Is with sneakers…

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By writer/editor/stylist Tara Gonzalez, who’s interested in why we wear the things we wear and what that says about who we are.

When I was in third grade, I refused to hold flowers like all of the other girls on photo day. Instead I said I’d like to cross my arms around my chest, like all of the boys. And when my mom suggested I wear Mary Janes with a dress, I pushed them to the side and opted for the Samba sneakers I wore to soccer practice instead. Nearly twenty years later and nothing much has changed.

Instead of photo day, I make my boyfriend take photos of me for Instagram, my mom doesn’t pick out my outfits (although sometimes she tries), and I would never turn down a bouquet. But I can still rarely ever put on a dress without thinking of how much better it would look with sneakers. Even though I’ve grown to love more feminine styles than I did when I was younger — Give me ruffles! A peter pan collar! Pink on pink on pink! — I think dresses were just meant to be balanced out by a good pair of Converse or Golas. Just don’t tell my platform heels.

Sure, you can wear a dress to a wedding but you can also throw one on to walk to the bodega, like I do. And in this instance, sneakers are just the obvious footwear choice. It gives even the most over-the-top of dresses a more casual vibe, like you’re on the way to an impromptu beach trip. Not to mention, a dress with a pair of sneakers is just about the easiest outfit combination that still feels unexpected. You can put together a good dress and sneaker look in under two minutes, as long as you have a good sense of some go-to combos.

Converse are one of the most famous sneakers known to man and you likely own a high-top pair in white, black, or both. But there’s also the embroidered Chuck 70 which features floral embroidery and they’re the perfect contrast to a gingham piece like the Bardot mini dress. Pattern mixing is big right now, and if you’re not sure how to approach the trend, this pairing is subtle. It’s sweet, not too serious, and basically begs of you to go on a picnic and take a million photos.

For a more unconventional pair like the Diadora Equipe Mad Italia, which features a pop of color on the heel, consider a longer, more flowy dress like the Kyra Midi. Longer dresses always remind me of formal events and I used to avoid them for that very reason. But a sneaker like the Diadora, which is made in Italy with leather and canvas, keeps the look elevated without making it seem too serious. And of course the bold coloring helps add a little something to a solid-print dress.

Gola sneakers on the other hand are the quickest way to make your look instantly retro. Whenever I wear them, I feel transported back in time to the ‘70s and ‘80s. Which would explain my affinity to pair them with a flirty mini like the Daphne that features vintage details like a square neck and puff sleeves. My favorite thing about this look is how no one in the ‘80s could have seen this look coming and yet it feels so incredibly perfect for 2021.

So while I don’t make the rules, I’m pretty certain the only way to wear dresses is with sneakers. My third grade-self was onto something all of those years ago. Although I think she’d be pretty jealous if she saw my sneaker collection today.