Sneakers and Dress Code – How to Wear Them at Work and at Events?
Sneakers have long since ceased to be reserved exclusively for sports and casual styling. They are increasingly appearing in offices, at business meetings and even elegant events. But can they be worn everywhere? How to match sneakers to your dress code? Here is a guide to help you stylishly combine sneakers with formal attire.
Sneakers at Work – Is It Allowed?
Before you wear sneakers to the office, it's worth checking what the dress code is at your workplace .
Formal Business (conservative dress code) – sneakers are not really accepted, unless we are talking about super minimalist models in muted colors.
Business Casual (most common) – sneakers in neutral colors, without any sporty accents, are acceptable.
Casual Office – sneakers are acceptable as long as they look presentable and are in good condition.
Which sneakers to choose for work?
Minimalist – e.g. Common Projects Achilles Low, New Balance 550 in muted colors
Single-color – white, black or beige models
No eye-catching logos – go for elegance
What to avoid?
Too sporty models (e.g. colorful Nike Air Max)
Very worn out sneakers
Models with large logos and prints
Sneakers at Events – How to Match?
More and more events allow for smart casual or creative dress codes , where sneakers can be a great choice. It is important to choose the right model for the occasion.
Gala / Gala Dinner
Choose elegant, leather sneakers in a solid color
Premium models, e.g. Lanvin, Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen Oversized Sneakers
Avoid sporty models with mesh and neon accents
Conference / Business Meeting
Subdued sneakers in the style of New Balance 1906R, Adidas Samba, Nike Killshot
Pair them with elegant chinos and a blazer.
Don't wear too colorful or worn out shoes
Concert / Casual Industry Event
You can choose limited models, such as Nike Corteiz Air Max 95, Jordan 1, Yeezy 350
Streetwear brands like Off-White x Nike, Travis Scott x Jordan will work well
Avoid shoes that get dirty easily – large crowds mean you risk trampling your sneakers!
How to Pair Sneakers with an Elegant Outfit?
If you want to wear sneakers with more elegant styles, proportions and material selection are key.
Sneakers + Suit? Yes, but choose a fitted, casual suit (e.g. wool or linen) and classic white sneakers
Sneakers + blazer? A great combination – Nike Blazer Low, New Balance 990, Adidas Spezial will work well
Sneakers + shirt? Choose simple, solid-colored shoes like Common Projects or minimalist Air Force 1s
The biggest mistakes
Sporty sneakers for a very formal suit
Sneakers with wide, sweatpants (unless it's a streetwear event)
Dirty shoes - even the best sneakers look bad if they are not clean
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Summary – Sneakers and Dress Code
For work: minimalist models in neutral colors (Common Projects, New Balance 550)
For events: premium sneakers in leather or elegant versions (Lanvin, Saint Laurent)
For smart casual: classic models like Adidas Samba, New Balance 990
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