Sandals aren’t the only way to anchor a summer dress. They may look elegant, but all-day excursions can lead to blisters and sore arches. (Besides, not everyone is into the toe-bearing look day after day, especially if you’re city living.) The style pairing is also a no-brainer when it comes to weekend wear, traveling, and exploring new locales—after all, these shoes were made for walking. For a more covered-up and comfortable—and less expected—option, try sporting your dresses with sneakers instead. A high-profile case in point: Emily Ratajkowski. The New York darling has been a fan of pairing white kicks with her rotation of leg-baring mini dresses for many seasons now, and has become a master of adding sporty flair to an otherwise sexy piece.
When it comes to styling the combo, anything goes. You can play with opposites, pairing retro chunky sneakers with a flirty, tight-knit dress by Victor Glemaud. Or take an elevated approach and couple Jack Erwin’s sleek leather sneakers with a cool blue midi dress from Zara. Another trick that adds some deliberate chic is to color coordinate a dress and sneakers, like pairing navy Cairuma kicks with a tie-dye frock from Ganni that incorporates similar hues. You could also go romantic in Reformation’s sweet spaghetti-straps with velcro Veja’s. Whichever look you choose, your feet will thank you. Here, shop the best dresses and sneaker pairings of the season.
