The sun is high, the UV index higher, and the need for easy, breezy essentials is at its peak. With this in mind, there’s no time quite like the present to start crafting your chicest yet. When it comes to anchoring your summer looks with fashionable footwear, a strappy sandal, minimalist mesh Mary Jane, or preppy driving loafer aren’t the only options available. Navigating extreme heat (especially on vacation) calls for both functionality and easy elegance. Enter: sneakers – cool yet casual footwear to wear with dresses—from slinky slips to breezy maxi styles.
The style pairing is a no-brainer when it comes to summer outings, errands, or any casual day—after all, shoes were made for walking. Dresses from Dôen, Toteme, and Posse, for example, will look refreshingly effortless when worn with Nikes or Adidas—the latter is especially popular among style icons. Take Hailey Bieber, for example. The supermodel sticks to her signature off-duty style by pairing her ever-covetable slip dresses with a figure-hugging frock. (Get the look below, courtesy of Mango and Adidas.) Kendall Jenner is another model-off-duty mastering the dynamic duo, opting for a poppy red sneaker with a lace-trimmed slip with an asymmetric hemline.
Even better, these outfit combos are delightfully easy. You can combine the tried-and-true with the unexpected, like Source Unknown’s drop-waist LWD with a pair of metallic Bottega Veneta trainers or Rixo’s printed smock dress with a pair of bright white sneakers from Dries Van Noten. For a more polished take, Proenza Schouler’s buttery-yellow polo dress pairs perfectly well with Gucci’s go-with-everything neutral sneaker. And because we’re currently in the midst of a boho revival, allow airy finds from Gabriela Hearst, Bondi Born, and Ulla Johnson take centerstage alongside sneakers from Veja, New Balance, Nike, and more. Finally, a striped dress is most definitely cool for the summer with Rails’s colorful striped maxi taking up major real estate in our seasonal wardrobes—tone it down with a simple leather sneaker pair. All these combos—and more—below, in our edit of the best sneakers to wear with dresses.
