When it comes to wearing sneakers with suits, the first thing you need to know is that the right pair of shoes can make or break your look.

The wrong shoes will ruin your suit and make you look like you have no clue what you’re doing, while the right ones will make you stand out from the crowd and look like a professional who knows how to dress well.

That said, there are a few pairs of shoes that are better suited for this occasion than others. If you want to wear sneakers with suits and not look ridiculous, here are some suggestions:

Nike Air Force 1 Mid

Nike Air Max 97

Adidas Stan Smiths

Best Sneaker To Wear With Suit

10 Best Sneakers to Wear with a Suit

pas, now a strong sartorial move. Over the past few years, sneakers with a suit combo have moved from being associated with office commuters and Forrest Gump, to an insouciant expression of style. Though now an acceptable footwear move, not all sneakers pair well with suits. It’s essential to consider the silhouette, colourway, and materials of your sneakers when selecting the best sneakers to wear with a suit.

If done correctly, the right pair of sneakers can elevate a suit, inject some personality into your look, and provide your feet with the comfort that just can’t be matched by a pair of oxford or derby shoes. To help you nail this juxtaposed duo, we’ve put together a guide on how to wear sneakers with a suit.

How to Wear Sneakers With a Suit

Choosing the right suit is paramount in pulling off a suit with sneakers look. When pairing a suit with sneakers, it’s best to opt for a slim cut that has tapered trousers with no break (i.e. your trouser leg shouldn’t sit over the top of your shoe).

Do This When Pairing Sneakers With Suit

• Wear a slim straight-cut suit without a pant break.
• Opt for white or black sneakers with few colours.
• Choose low-cut leather sneakers over chunky models.
• Find retro sneakers and comfort-driven models from Jordan, Nike and New Balance.

Don’t When Pairing Sneakers With Suit

• Wear baggy, ill-fitting suits with long legs.
• Choose bright coloured sneakers, and avoid colours such as red and blue altogether outside the classics.
• Opt for ‘cheap’ sneakers e.g. Dunlop Volleys.
• Wear dirty sneakers under any circumstance.
• NEVER attempt to wear sneakers with a tuxedo.

The Best Sneakers to Wear with a Suit

Image: Oliver Cabell

1. Oliver Cabell Low 1

These quintessential low-top Italian sneakers from Oliver Cabell are an ideal accompaniment to a suit due to their clean silhouette and leather composition. White Low 1 sneakers pair nicely with pretty much anything; try a slim-fitting suit in navy or grey, lose the tie and opt for a t-shirt or button-down instead – it’s commonplace in the office these days.

Material: full-grain calfskin leather, Margom Italian outsoles, Italian cotton laces
Style: Leather lace-up low sneakers
Price: AU$263

Image: StockX

2. Nike Cortez ‘Forest Gump’

A list of the best sneakers with suits wouldn’t be complete without the Nike Cortez in the classic red, white and blue ‘Forest Gump’ colourway. While we wouldn’t recommend turning up to the office wearing these anytime soon, they actually pair remarkably well with a straight-cut linen suit. Choose natural linen colours or lighter tans and a matching button-up underneath to pull these ones off.

Material: Rubber outsole with herringbone pattern.
Style: Leather lace-up low sneakers with Swoosh design underlays and reflective details.
Price: from AU$117

Image: Common Projects

3. Common Projects Original Achilles Full-Grain Leather Sneakers

Classic. There’s a reason the Common Projects Achilles low have remained a feature sneaker in the men’s style books for years – they pair well with everything from suits to jeans and everything in between. In the case of suits, choose slimmer cut trousers with a shorter break and some dark coloured socks when rocking these. It’s best to pair the colour of your shoe with a matching suit, e.g. Black Suit, Black Shoes.

Material: Full-grain Leather
Style: Lace-up leather sneaker
Price: AU$374

Image: Axel Arigato

4. AXEL ARIGATO Clean 90

A quality alternative to the Common Projects Achilles, the Axel Arigato Clean 90 sits at the top of the ranks when it comes to pairing sneakers with a suit thanks to their all-over smooth leather finish and rubber outsole. Like any other black leather sneaker on this list, we recommend pairing this one with a slim suit in Navy or Black. The suede hit on the heel adds a few extra style points to this classic silhouette.

Material: Leather, rubber outsole.
Style: Classic leather lace-up sneaker with gold logo detailing.
Price: AU$320

Image: MYRQVIST

5. MYRQVIST Oaxen Black Country Calf

A new member of the family when it comes to shoe brands but one we love nonetheless. MYRQVIST looks to cut out the middleman and provide the customer with quality shoes at a comfortable price point. We’ve tried the Stenhammer Loafers from the brand and the quality is easily on par with pairs two or even three times the price. In the case of the Oaxen, these sneakers are perfectly designed to pair with a suit. A rubber outsole and textured black leather upper will sit comfortably under any suit pant you can throw at them.

Material: Handcrafted in Portugal, 100 % Leather, Leather lining, Rubber soles incorporating 20% recycled rubber
Style: Leather lace-up sneakers.
Price: US$209

6. adidas Stan Smith

When looking to pair a casual pair of sneakers with a suit we highly recommend sticking to the classics. That means looking for options such as the adidas Stan Smith, a style staple for decades we choose to pair this one with a Navy or Lighter Tan coloured linen suit. In all cases, this option is better suited to a boat party than a daily piece of office attire. Just make sure they clean, please!

Material: 50% of the upper is recycled content. No virgin polyester.
Style: Recycled leather lace-up tennis shoe
Price: AU$140

Image: Ermenegildo Zenga

7. Ermenegildo Zenga Siracusa Calfskin Sneakers

Athletic shoes with a definitively luxurious look pair well with a casual suit, and Zenga’s Siracusa sneakers strike the perfect balance between city and sporty. These shoes blend leather with mesh to create a unique option for the modern man. Try these with a camel, tan, or grey suit.

Material: Smooth calfskin, mesh
Style: Lace-up calfskin leather contemporary running sneaker.
Price: AU$1195

Image: StockX

8. Jordan 1 Retro High ‘Shadow’

While Jordan himself chose to wear a pair of 11’s when he rocked sneakers with a suit on the red carpet, we recommend pairing a more traditional and on-trend pair such as the Jordan 1, especially in this ‘Shadow’ colourway. One of the most famous Jordan 1 colourways thanks to a strong influence from Travis Scott, the sneakers muted tones match perfectly with a straight cut black suit.

Material: Leather
Style: Lace-up leather retro basketball sneaker.
Price: from AU$651

Image: Prada

9. Prada America’s Cup Sneakers in Black

One of the Italian luxury fashion house’s most iconic silhouettes, the America’s Cup sneakers are versatile, yet make a statement. Team these with a black, charcoal, or light grey suit and an oxford shirt.

Material: Patent leather and technical fabric
Style: Lace-up leather sports sneakers.
Price: AU$1070

Image: Valentino

10. Valentino One Stud

Choosing a pair of designer sneakers to match with your favourite suit is always a sartorial win in our books. Valentino comes through once again with a pair of uber-luxe leather shoes that are made for wearing with a suit. We love the rubber outsole, stud detailing and hit of classy Valentino logos on the tongue and heel. Pair these in white with any colour suit of your choice.

Material: Rubber sole with low-relief maxi stud detail, rubber tread with maxi stud design.
Style: Leather sneaker with Valentino Garavani logo printed on the tongue and heel.
Price: AU$1290