Sneakers. So much has been written about them over the years. And sneaker styles have changed over the decades. I’m gonna bet that if you are a regular reader of this blog you wore P.F. Flyers when you were a child.
Watch this carefully because they weren’t even called sneakers. They were called “Canvas Shoes”.
Or Keds.
Keds have pretty-much remained the same, but these days, I like a thicker sole–the one in the middle is my choice. I like the way it can blend into a wardrobe.
They have been praised for comfort and dissed for lack of fashion and style. Come on now. How many articles have you seen about not wearing sneakers to European cities for fear of looking like a tourist?
And I have to say, we Americans can look a bit too casual when we visit European cities. I’ve seen worse than this in Paris. And if you take the time out to look for a good-looking and comfortable sneaker or street shoe, you CAN find something very flattering!
But—it depends on the style of sneaker that’ll make or break a look.
Going back to my “mom” days in the 90’s, my summer footwear consisted of either flip-flops or those leather classic-style Keds. And I wore the Kids only with shorts because they looked better! Add to that I was always traipsing through baseball fields, soccer fields, and outdoor Irish Dance competitions—canvas would have gotten filthy.
I’m not kidding. THESE were my go-to’s for sports events, running errands and just being mom! And the leather was a more pragmatic choice because it cleaned easier. And they always looked good.
And as I aged, I noticed something. There was a stereotype sneaker for the more mature and pro-aging woman. Now please realize something. For those who need orthopedic sneakers and shoes—I completely understand—but this post is more of a style one. So, I’m not dissing anyone or shaming.
This particular sneaker is marketed toward seniors—and not the seniors in high school. They are marketed to the over 60 crowd and I think it’s absolutely horrible. Not all of us prefer or want to wear those clunky, Velcro shiny white articles of footwear.
This sneaker is actually marketed for “senior citizens”. It’s hideous. If I was a nurse working in a hospital I would wear these at work and that’s it. Velcro? Velcro? What? We can’t tie a lace when we are over 50?
We want our sneakers to be as hip and cool as we are!! Let’s hope that marketers and advertising people for once, start to include the pro-aging demographic in their ads. And moving on to how to wear sneakers….with a modern vibe….
For me, the most versatile sneakers are Chuck Taylor Shoreline low tops by Converse. I’m a very lazy woman and therefore don’t like to tie my sneakers in a bow. I prefer the little knots in the laces as shown in the pic below. And these sneakers slide right on, making them even better for the laziest of the lazy!
I LOVE these sneakers. And for those who may not be able to bend down to tie a lace, these slide on. The back is elastized and still remains pleasing to the eye!
The elasticized back is perfect for sliding these babies on and off!
Like how I made the laces lazy-friendly? Me too!
I also like the traditional boat sneaker. With both, the thicker sole gives a nice finished look with summer clothing and is more in proportion with how you wear them.
I love a good boat sneaker too. I’m more of a streamlined person. Very basic. No bells and whistles..
I dig these too. In fact, I think I’ll buy a pair.
With jeans, I like to fold the cuff up a bit. It gives a fun and casual vibe that we all strive for.
True dat. I’m a sucker for cuffed jeans with sneakers!
The trend with sneakers and dresses is also a fun one—but beware. Not all dresses were meant for that sneaker/dress combo.
This young woman nailed the sneaker/dress look. AND, this is a very “mature” woman ensemble! The sneakers are ever-so-slightly-thicker without being downright clunky looking and that dress. Yeah. I love this look!
A short skirt/sneaker team is one of the best for a fun summer look and the more casual, the better. A casual dress also makes for a great pairing.
A maxi/sneaker look can be just fine but you need to keep things in proportion. A too-long maxi looks better with a higher heeled sandal—but a maxi that cuts above the ankle is great!
Let’s look a bit more—shall we?
Here’s the cuffed-jeans/sneaker look. I don’t wear jeans much in the summer due to the heat and my seat sweats so I don’t want to be stinkin’ like a swamp if you get my drift. But during the cooler months, I love this casual look!
A rather elegant look with my bra straps hanging out–don’tja think? Actually, I like this knit maxi with sneakers because the dress is just so basic and….
….the hemline falls just above the ankle. Anything longer I wear with sandals.
This Lacoste polo shirtdress is a GREAT match for sneakers. It’s got a fun vibe…and yes, you CAN wear a mini when you are over 50!
Fabric is a factor. A flowing material or knit works better with a sneaker–it’s more casual-friendly…
A white tee + a flowy skirt + sneakers = a winning combination
An exception to that fabric rule is denim. A demin skirt and sneakers were meant to be worn together!
I don’t even remember when I bought this skirt but I love the movement and the polka dots!
When I tried this dress on at J. Crew Factory last year, I was wearing these sneakers. I loved the look so much that I purchased the dress–and nine out of ten times, I wear this dress with those sneaks.
More dressing room looks. I tried this dress on earlier today and passed because of the fit on top–but I love the way it looks with the sneakers. The pants. I cuffed the hem as shown in the photo with the striped shirt. That was the win. And I purchased them! I’m really pissed about that dress though because I really did love it!
And the shorts! For me, again–it’s proportion. I don’t like my shorts to be long because I don’t have long legs. Long shorts on short legs can look squat. A shorter pair of shorts can make your legs appear longer–but that means you have to shave your entire leg. And I’m a fan of the sneaker/short combo. It’s a nice crisp look..
This is what I’m wearing now. A classic summer look…and..
…it can be dressed up a bit with a blazer. I wore this ensemble shopping today. And let me tell you this is a very fun look for we women over 50 and 60 and upwards!
Even with a dressier pair of shorts–sneakers can work….
This is a look that I wore to work but I’m telling you–we’re going to NYC for a weekend next month and I’ll bring this ensemble along–and I will wear my sneakers instead of the heels because it’ll be a great city look!
I also want to point something out. I’m bowl-legged. The thing is, I know how to position my legs when I take photos. My knees are also knocked and I’ve got crepey skin but it doesn’t stop me from wearing all the above-combinations. We’re aging. But we need to be PRO-aging and not let the veins or the discoloration or the crepey skin keep us from wearing what we want. You can wear sneakers and rock on!
I created an idea list on my Amazon page for you to look at. Take a look at some of the dresses and sneakers and make a mental image of what you like–then when you go shopping, you’ll have a visual of the look you are going for! HOW TO WEAR SNEAKERS
Elvis. Hi Heel Sneakers. Is there anything else?
