I love tennis shoes: They’re comfortable, easy and reliable. Perfect for a day of running errands or an afternoon of running the track, the tennis shoe is the perfect accessory for, well, everyone. However, I’ve noticed many people overlook the tennis shoe as a staple of the fashion world. This week, I want to break down how tennis shoes will have you looking stylish yet comfortable.
One of the biggest misconceptions about tennis shoes is that they are only to be worn with workout attire or jeans. That is far from the truth. What makes tennis shoes so cool is that they are much more than athletic footwear. You actually make yourself look more fashion-conscious if you are able to match them with items outside of their normal pairing.
One look I like in particular is the maxi dress/tennis shoe combo. For this look, I recommend a simple, solid-colored maxi dress. A loud pattern would distract from the star of the outfit, which is the shoe. If you do want to add a little oomph from the dress, try something with texture. The three-dimensional texture allows your dress not to seem so plain, but also doesn’t act as a distraction.
Next comes the fun part: picking out your shoe. When it comes to this look, you can choose from a variety of different shoes. However, because the dress adds a feminine touch, I recommend tennis shoes that are thin and masculine. The point is that the two counteract each other and create an effortlessly cool look. Examples of this type of tennis shoe include the Nike Air Max Thea, Nike Roshe Run, Nike SB Stefan Janoski Max Leather Shoes and New Balance 574 Lux Shoes.
To complete the look, knot your dress at about your mid-shin. Maxi dresses usually overpower the shoes, but in this case we want to show them off. For a chilly day, I recommend a long sweater that also hits about mid-shin. As for jewelry, keep it simple with a watch on one wrist and a bangle on the other. I would recommend a pendant necklace, only because anything larger would draw attention away from the shoes. For your hair, a nice topknot will do just fine. But if you’re having a bad hair day, a plain baseball cap will do the trick.
As I wrap up this week’s column, I do want to leave you with a few parting tips:
_In no way, shape or form do men’s Air Jordans EVER go with a dress. They’re tacky, and I’ve seen it too much._
_Low-top sneakers look really good with short dresses, skirts and shorts because they elongate the leg._
_When it comes to colorful print sneakers, you don’t necessarily have to match the colors to your outfit. If you are a pro at mixing prints, this shouldn’t be a problem. But for newbies, I recommend matching colors that are complementary to each other on the color wheel — blue and orange, for example._
_When wearing long jeans with sneakers, roll them at the ankle._
Remember, tennis shoes are as cool as you make them. Don’t be afraid to try something new!