It’s something we all do a couple of times a week but have you ever stopped to think about the best trainers to wear with dresses. Well, think about it now! No longer reserved for casual or gym outfits, trainers are often the shoe of choice for office-wear and going out-out. Fashion search index, LYST even reported 2 of their top 10 hottest products for 2025 so far have been, you guessed it, trainers. And so, with people opting for trainers 24/7, it’s no wonder dresses and sneakers have become a go-to outfit combo, and in our opinion, there’s no cooler spring uniform.
Best Trainers To Wear With Dresses At A Glance:
If you’ve heard of stylist Allison Bornstein, you might be familiar with a little something she calls ‘the wrong shoe’ theory. In her words, if your look feels ‘boring’ or ‘one note’, you want to choose the least obvious shoe to provide a point of difference thus resulting in the dress and trainer duo.
Violet Grace Atkinson ©Getty Images/Christian Vierig
Wearing trainers with dresses is a perfect example of the wrong shoe theory in action. See above on influencer Violet Grace Atkinson, who wore choclate brown suede trainers with her strappy Ganni summer dress. The dress lent the trainers a little ladylike flair while the trainers made sure the dress clocked significantly more cool points.
Our Best Summer Dresses Top Picks:
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ME+EM, Cheesecloth Shirred Maxi Dress, £195
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Nobody’s Child, Black Polka Dot Bandeau Felicity Midi Dress, £99
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Zara, ZW Collection Midi Dress, £49.99
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Dôen, Ramie Floral Benoit Midi Dress, £368
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Damson Madder, Becca Midi Dress, £100
Naomi Campbell ©Getty Images/Arnold Jerocki/FilmMagic
Now for the best trainers to wear with dresses. This really depends on your personal style. If your safe place is wafty summer dresses then you might want to try a super-sporty sneaker like something from Salomon, Asics or Puma – note the Emily Ratajkowski duo of ethereal white cotton summer dress and cherry red Puma Speedcats or Naomi Campbell’s asymmetric white midi and chunky Asics Gel-Nimbus. A sleek pair of suede trainers will also work wonders with a chiffon boho dress to put you in a festival state of mind whether you’ve secured those Glastonbury tickets or not.
If tailoring’s more your vibe, a retro sneaker like Adidas’ Sambas and Onitsuka Tiger’s Mexico 66 especially yellow version, will be right up your wrong shoe street. You also can’t go too far wrong with sleek white trainers (or sleek black trainers, for that matter, which, paired with ribbed black sports socks, are just the thing for added bite to a frou-frou frock).
Speaking of socks, I would always recommend wearing socks rather than going without. While GenZ is making a case for crew socks, if you’d rather avoid sock apperances, ankle socks are still great. If you really don’t love an ankle sock, opt for an invisible pop sock to keep your sneakers fresh.
Shop: The Best Trainers To Wear With Dresses 2025
Named as one of LYST’s hottest products for 2025, the Adidas Taekwondo sneakers are fashion’s new trainer of choice – taking over from Adidas Sambas. Choose from plenty of colourways to find your favourite. This satin pair is perfect for adding a sporty edge to slinky slip dresses, just add some lace-trimmed socks for a feminine touch.
Notice the curves of Asics’ Gel-Kayano Sneakers? They’re specially designed to fit the contours of your feet and provide maximum support. The Y2K aesthetic means that they’ll definitely earn you likes on TikTok, especially when paired with a trendy drop-waist dress. You could also contrast the chunky silhouette by pairing it with a floaty midi (we’re loving Reformation’s polka dot dress at the moment).
Take notes from EmRata and add some edge to a simple white summer dress, finishing off your look with Puma’s cherry red suede sneakers – also available in a chic black colourway. The A-list approved retro trainers are also great for adding a pop of colour to all-black outfits.
Price: $79.99
One of the comfiest pairs of trainers you can wear, the Nike Cortez trainers came for the Adidas Sambas’ crown last summer and are still going strong. Detailed with suede accents, these streamlined retro shoes are the ideal choice for a day running errands. Wear yours with slip dresses or maxis for an easy outfit you can wear all day long.
Wearing your converse with a dress may have come of age in the early aughts Tumblr era, but it truly is a timeless cool outfit pairing, just ask Alexa chung, Kendall Jenner and Charli XCX, who’re all fans of converse trainers. A classic black trainer, it’ll go with everything in your wardrobe from maxi dresses to minis.
Whilst many opted for Adidas Sambas, Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 trainers emerged as the cult favourite for fashion folk far and wide. Lean into the athleisure with a mini tennis dress or pair yours with a solid-hued midi for an easy summer look.
On sale
Price: $127.50 (was £150)
To upgrade your sporty trainers with a romantic touch, look to these cream suede trainers from Alohas detailed with delicate crochet trims. Wear with milk-maid dresses or wafty maxis for an easy going outfit, whether you stick to the classic shoelaces or thread the sheer bow through for a feminine touch.
Price: £127.50 (was £150)
The original dad trainer to get the style set’s stamp of approval, these New Balance trainers can be worn with everything from slinky slip dresses to barely-there minis to add a bit of sporty edge to your outfit.
A simple pair of black and white trainers are perfect to wear with bright dresses, and the Gola Stadium trainers come with a pop of hot pink on the heel tab. Add shoe charms and satin laces for a playful touch to these classic trainers.
As worn recently by Gigi Hadid, the old-school checkerboard Vans are a style that have stood the test of time – a pair you’ll wear on repeat. Wear with everything from mini dresses to polka dot dresses for a stylish print clash moment.
The suede fabric makes the bright tones a little softer for daytime outfits, wear with all black or a floaty white dress to bring a pop of colour. The pretty pink will also make for a great companion to this season’s best butter yellow dresses.
Best Trainers To Wear With Dresses FAQs
Is it still okay to wear trainers with dresses?
While trainers with dresses truly came of age in the Tumblr era of the early-200s, they continue to remain one of the coolest and most comfortable outfit rotations. Whether you opt for Converse for a nostalgic touch or sportier trends, you can’t go wrong with a trainer and dress combination.
What colour trainers go with every outfit?
For a trainer that’ll go with just about every outfit in your wardrobe, consider investing in a simple black or white design. While Adidas’ SL 72 are picking up pace, a classic pair of Nike’s or Reeboks will do teh trick just fine as well.
What socks to wear with trainers and a dress?
This depends entirely on whom you ask. A GenZ fashionista will say anything but a crewlength sock is inacceptable, but truthfully, an ankle sock works just fine. If your trainers are simple and fuss-free, consider investing in a fun pair of socks with prints and lace trims for a playful touch.
What white trainers does Kate Middleton wear?
Can you wear trainers with a dress to a wedding?
While we’re big fans of trainers with dresses for most ocassions, unless the wedding is a decidedly casual affair, we’d avoid wearing trainers under your wedding guest dress. Opt instead, for ballet flats or kitten heels for a comfortable yet dressy option.
Main images credits: ©Getty Images/Jason Howard/Christian Vierig
Julia Harvey has been the shopping editor for Grazia for the three years, overseeing and editing all things shopping for the title from trend pages, gift guides and the best things to buy now in both print and online.
Hitanshi Kamdar is a senior commerce writer for Grazia. Hitanshi is always on the hunt for the latest trends, emerging designers and the internet’s most bizarre style discourse.
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