So your cousin is getting married, and you have to wear a suit. You never really liked your cousin that much anyway, and you don’t want to blow $250 on a pair of dress shoes that you’ll probably only wear three more times in your life. Don’t worry—there’s good news. It’s modern times, not 1950, and it’s now acceptable to wear sneakers with a suit for occasions that aren’t 100% formal.
But you’ve still got to look classy, so you don’t want to wear just any sneakers. You can’t just throw on your Air Max 95s and call it a day. So what sneakers should you wear, then? The main rule of pairing a suit with sneakers is that simplicity is key. You don’t want to clash a clean-looking suit with overly technical sneakers. So keep the Salomons and bulky basketball shoes in your closet and opt for something clean and classic. You’ll also want to steer clear of loud colors in favor of more monotone sneaker colorways and go with sneakers constructed in traditional materials like leather, suede, and canvas with a simple rubber sole.
This article will help you choose a great sneaker to wear with a suit. But we’re taking it one step further by presenting ten perfect models for your next dressed-up occasion.
Converse Chuck 70
A fresh new pair of Chucks can be worn with anything, including a suit. We suggest classic colors like black or white, but if you want something different, just make sure your pair is dark or neutral. The Chuck 70 Hi or Low are both excellent options.
Nike Air Force 1 Low
The Air Force 1 is one of the most iconic sneakers of all time, and yes, you can definitely wear them with a suit. Nothing beats the classic white-on-white colorway. The Air Force 1 Mid and High are too bulky for a suit, so stick with the Low.
Nike Dunk
The Dunk is similar to the Air Force 1 but slightly slimmer for a more low-key look. You can probably pull off Dunk Highs with a suit, but we’d be more inclined to suggest the low-top for a cleaner appearance.
Air Jordan 1 High
The most statement-making sneaker you can pull off nicely with a suit is the Air Jordan 1 High. We can’t deny that the OG “Chicago” colorway would look clean with a suit, but maybe opt for a more subtle colorway like the “Shadow” or “Black/White.”
adidas Stan Smith
The Adidas Stan Smith is a perfect sneaker to pair with a suit, thanks to its clean, simple, and timeless look. Remember, minimalism is key for a formal sneaker, and few sneakers do minimalism better than the Stan Smith.
Reebok Club C
Reebok’s timeless tennis shoe equivalent to the Adidas Stan Smith is the Club C, so you can’t go wrong pairing these with your suit, either.
adidas Samba
The Adidas Samba is the trendiest sneaker of the last few years for a reason: it has amazing versatility thanks to a clean and simple design. Wear them with anything, including your suit.
New Balance 550
This 1980s basketball shoe has been seen everywhere lately, and we think it’s yet another perfect sneaker to wear with a suit. The white leather versions will do fine, but we suggest going with one of the more premium suede constructions for a classier look.
Vans Authentic
We picked the Authentic for a Vans model that pairs with a suit, but you can really go with any of the classic Vans styles, like the Era, Old Skool, Sk8-Hi, or even the Slip-On, for an even more casual look.
Veja Campo
If you haven’t yet picked up a theme for all the sneakers that are great for wearing with a suit, the perfect formula is a clean, simple upper with a low-profile sole. The Veja Campo checks those boxes to a T.
