Suits with sneakers. It’s a concept that still escapes many men today who believe that formal and casual should never mix. Well, we’re here to tell you that the two can indeed play nice together if you get the stylish formula right.
Choosing The Right Sneakers
When choosing a sneaker to go with your suit it’s critical to consider colours and material. The most versatile suit sneakers are usually the most muted ones. This is because the casual suited look is intended to exude effortless style rather than gain attention through loud colours.
As such, we recommend you leave the serious neon marathon runners out of your suit wardrobe. Instead, opt for casual sneakers which are more lifestyle focused than performance-focused. Leather is always a no-brainer.
Once you’ve chosen your ideal pair of sneakers, taking inspiration from the list below, then check out our complete guide telling you how to wear sneakers with a suit.
Sneaker colours that work well for suits are:
You can also try brighter colours like red, green, and yellow but caution must be exercised as these colours need careful consideration pairing with your suit of choice. You don’t want to look like a traffic light.
Choosing The Right Suit
It’s easy to fall down the rabbit hole when talking about suit and sneaker pairings, so the easiest rule to remember is this: no sneakers with tuxedos, as they are reserved for cocktail events only.
Wearing Sneakers With Suits FAQs
What sneaker cut is best with suits?
Choose low-top sneakers that show your ankles, something that are sleek and fitted, with a similar silhouette to a dress shoe. Minimalist with monochrome or subtle two-tone uppers.
What are the best materials for dress sneakers?
The finest dress sneakers are usually made of top-quality dress shoe leathers, but a nice suede will do. Canvas and synthetic also work, but rarely, so make sure you choose carefully.
How to match suits with shoes?
Black dress sneakers look best with black and navy suits, as well as charcoal. For white sneakers, tan, navy, or light gray suits pair nicely. Brown sneakers go with brown suits.
Some other helpful DMARGE stories about footwear:
Greats
1/8Price: From $189
Sizes: 7-13
Material: AppleSkin™ vegan leather
Customer Reviews: “Clean classic look. Great for casual around-town wear, or for a night out.”
Born in Brooklyn, New York, footwear brand Greats, founded in 2012, has a huge range of men’s sneakers that are extremely stylish thanks to their minimalist design. Designed to be timeless and crafted from premium materials, any pair from Greats’ Royale Sneaker Collection, available in a variety of neutral block colours, will effortlessly add a touch of style to any suit.
Oliver Cabell
2/8Price: From $220
Sizes: 5-15
Material: Calfskin leather
Customer Reviews: “These are some great shoes. They look good and are very comfortable. They also receive a ton of compliments.”
Oliver Cabell is committed to fair pricing for top quality and design, and strongly advocates against unethical manufacturing and inflating prices. The result? Hand-crafted, European-made, and affordable premium shoes that are designed to last. Their Low 1 sneaker in white would pair perfectly with a suit.
Converse
3/8Price: From $75
Sizes: 3.5-16
Material: Leather
Customer Reviews: “These are amazing shoes that I can wear dress casual or casually. I love these shoes!!! I’ve worn them a few times and they’re already my favorite sneakers.”
Converse has been an iconic sneaker brand for quite some time now thanks to the brand’s culture of authentic street style. Converse has a range of sneakers made with Jack Purcell leather (rather than Converse’s usual material of choice: canvas) and the sneakers are incredibly sophisticated and refined. Perfect for wearing with a suit.
Scarosso
4/8Price: From $340
Sizes: 6-15
Material: Deerskin
Customer Reviews: “An extremely neat shoe, in high summer in Med, you could go sockless to protrude the right amount of smart-casual.”
Scarosso, founded in 2010, is a luxury shoe brand that’s surprisingly affordable. Their sneakers are all manufactured in Italy with high-quality materials and Italian craftsmanship. Every single step is carefully performed by Scarosso’s skilled artisans who hold many years of experience. Available in a variety of classic styles and colours, Scarosso’s sneakers will look exquisite with a suit.
Duke & Dexter
5/8Price: From $273
Sizes: 7-12
Material: Italian leather
Customer Reviews: “This sneaker is unreal. It’s clean, it’s comfy and most importantly it’s extremely versatile. Add it to your collection. It’s a must.”
‘Buy once and buy right’ is the powerful mantra Duke & Dexter employ when creating their shoes. Over the past four years, the London footwear label has expanded globally and is beloved for its shoes that are handmade in England. Duke & Dexter’s sneakers exude a luxurious, sophisticated British style which is what makes them perfect for pairing with suits.
Veja
6/8Price: From $170
Sizes: 36-46
Material: Leather
Customer Reviews: “I have two Veja sneakers pairs and I can say that they are 100% worth it. They’re comfortable, great quality, sustainable, and trendy.”
For the fashionable yet eco-conscious man, Veja was founded in 2004 to produce stylish yet sustainable sneakers. Using organic cotton and Amazonian rubber directly from producer associations based in Brazil and Peru, Veja’s sneakers are both ethically and sustainably made. But Veja hasn’t compromised on style; their sneakers are refined-looking with subtle pops of colour. Any suit will look good with a pair of Veja sneakers.
Common Projects
7/8Price: From $439
Sizes: 39-47
Material: 100% Leather
Customer Reviews: “The shoes are of high-quality and are super comfortable.”
Luxury footwear brand, Common Projects was founded in 2004 when founders Peter Poopat and Flavio Girolami challenged an Italian factory to create a perfect pair of comfortable shoes that could be dressed up. Today, Common Projects is a globally renowned brand and has a large range of sneakers that are understated yet sophisticated; perfect for wearing with a suit.
Beckett Simonon
8/8Price: From $159
Sizes: 7-14
Material: Italian leather
Customer Reviews: “Very cool looking white leather sneakers soft and easy to rock from my favorite chinos to jeans.”
Beckett Simonon, founded in 2011, believes in the power of well-made products which make you look and feel your best; products you can wear year after year, and repair rather than replace. Which is why they produce stylish high quality shoes, available for unrivaled prices and made with responsible manufacturing processes. Beckett Simonon’s sneakers are all crafted with full-grain leather or suede, and will look effortlessly cool when worn with a suit.