3 Ways To Style A Suit With A Sneaker

The trend started in Hollywood, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Will Smith, Robert Downey Jnr, Hugh Jackman, and David Beckham, who were all seen wearing sneakers with a suit. This look is effortlessly cool and works for all ages.

But best of all, you don’t have to be a celebrity to pull it off. However, there are a few rules to follow. So to help you out, here are 3 ways to successfully style a suit with sneakers.

 

WITH A TEE

T-shirts and suits might seem like an unlikely pairing, but these two are actually made for each other. T-shirts are light, comfortable and easy to wear, so they make a nice contrast to a tight-fitting heavy suit. And what better way to finish the outfit off than with a nice comfortable pair of sneakers?

 

You can choose almost any kind of t-shirt, the only rule is that the colour must either complement or contrast with the suit. For a classic look, pair a plain white t-shirt with a dark navy suit and complement it with a pair of white sneakers. The sneakers themselves should be minimalist in both style and colour, like these white Hyper sneakers.

 

The cut of the suit is also important. Ideally, it should be tight-fitting with a tapered leg. Try to avoid suits that are too tailored or loose-fitting. Single-breasted suits work best with t-shirts because they are less formal. To finish the outfit off, try shortening the suit bottoms and avoid wearing socks.

 

WITH A TURTLENECK JUMPER

Wearing a suit over a turtleneck is a cool way of dressing a suit down. This look was popularised by the king of cool, Steve McQueen, back in the sixties and it remains popular today. This outfit works with both shoes and sneakers, making it completely adaptable.

 

When wearing a turtleneck with a suit and sneakers, choose a turtleneck in a colour that either contrasts or compliments the suit. For example, a navy turtleneck with a grey suit works well together, as does a caramel turtleneck under a black suit, or even a white turtleneck under a charcoal suit.

 

For the sneakers, make sure they are a simple design and a single muted colour. White sneakers work best with dark coloured suits. Alternatively, choose a colour that is a similar shade to the suit itself, but try to avoid wearing dark sneakers with a light coloured suit. 

 

WITH A LINEN SHIRT

Wearing a linen shirt with a suit and sneakers creates a comfortable cool summer outfit. Celebrities who favour this look include Chris Pine, Benedict Cumberbatch and Daniel Craig. You will commonly see this look at the Cannes film festival where celebrities want to look smart but remain cool under the hot Mediterranean sun.

 

To pull this look off, you need to wear a suit that is not too tightly fitted or tailored. Linen is a light fabric that creases easily, so it’s not suitable for creating a tightly manicured outfit. When choosing a colour, this is one of the few occasions where the same colour as the suit works due to the different texture of the fabrics.

 

Another good thing about this outfit is that you can wear it with a tie to smarten it up a bit. Keep the knot loose, as you don’t want to look too tailored.

 

As for the sneakers, these should be in a contrasting colour to the suit. For a classic look, pick out the colour of your shirt. A navy suit over a white linen shirt with white sneakers never goes out of fashion. If you want to be more adventurous, try wearing brightly coloured sneakers, such as green or pink.

 

 

HOT TIPS

When putting together the above outfits, you should keep in mind these two hot tips for wearing sneakers with a suit:

 

Tip #1:

Sneakers should be a simple classic design.

 

Tip #2:

Sneakers should be in a single primary colour. Accent colours or logos are fine, but try to avoid loud multi-coloured running shoes that will clash with the rest of your outfit.

 

For more inspiration and styling tips, check out our blog, or you can shop the latest trends at yd.com.au.