Telegraph e-paper

Ageless style Step out with colourful trainers

Take neon-splashed footwear out of the gym and into the office, says Alyson Walsh

Read more from Alyson at thatsnotmyage.com

This summer, I spotted a super-chic woman dressed in an ever-soslightly mismatching combination of crisp white shirt, black patterned trousers and pair of fluorescent orange Asics trainers. She looked cool and modern and I liked her style. This wasn’t a 9-to-5 commuting outfit, with sneakers swapped for court shoes at the office; this was the complete ensemble: smart, business-ready clothes teamed with the footwear of a running pro – no underthe-desk shoe shuffle required.

What a refreshing change from white trainers, the ubiquitous urban uniform of the past decade. Though I still love to contrast a pair of low-key, leather sports shoes with sharp tailoring, when Liz Truss starts wearing white sneakers as business attire, you know it’s time for a rethink. Time to free yourself with a pair of statement sneakers.

No woman ever looks glamorous when her feet hurt and this is possibly why I’ve been a sneakerhead all my life.

Dress codes have relaxed over the past few years – who doesn’t love a pair of comfy shoes?

When it comes to clothing and footwear, comfort is the most important thing for me and I am delighted that the sports shoe has been elevated to the position of everyday wardrobe staple. Dress codes have relaxed over the past few years so that practically everyone – including members of the Royal family – now wears trainers. Who doesn’t love a pair of comfy shoes for running around in? (I am talking about proper trainers from sportswear brands as opposed to designer rip-offs. I have never understood the trend for “fashion” sneakers – paying silly money like £800 for a pair of trainers is, quite frankly, ludicrous. At least with a reputable sportswear company you are buying functional, lightweight footwear at a reasonable price.)

For normcore trainers with a colourful twist, Salomon is the brand being hyped up right now. And the uglier the trainers, the better. Call me old-school,

but I’m more of a fan of retro-chic styles from the likes of New Balance, Adidas and Saucony. On the high street, M&S, Boden and Hoff the Brand (the Spanish label I’m wearing here, available from Atterley and Anthropologie) are all going for vintage-inspired, sporty designs. Whether you show off your shoes with capri pants or culottes, or go for a wide-leg or boot-cut style that falls neatly over the top of your sneakers, stepping into vibrant colour is guaranteed to lift any outfit.

Taking the incremental approach, I have been gradually pimping up my footwear by experimenting with bold colour-block sneakers or splashes of neon on a plain white background. Going from low-key to look-at-me, I’m slowly working my way up to a pair of hi-vis Asics trainers. Once I have made that leap, I intend to double up on snazziness by adding some colourful, patterned socks – because obviously, wearing high-performance trainers with hosiery, like Melanie Griffith in Working Girl, is a 1980s fad too far.

Stella

en-gb

2022-10-02T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-10-02T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://dailytelegraph.pressreader.com/article/281745568271212

Daily Telegraph