grey look smashing with suits.

The layering tops are casual, which complements the casual vibe of the sneakers. Feel free to add patterned or slogan tees to the outfits.

1. Double-Breasted and Buttoned

YES, you can wear white sneakers with dark hair. No need to follow the bookending styling technique at all. Just like you can rock black shoes with blonde hair. Here, the black ‘80s inspired double-breasted suit is fully buttoned, and worn with straight leg pants. I’d have preferred to see the pants two inches longer, but that’s subjective. Pop a black lace camisole under the blazer so that a little lace peeks out from under the collar of the blazer. Or you could wear a white tee under the blazer. The white sneakers pick up the white stitching and buttons of the suit. Scrunched sleeves add a relaxed touch to the look.

2. Trendy

A trendy long blazer is paired with matching ankle pants and worn open to create a vertical line down the front of the body. A simple turtleneck is a good layering piece for a suit. Tucking the turtleneck lengthens the leg line from the thighs upward. The white sneakers pick up the white in the checked pattern. Scrunched sleeves add a further relaxed touch to the look.

3. Maximal Pattern Mix

Bright red tartan and two types of animal print are combined with a white tee that picks up the white in the sneakers. The white sneakers further complement the light neutrals in the pattern. A smashing maximal look that can take you just about anywhere. To work, a night out, the theater, an event, or fashion show.

4. Eleganty Flared

This rendition is of the most interest to me because the flares are combined with flat sneakers instead of heels. That’s very liberating, and a newer way to wear a classic ‘70s inspired suit. The tucked top creates a longer leg line which offsets the flat-footed feeling of the sneakers. The white top picks up the white of the sneakers. Scrunched sleeves relax the formality of the suit.

5. Tailored & Pretty

Here’s a classic tailored suit with a regular length blazer and tapered pants. The striped layering top adds a further classic yet bold touch. The white of the stripe is repeated in the white of the sneakers. The pants are very cropped, but feel free to wear full-length tapered pants.

You can wear this look in Winter with knee-highs, trouser socks, woolly socks or even patterned socks if you dare. Pop a cocoon coat or puffer over the lot with cosy Winter accessories and thermals and Bob’s your uncle.

I wore formal trouser suits with sneakers back in the ‘90s and ‘00s. I have two very old suits that I’m keeping despite rarely wearing them. An all-season grey Theory pinstripe suit in immaculate condition, and a funky cropped black Summer suit from Tokyo. Both are sentimental pieces that I can’t pass on. I’m going to haul out the grey pinstripe suit that has long flared pants and combine it with my new chunky white ‘80s inspired SAS sneakers and see what happens. I also might do a fun plaid or velvet trousers suit for my holiday look this year. My thinking cap is on.