The rules of tailoring are always in flux, and right now the current is drifting toward the casual. Out with the old and rigid, in with aggressively oversized blazers and body harnesses in lieu of ties. Savile Row got street after decades \u2013 centuries even \u2013 of tailoring being treated as sacred. Instead, we realised it can be fun.<\/p>\n
The simplest way of switching things up? Ditching those tired brogues and Oxfords, and wearing a suit with sneakers instead. It\u2019s a look that\u2019s become somewhat ubiquitous in recent years, part of the unavoidable streetwear takeover that\u2019s infiltrated every corner of menswear.<\/p>\n
In the same way that minimalist sweatshirts are now suitable office wear, it\u2019s perfectly acceptable to do sneakers with formal. It\u2019s not as simple as just chucking on a pair of Converse, but as long as you follow a few simple rules, it\u2019s an easy look to pull off. Promise.<\/p>\n
Formalwear is, and has always been, about rules. Some you can break, others are iron-clad, and it\u2019s important to know which is which. If you\u2019re going to an event where the dress code has been specified, pay close attention. Anything formal \u2013 from black tie to business dress \u2013 is to be adhered to by the letter, which means wearing appropriate footwear.<\/p>\n
But, if you\u2019ve been encouraged to dress casually \u2013 including smart-casual \u2013 or if there\u2019s no expectation whatsoever, then sneakers are fair game. If it\u2019s a laid-back wedding, a relaxed office setting, or just a party that you want to smarten up for without going the whole hog, then read on, my friend.<\/p>\n
Anyone, regardless of style, size or shape. You \u2013 yes, you, reading this \u2013 can wear sneakers with a suit. There was a time when such a look was the preserve of the guy who cycles into the office, or the uncle with orthopaedic problems, but not any more.<\/p>\n
This is an incredibly versatile look \u2013 one that\u2019s cool and youthful, but works for any age and any style.<\/p>\n
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Brunello Cucinelli<\/p>\n
Sneakers only work with suits that have the right cut. We\u2019ll start with trousers, for obvious reasons. The most foolproof are those with a slim leg and regular or slightly cropped length. The trouser should ideally kiss the top of your shoe, showing a sliver of ankle. Up top, a single-breasted jacket with a slim lapel is an easy win. Double-breasted jackets can work too, but stick to four-button varieties with a low button stance, as these look more casual.<\/p>\n
Of course, rules are meant to be broken. If you\u2019re a fan of the oversized look, you can channel this through tailoring. Louche, wide-legged trousers with a proper break in them (where the hem falls against the shoe, creating a crease in the fabric) are excellent with chunky sneakers and a regular fitted jacket. The same goes for boxy, oversized jackets with slimmer, cropped trousers.<\/p>\n
Just remember to keep things purposeful \u2013 you don\u2019t want to look like you\u2019ve been raiding your dad\u2019s wardrobe.<\/p>\n
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Canali<\/p>\n
Wearing sneakers with your suit is an excellent excuse to ditch the tie. Wear your shirt tucked in, but with the top few buttons undone. Or, ditch the shirt entirely and layer a clean T-shirt, knitted polo shirt or crew-neck jumper under your jacket.<\/p>\n
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Reiss<\/p>\n
A sharp, lightweight suit in black or navy worn with clean white leather tennis shoes looks effortless in that minimalist, Scandi-cool way. Indeed, white or cream sneakers work with pretty much any shade of suit \u2013 bright blue, emerald green or moody burgundy are all surprisingly easy to wear.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re going for colourful kicks, stick to light pastels, navy and khaki. Steer clear of black sneakers with dark suits, which looks a little bit schoolboy, and remember to keep that delicate smart-casual balance by wearing a more muted suit with louder shoes.<\/p>\n
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Suitsupply<\/p>\n
Separates are still highly underrated when it comes to low-key smart dressing. The trick is to invest in proper separates designed to be just that, not to just mix and match suits. The classic combos are grey and navy or grey and black, but you can also try tonal suit blazers and trousers \u2013 blue on blue, green on green \u2013 or pairing one brighter piece with a more neutral partner.<\/p>\n
All of these look smart with minimal leather sneakers.<\/p>\n
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Everything changed with the Achilles Low by Common Projects. This sleek leather shoe was minimal in details but made with the care usually reserved for Northamptonshire brogues. The style was copied far and wide and the simple design lends itself perfectly to dressed-down tailoring.<\/p>\n
Beyond white, check out navy and other neutral styles as well as playful tweaks on the classic silhouette from the likes of Zegna, Oliver Cabell and Axel Arigato.<\/p>\n
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We\u2019re mainly referring to throwback tennis shoes here, but old-school runners and even skate shoes can work with the right styling. Chunkier, with more panelling and retro details like perforations or gum soles, this offers a different aesthetic to tailoring. Less Scandi minimalism and more Wes Anderson \u2013 indie and playful, but considered too.<\/p>\n
Adidas Stan Smiths are an easy way to try this look out. The same goes for Continentals and Supercourts. More adventurous styles include Nike\u2019s retro runners or Vans. Keep the palette to two or three colours max.<\/p>\n
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A warning: this one is not an easy look to pull off. Wear a chunky sneaker with a suit and you can end up looking like banker who commutes in his running shoes because his Oxfords are too uncomfortable. Lean very modern with the suit: unstructured, boxy, deliberately subversive. And keep the trainers muted in colour if they\u2019re garish in proportion.<\/p>\n
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With a cropped and turned-up trouser hem, high top sneakers bring something fresh to tailoring. Yes, it\u2019s a bit Doctor Who but wear a rugby top or cricket jumper instead of a shirt and the look starts to come together.<\/p>\n
Converse Chuck Taylors are the obvious choice, but you could also try something like a Nike Blazer Mid, or check out minimal designs from the likes of ETQ. or Novesta. One note: they\u2019ll need to be box fresh, or at least look it. Your battered 10-year-old All Stars won\u2019t cut it.<\/p>\n
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Corneliani<\/p>\n
Going tonal is one of those classic styling tricks that makes a man look like he knows what he\u2019s doing \u2013 and it\u2019s so easy. Off-whites and greys are great for the summer, but you can achieve the same effect with shades of khaki, brown, even pinks and yellows, if that takes your fancy.<\/p>\n
Choose pieces in different but complementary shades of the same colour, with either tonal sneakers (and socks, if required) or neutral footwear.<\/p>\n
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Todd Snyder<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t be afraid of playing with classic menswear fabrics, like a pinstripe or Prince of Wales check. Often, these will come in heavier-weight wool, which, when worn with sneakers, looks almost tracksuit-like.<\/p>\n
Stick to subtle patterns and a slim, single-breasted cut, wearing your suit over a T-shirt or sweater to keep things casual. Darker kicks work well here, to complement the visual weight of the look.<\/p>\n
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Reiss<\/p>\n
In the warmer months, unstructured, lightweight cotton and linen-blend suits are an absolute life-saver, and offer a perfect opportunity to dress things down a little. A white T-shirt (one that you save for special occasions, not the one that lives in your gym bag) and ever-so-slightly retro sneakers are really all you need.<\/p>\n
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Windsor<\/p>\n
Suits with a looser, more regular fit are prime candidates for relaxed, workwear-esque styling. Namely: robust (but still minimal) sneakers and an Oxford shirt layered open over a crew neck tee. Look for a suit jacket with patch pockets, which instantly reads as more casual, and keep your colour palette subtle and tight.<\/p>\n
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Suitsupply<\/p>\n
This suit is about as classic as they come, and is proof of how easy it is to nail wearing tailoring with sneakers. The vibrant blue instantly makes the tailoring feel more playful, but the knitted polo and silk pocket square help it retain a smart edge.<\/p>\n
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Boglioli<\/p>\n
A chambray shirt! With a suit! Now you\u2019re playing with fire. Actually, mixing in denim-like texture is a clever way of dressing down a suit \u2013 like wearing a blazer with jeans, only smarter. Be clever with your colour combinations: khaki works well with indigo, as does stone with lighter washes of blue in the summer.<\/p>\n
Stick to navy sneakers to keep the palette clean.<\/p>\n
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Brunello Cucinelli<\/p>\n
There\u2019s been a resurgence in double-breasted suits in recent years, and they look the business when done right. You want the cut to be more Beckham than banker \u2013 slim-fitting all over, not too wide in the lapel and not too long in the jacket (the bottom hem should be skimming your bum, not dangling past it).<\/p>\n
Go for block colours or, as we have here, an understated mottled texture. A suit like this can only be dressed down to a certain extent, so keep it crisp with an open-necked shirt and leather kicks.<\/p>\n
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Brunello Cucinelli<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re the type who wears a suit just once or twice a year, you want to stick to the classics \u2013 and a mid-grey, two-button version is perhaps the most versatile of them all. It\u2019s all about the details here: the notch lapel is inherently less formal, and the trouser turn-up is practically begging to be worn with a fresh pair of leather sneakers (loafers are great with this sort of trouser, too, but that\u2019s for another time).<\/p>\n
The slight sheen on the wool means you want to keep this fairly smart \u2013 a shirt, worn with the top few buttons open, or a merino knit.<\/p>\n
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Todd Snyder<\/p>\n
Linen suits get a bad rep \u2013 crumpled, ill-fitting and misshapen. But as with anything in life it\u2019s all about quality, and today\u2019s designers are whipping up linen two-pieces that look as cool as they feel. The key is to work with the fabric: accept that it will be prone to the odd crease, and lean into the nonchalant vibe.<\/p>\n
Darker colours \u2013 black, even \u2013 bring linen bang up to date, and are more forgiving. Keep everything else super relaxed: canvas shoes, a well-fitting T-shirt or sweater and a good dose of swagger.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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