While browsing through DSW—my husband’s idea, by the way—I stumbled upon an entire row of what I’d call statement sneakers. There were pairs with bold patterns, embroidery, bling, platforms, and more. Instantly, I felt both inspired and intrigued. Inspired, because statement sneakers are such an easy way to elevate a simple jeans-and-tee outfit. And intrigued, because I wondered if I could find a similar pair in the clearance section.
Luck was on my side that day. I found exactly what I was looking for—a pair of black Steve Madden slip-ons with a vibrant embroidered flower on the vamp. I didn’t care that embroidery wasn’t as trendy as it once was; I loved them. So, they came home with me. And as a bonus, my husband found the dress shoes he was after too.
Statement sneakers fit perfectly into my style philosophy. Honestly, you could call me a lazy stylist, and I’d take it as a compliment. I prefer a wardrobe that’s effortless and budget-friendly. My approach is simple: stock up on basics and add a few standout pieces to tie everything together.
This fall, I’ll be pairing these sneakers with jeans, a belt, and a long-sleeved tee. No one will notice that the tee came from a $5 sale rack at H&M last spring or that I’ve been wearing the same jeans for five years. But I guarantee people will ask about the shoes.
I never like to limit a piece to just one type of outfit, though. So, let’s move beyond the jeans-and-tee combo and explore other ways to style statement sneakers using items you probably already own.
Vegan leather leggings are often paired with heels, but some days, I prefer a more relaxed look. Sneakers keep the outfit grounded and practical—especially since I live in the Missouri countryside, where there’s really no need for heels.
Here’s a tried-and-true style tip: any statement piece—whether it’s sneakers, earrings, or even a bold lip color—stands out best when paired with a monochrome outfit. If the spring/summer ’17 runway shows inspired you to double up on denim, why not throw in a pair of fun sneakers? It’s a much more interesting choice than the usual Stan Smiths.
Casual cotton dresses also work well with sneakers, and you can take the look up a notch by highlighting one of the sneaker’s accent colors. The trick is to avoid being too matchy. Instead, pick a color that subtly appears in the shoe’s design. I happened to have a pink dress in my closet that does just that, making it a perfect match.
Are you rocking statement sneakers this fall? Let’s talk about it in the comments!