Sneakers 101? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Sneakers 101?

Anonymous

You all know by now I'm soooo nooot a sneaker person. I just own them cause I need to-just 1 pair for many different fitness activities. I'm not looking to add more yet, but there are so many shapes of soles. Many right now look ott to me for actual fitness-but I always like my shoes to be as streamlined as possible.
So-anyone with multiple pairs, what do you look for specifically? What do you like? What's important/what's hype?
Eta-meaning gear sneaks not fashion sneaks!

Dressing

21 replies

Latest reply was from Style Fan

Gretchen

Veteran

ETA: Whoops! Missed that you were looking for gear recommendations. Sorry - please move along to the actual experts on this topic.

----

I've got a couple categories that work for me.

Super casual - running around town. These tend to be Keds or Converse. Often with a print or color. I like them very streamlined.

Dressed up casual - meant to make an outfit. Usually leather with something interesting in the color or detail. I look for better quality and wear them where I might wear flats but I want to look more casual, or plan to do more walking and want more support. Examples below: Boden or Siebel.

Athletic shoes - specifically for exercise, and not worn for anything else.

But that's just me, looking forward to seeing other responses!

Converse Chuck Taylor(R) All Star(R) 'Peached - Shoreline' Low Top Slip-On Sneaker (Women)

View Info

Top Pick

2

Keds Taylor Swift 'Champion - Eyelet' Sneaker (Women)

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

0

Josef Seibel Josef Seibel 'Caspian' Sneaker | Nordstrom

View Info

Top Pick

10

Hebe Leather Sneaker

View Info

Top Pick

9

Under Armour UA Charged Escape 2

View Info

Top Pick

1

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Funnily enough, many of the fashion sneakers I see are definitely big clunky Dad style
That said Vans is doing some cute stuff & I find them comfy enough. Wearing Vans right now in fact

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Anonymous

So the really bulky ones are just for fashion, even the ones that look otherwise like gear?
I'm not looking for non-gear sneaks. Don't mind them on others, and I did own a pair, but passed them with 5 or less wears in 2 years.

Sal

Veteran

I own three pairs of sneakers:

1) Asics Kayano Running shoes
2) Diadora white leather fashion sneakers
3) Adidas lite trainers (old - no find but similar pic shown)

1) Worn for running, gym and some weekend walks. (all year)
2) Worn for walks, work, weekend etc (spring, winter, autumn)
3) Worn for walks, bike riding, weekend etc ( less so in winter)

My pink Adidas are almost worn out and I will replace with something similar...

Running shoes are all about practicality.

For the others I like to have a sportier and a dressier pair. I don't wear the white often in summer as they get too hot and gross on my feet and this is when I tend to wear the pink ones for watching sport with my kids or athletic events (as a helper)

I like the white ones with shorter dresses and skirts (knee length), cropped pants and skinny jeans. The pink are worn more with gear, shorts or skinny jeans.

ETA Saw some crazy soled sneakers in Italy with huge soles....

Check out Naked Wolfe

https://nakedwolfe.com/collections/sneakers#

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

View Info

View Info

Eliza

Veteran

Bulky ones that are well designed can add to the function of sneakers:
-slightly wider sole can help provide greater stability than super sleek ones
-thicker soles can offer better cushioning and be more shock absorbing.

Lots of options if you have gear considerations. Obviously, running sneakers have different properties than walkers. I swore by my Brooks Addiction walking sneakers after I broke my ankle, had surgery, was in an ortho-boot and had to regain balance and strength after months of being non- weight bearing. Haven’t relied on them since, but love how their soles matched the ortho-boot. They were clunky and not stylish, but functional.

I see folks in all kind of sneakers. I walk year round and love my Ecco gore tex Cool 2.0 ones. They are a minimally sleek, clunky hybrid; love the cushioning but they are a bit bulky. The Gore Tex helps in my wet climate with cold winters.

I have a nuanced and sometimes redundant sneaker collection. It is a function of age, fussy feet, activities and local weather.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

(ETA: Ignore comment)

Refined, not bulky, light, classic/iconic, not athletic, white soled, and in a NARROW size. ALL of my sneakers are workhorses. (I don't even own a pair on athletic sneakers - only trail shoes).

Ecco Soft 7 Sneaker

View Info

Top Pick

38

Converse Converse Chuck Taylor All Star CT 70 Street Warmer High Top Sneaker (Women) | Nordstrom

View Info

Top Pick

21

View Info

Top Pick

16

Converse Converse Women's Chuck Taylor All Star Winter Knit & Fur Fashion Sneakers

View Info

Top Pick

28

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Faux Fur Chelsea Sneaker (Women)

View Info

Top Pick

33

Walking Cradles Walking CradlesOrleans

View Info

Top Pick

14

Anonymous

You want help with gear / workout sneakers , correct ? There are a few things to consider 1: usage ( running , cross training , walking ) 2. Foot and gait type pronation or supination . If you’re serious about this , head over to footlocker or sportchek store ( or whatever chain you have there and get expert advice as to new runner technology . I rotate through 2 pair at a time and replace them every 6 mos . My best brand is ASICS .

Sal

Veteran

Ok - just saw Gear Sneakers..

I agree with Lisa, go instore to a specialist. I like Asics Kayano but have also had good success with Mizuno in the past. I look for a more structured shoe that helps with pronating. And one that has decent support - I am tall and not light on my feet:)

rachylou

Veteran

It does depend on your feet. I have a lot of roll. I look for arch support and support for the whole instep... so stiff sides. They have to be lace up, and lace up high. And I avoid shoes with leather strips across the bridge of the foot... I get blisters. Oh and soles that are entirely flat on the ground... no cut-away under the arch. I get a new pair every three months, but I really work ‘em.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

ok yeah for gear, Asics or New Balance. But I have big borderline wide feet with a high instep.
Like others said I recommend a real athletic shoe store, preferably independent

Runcarla

Veteran

I've got a running specific shoe (Asics), and a squat shoe that can be used for other lifting activities (Adidas) and flat Chucks (Converse) for deadlift. I've also demoted a pair of older cycling shoes for cycle fit - they needed a specific clip that doesn't work with my road bike. (I have 2 additional pairs of cycling shoes - one quick release for triathlon and another pair that are for just plain cycling.)

I usually have 3 pair of running shoes in rotation and for years they were my favourites in the gym. For the past 2-3 years I'm liking the Chucks as my favoured gym shoe. Sorry, but I think you need/deserve a fairly extensive 'fitness' capsule if you are doing multi-sports, and that includes shoes!

Here's a thread (1 year old) about gear capsules.

https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....or-smittie

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*slaps forehead*

Sorry. I needed food. (Just ate). You're after athletic sneakers for workouts which I know nothing about. And I'm going on about fashion.

Ignore my comment.

featherwitch

I have a few requirements for athletic shoes:

Must be comfortable at the first try on, even more so than other types of shoes that may stretch or adjust to your feet. I stick with running styles (Nike has been my go-to lately). I wear about a 1/2 size smaller in running shoes than other shoes. Go figure.
Colors that I can get away with if I have to wear them as shoes on an airplane
Not incredibly bulky, so they can be substituted in my carry on bag in my shoe pouch that normally holds my "going to work" shoes
I try them on with the socks I normally wear with them. The sock needs to cover every part of my foot that the shoe touches. Helps with blisters and other issues. If the shoe has a weird tongue or is too high on the ankle, I don't buy them. Lesson learned. Scars to prove it.
I have one pair of waterproof shoes for walking the dog in the winter. (these are Adidas). I hate wet socks. These have been helpful in numerous situations.
Shoes need to have a reasonable amount of traction in the sole. I once slipped on wet pavement in a pair of Nikes that looked good, but had something akin to tire siping on the bottom. I nursed those scrapes for weeks, and they were in stupid spots, like the top of my pelvis, so my jeans waistband hit them. This is how I learned about Tegaderm.
Last but not least: not leather. Too hot. And I throw my shoes in the washing machine once or twice in their useful lifetimes, and want to be able to do that. I'm amazed at how clean they get, and how it helps with de-stinkifying.

Golf shoes require:

Different styles for different days and course conditions. In the spring and fall here, the courses are so wet that I need waterproof shoes. See wet socks comment above. In the summer, courses are so dry that it's fine to wear mesh shoes and those with vents, and my feet get hot, so I like cool shoes.
Variety of colors- depending on the shirt or other item I wear, I want to coordinate. Yes, golf is also a "fashion" event. Angie might have a heart attack!
Enough shoes to allow them to fully dry before the next use (I might play a couple of times a week).
Normally Adidas, but also have a pair of Ecco.

Anonymous

Thanks all! Catch is, I live in a rural area so there's not any running store near me. There's Nike, Adidas, UA at the outlets-but the staff is really just cashiers, and most are seasonal workers.

Right now I'm using the sneakers for running and biking primarily-both of which I started this year. But, I'll be travelling more for work starting next week, so some other opportunities will be available.

I have these, bought before I started the running and biking. They've been ok for biking, though may get clip in shoes when I'm more comfortable. They could be a bit cushier for running, and I do get a bit of soreness in my right anklebone. Not sure if different shoes would help, need to correct my gait, or if it's just my body aging! Thinking I should ask someone at the Y to watch me run and see what they think too.

Nike Women's Fast EXP-Z07 Casual Sneakers from Finish Line

View Info

Top Pick

3

Style Fan

Veteran

I only wear sneakers for fitness activities. I never wear them for fashion. I would try to get to a place that fits you as soon as you can. Running in poor fitting shoes or the wrong shoes is asking for trouble. Maybe someone at the Y can help or suggest someone who knows about these things.
I have 2 pairs of sneakers that I use for walking and light weight training (we are talking very light weight training). I plan on getting another pair soon. I need lots of cushioning and lots of support in my footwear. Fortunately, my feet are average size and width.

Finn Comfort Ikebukuro

View Info

Top Pick

10

Women's New Balance 847 Performance Walkers

View Info

Top Pick

1

Toban

Veteran

Suntiger, for your running, I highly recommend going to a running store that includes a fit analysis, like Road Runner Sports. Worth the trek and important for avoiding injury, especially if you increase mileage. I would use those only for running. I also LOVE the road runner custom insoles to get the heel cup and arch support right for you. Also, one often goes up 0.5 to 1 size for running shoes — your feet will thank you.

I agree with RunCarla that your activities deserve sport-specific shoes. The “all-rounders” do nothing well. That said, I do my lifting in my road shoes mostly because I’m already wearing them on the treadmill. Not ideal, but I’m not doing heavy lifts right now.

Anonymous

After reading that older post, I'm thinking its time for a gear review!

I'm equal parts magpie and minimalist-so like to make everything as efficient and multi use as possible, but I like starting new things and seeing how I improve over time. I like to be in the state of Flow-challenging, growing, but not unapproachable.

kkards

Veteran

the good thing about running shoes....once you find the right pair, its super easy to continue to buy them online...but the hitch is finding the right pair...yes a specialty store can help, but as with anything, the SAs bring their own preferences so don't be talked into anything that doesn't feel right or is well above what you were thinking of spending...and make sure that you test drive the shoe in the store, try on mulitple brands, and be sure to wear the socks that you will wear most of the time....

one of my old bosses was a very serious runner...he loved this site, of course he was replacing his shoes every 3 or 4 times a year....
https://www.runningwarehouse.com/fpw.html

Bijou

Veteran

I have two types of gear sneakers. My running shoes were purchased at a specialty store where they videoed me running and looked at which sneaker worked well with my gait. The ones I bought were Mizuno and I did not consider how they looked, just how they supported my feet and ankles - all about functionality.

For the gym I have Nike shoes (in Finds). These are all purpose sneakers and great to walk in because of the cushioning sole, but not running shoes as the sole is not flexible enough.

View Info

Anonymous

Looks like I'll be taking a road trip

Style Fan

Veteran

Your feet will thank you.