Office-Appropriate Sneakers: What to Wear to Work

Low-profile sneakers in white, black, navy, or another neutral color are usually easier to dress up than bulky athletic shoes, especially when the design has minimal logos and few contrasting panels. Smooth leather or a leather-look finish can feel polished with tailored clothing, while simple canvas may work better in a more casual office.

For a business-casual day, try understated sneakers with tailored trousers, a tucked-in shirt, and a blazer; in a relaxed office, dark jeans and a neat knit can work just as well. If you have a client meeting, presentation, or formal event, use the occasion’s expectations as your guide and switch to dress shoes when sneakers would feel out of place.

Your sneakers should feel secure at the heel without squeezing your toes, since a polished outfit is less useful if you are uncomfortable all day. We like a trouser hem that falls neatly above the shoe or lightly touches it, rather than bunching over the laces and hiding the sneaker’s shape.

Wipe away marks, clean the soles, and replace worn laces so the pair looks cared for rather than like your gym shoes. For more outfit ideas, our featured guide, Sneakers at Work, Styled Right, explores how to style sneakers for office-ready looks.