Which Are the Best Sneakers for Work Outfits?
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Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.
Here's a timely question, readers: Which are the best sneakers for work outfits? When are “sneakers for work” appropriate in your offices? How are you wearing sneakers with your work outfits?
Here at Corporette, we've always taken the position that sneakers are fine — for your commute. I certainly wore my Chucks with suits on a lot of commutes, and kind of thought it was a cute look… again, for my commute. But retailers have been showing sneakers with outfits for years (some of the product photos we've featured are pictured below), so I thought it was prime time for a discussion.
{related: The Ultimate Guide to Business Casual for Women}
Table of Contents:
- The Best Sneakers to Wear with Work Outfits in 2025
- The Best Overall Sneakers for Work Outfits: Cole Haan (read our thoughts / buy)
- The Best Affordable Sneakers for Work: Cariuma (read our thoughts / buy)
- The Best Classic Sneakers for Work: Superga (read our thoughts / buy)
- The Best Athletic Sneakers for Work: J.Crew (read our thoughts / buy)
- The Best Comfort Sneakers for the Office: Dr. Scholl's (read our thoughts / buy)
- The Best Sneakers for Lousy Weather On Your Commute: AllBirds (read our thoughts / buy)
- The Best Pricey Sneaker for Work ($$$): Vince (read our thoughts / buy)
- The Best Fancy Sneaker for Work ($$$$): Loewe (read our thoughts / buy)
- What to Look For in Sneakers to Wear with Work Outfits
- Inspiration for Work Outfits with Sneakers
- Rising Trends in Sneakers for the Office
- How to Keep Your Sneakers Looking Clean
- Sneakers For Your Commute
- Weekend Sneakers
The Best Sneakers to Wear to Work in 2025
Without further ado, here are our favorite sneakers to wear to work in 2025!
Best Overall Sneakers for Work Outfits
Cole Haan Grand Pro Topspin
I think this sneaker meets all of the qualifications we're looking for in an office-appropriate sneaker — in particular, the contrasting details such as the beige leather strip around the sole and the lighter beige details on the tongue and back of the shoe are great standouts.
The other HUGE pro here is that Cole Haan is an established, safe brand that is known for making office-appropriate shoes for both men and women — which means that your non-fashion-y boss will almost certainly have seen the shoes if they've been in a store recently.
Another great option here: Cole Haan's oxford sneakers, available in a wide range of colors for both women and men, are $170 at spots like Zappos.
Best Affordable Sneakers for Work
Cariuma OC Low
Cariumas are consciously made in ethical factories, using natural premium materials, with carbon neutral shipping — and more. The look to old-school sneakers isn't by accident — they've branded themselves as “old-school looks; new school ethics.” Accordingly, the rubber used is collected through an ethical tapping, the vegan insole is made from cork, and the cotton is all organic.
The shoes are $79, available in sizes 5-13 in canvas, suede, leather, and a TON of colors.
Looking for something even MORE affordable? Check out the old-school classics such as Converse, Superga, Keds, or more.
The Best Classic Sneakers for Work
Superga Cotu
Like a lot of the “classic” sneakers, the Superga has been around for a loooong time. According to the Nordstrom product page:
“founder Walter Martiny designed the first Superga sneaker in Torino, Italy, in 1911. But it wasn't until 1925 that he expanded his collection to include vulcanized-rubber soles, and in doing so created the now-iconic 2750 tennis shoe. The brand's classic minimalist styles and new hits—beloved by Italians for weekends and getaways — now count fans all around the world.”
For some reason, I always associate Superga with Extremely Fashionable People (perhaps because I've always been a Converse girl myself). Any of the classics can work, though, especially if they're part of your personality and you're comfortable with them.
Another very classic look that's very in right now: Adidas sneakers (both Samba and Gazelle).
The Best Athletic Sneakers for Work
J.Crew Colorblock Trainers
Know your office very well before you try to wear an athletic-looking sneaker to work as part of your outfit. A lot of older people in the workforce will strongly associate this with movies like Working Girl, where the heroine commuted from Staten Island into the city wearing white sneakers with black hose.
THAT SAID, I'm seeing J.Crew colorblock trainers everywhere (particularly this gold-on-beige one pictured), so they deserve a mention.
There are a TON of different options in terms of colorways — for the office I'd keep it relatively neutral. (These particular shoes are 50% off full price at the moment, so if you're interested, now is the time!)
Other good options for athletic sneakers include New Balance and Sam Edelman.
The Best Comfort Sneakers for the Office
Dr. Scholl's Time Off
There are, of course, a ton of options for the most comfortable sneaker, but I like the vintage vibe to these ones from Dr. Scholl's.
It's worth noting that the shoes are hugely popular with the brand — they have Time Off slip ons, sandals, high tops, wedges, and even men's versions. Personally I like this gray colorway, but there are a lot of stark white ones as well.
If you have foot issues, this is definitely one of the top brands to check out. They're available in half sizes 6-11 for $70-$100.
Other great comfort options: last year's pick, this Vionic slipon, is still available; note that Vionic also makes insoles, so you can add those to any shoe of your choosing. AllBirds (below) also get rave reviews for comfort, and readers have also sung the praises of Kizik shoes (also at Nordstrom). I've also heard people rave about: Birkenstock sneakers, and these Paul Green shoes are bestsellers at Bloomingdale's (Zappos also has some colors).
The Best Sneakers for Lousy Weather On Your Commute
AllBirds Mizzle Shoes
Readers have noted that they really love their Allbirds to wear with work outfits, singing the praises of the extreme comfort of the brand. Their water-repellent shoes are renowned for being great in bad weather, so they're getting our pick for the best sneakers for lousy weather on your commute.
As the company notes, they've combined “cozy ZQ Merino wool and a bio-based water repellent shield [so that] our rain-ready sneaker keeps your feet predictably dry in unpredictable weather.” Nice.
They're available in whole sizes 5-11, in both classic and limited edition colors, for $125-$165 (depending on the style of shoe).
Two other weatherproof options: reader favorite boot brand Blondo also makes sneakers, and these On waterproof sneakers look great.
The Best Pricey Sneaker for Work ($$$)
Vince Oasis
There are a lot of middle options that aren't quite designer but are still a bit of an investment. This year I'm really liking the Vince Oasis — not only are they at the more affordable end of this range ($250ish), but they're simple yet elevated. They're also best sellers at Bloomingdale's.
Reviewers call them “the most comfortable sneaker I own,” and note that the shoes “look great with jeans, pants, skirts and dresses.”
They're available in half-sizes 5-11 for $250.
We still like last year's pick from Tory Burch (Ladybug), as well as their more athletic-looking Hank sneakers. Other option in this middle price range from other brands include P448, Common Project, Rag & Bone, and Veronica Beard.
The Best Fancy Sneaker for Work ($$$$)
Loewe Flow Runner Sneakers
There are a lot of options for Very Fancy sneakers if you're looking to spend a lot of money — Golden Goose, Gucci, Chloé, Maison Margiela, and more. For my $.02, my vote goes to the Loewe Flow sneakers.
Yes, they're much more athletic-looking than a lot of the other sneakers we've featured… but the distinctive cursive L, the multicolored sole, the colorblocking, the leather and rubber details — all of this adds up to a *chef's kiss* beautiful sneaker.
What to Look For in Sneakers to Wear with Work Outfits
Here are the things I think you should look for in work sneakers:
- They don't look like they were run over in the street.
- They're not super chunky/athletic.
- Look for a design that is just a BIT more than your basic white sneaker — interesting stitching, a contrasting detail
As always, the most important part of knowing which sneaker to wear to work is knowing your office. Our advice here is the same as it always is: Look to the mid-levels above you for fashion inspiration, not the CEO, partners, or other C-suite people — they've earned the right to wear whatever they want.
For example, in a March 2023 conversation, some readers noted that Golden Gooses were great for their office, but others noted that a “distressed” shoe, no matter how expensive, just wasn't appropriate for their offices.
Another important thing to note: When you wear sneakers to work may be highly dependent on what kind of day you're having, who you're meeting with, and more. You may want to keep a pair of neutral flats or heels in your office just in case — here are some of our latest roundups of comfortable work heels, as well as the most comfortable flats for work.
(Another note: If your bosses are “non-fashion people” and tend to be a bit curmudgeonly, tread really carefully before wearing sneakers to work.)
Work Outfits with Sneakers: Inspiration
If you need outfit inspiration advice, we highly recommend watching the movie I Care A Lot (currently streaming on Netflix) — lots of colorful suits worn with sneakers.
Rising Trends in Sneakers for the Office
As of 2025, the sneaker trend is still going strong. Trends I've read about include colorful sneakers, animal print sneakers (some even with calf hair or other textural details), and the slip-on no-tie trend expanding beyond Kiziks.
One of my favorite trends is matching colorful sneakers to colorful pants — I think you can also have fun with shades of the same color, or even contrasting colors. It's a nice reprieve from the Dad sneaker trend, but it helps if you have a signature color or a capsule wardrobe.
How to Keep Your Sneakers Looking Clean
Whatever sneakers you're wearing, we love this reader trick: Magic Erasers work great on cleaning dingier white soles and sometimes white leather also.
A lot of brands are also making washable sneakers (notably, Rothy's and Allbirds) — and you can get a specialized bag for your washing machine so they don't knock around.
{related: check out our roundups of foldable flats and washable flats!}
Sneakers For Your Commute
For my $.02, a lot of the newer (expensive!) sneakers look like the kind of thing I kept in my gym locker in middle school — they were so fugly they could stay at school because I'd never want to wear them elsewhere. But obviously, tastes and styles change, and after a bit of adjustment (and seeing it enough places), those of us on the older side adapt.
This is partly why I've always suggested being really wary of a new trend or aesthetic that wasn't popular five years ago — but at the rate that fashion moves these days, that may be difficult (and, I suppose, another vote for classic style for work outfits because you're more likely to get more wear out of them).
Commuting Shoes: Sneaker Flats That Will Blend in With Trousers
The main claim to fame for these kinds of sneaker flats is that if you're working in a really conservative office and want to wear comfortable shoes for your commute, but not have a coworker look too closely and think, “Hey, there she is in her sneakers again,” these will blend in. (We've even had conversations in the past about whether commuting shoes should be swapped in the lobby or even outside your office building!)
I will freely admit that these are not chosen because they're “cute” — many are pretty hideous, in my opinion. But they blend with work clothes and are comfortable, and lightweight enough to carry in your bag if you want to.
Sneaker flats can be great if you're opposed to commuting in flip flops (I did it, but realize it wasn't the most polished look). In 2024 definitely check out brands like Rothy's, Birdies, and Skechers for comfortable, flexible, sneaker-like flats. If you just want all-black sneakers, check out AllBirds and Cariuma. Also check out our roundups of foldable flats and washable flats!
Note that if your trousers are hemmed to wear with heels, these shoes might not be the best because your hems might drag on the ground — you could either look for platform sneakers, or go for commuting shoes like comfort brands with chunky heels such as FLY London, Dansko, Eileen Fisher, and Børn.
Sneaker Sneakers for Weekends: The Classics
We've actually had a conversation about what your weekend sneakers say about you — some of the “classic” sneakers we discussed are below…
Hunting for classic weekend sneakers (here's what they say about you!)? As of 2025, we'd include Converse, Vans, Superga, adidas, Keds, SeaVees, Tretorns, and New Balance in the list — how about you? (This is our latest favorite sneaker for work outfits.)
What do you think, readers: Are you on Team Sneakers for Work, or on Team Please Wear Shoes? Where would you draw the line for which sneakers are acceptable for work and which aren't? (For example, certain colors like white or black, only “well taken care of sneakers,” sneakers with a specific sole color (e.g., the way that historically, heels with a cork sole aren't appropriate for work?)
Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!
Stock photos via Pexels / Godisable Jacob.
Anyone wearing Cariumas? Allbirds are great for my feet. Superga and Converse are too flat and wide.
My NY big law office is now sneaker acceptable if you don’t have a client meeting. I wear Allbirds now to the office.
I had the same question about Cariumas; I’m looking at them in black for an upcoming conference. Any reviews?
I’m wearing Cariumas right now (at work!). I also wear Allbirds a lot, and I recently ordered two pairs of Cariumas. So far, they aren’t quite as comfy as my Allbirds, but more comfortable than anything else in my closet! I have a knit pair in white and a canvas pair in black. I like the look and feel of the knit style more, but that’s just my personal preference.
I ordered some Cariumas last fall and they were very cute, with comfortable soles, but the tongues came too far up/onto my ankle so they were not comfortable to actually wear.
Also, I’ve been Jules here for years – would you mind using a different handle? Thank!
I wear Allbirds because Converse are too narrow.
I looooove my Cariumas. They do start out a little stiff but within a couple of hours of walking, they were fully broken-in and very comfortable. I like that they’re supportive without being too squishy.
I ordered them and returned. Very stiff. Love my allbirds though. My feet are narrow-ish and low arches.
Wearing Allbirds right now. Mine are the ones that look like Converse
I was surprised at how cute it looked when Rosamund Pike’s character in I Care A Lot was wearing Supergas with a pantsuit. I am doubtful I could pull this off without looking like Joan Cusack’s coworker in Working Girl and/or a middle-aged mom (which I am) who forgot to change out of her commuting shoes. I might try, because I’m very fond of Supergas.
I am an academic in a formal setting and the Libbi Leopard sneakers from Spring Step are my office sneakers. I love them and think they are appropriate even with a suit. (I may just have terrible taste but I got a complement from a student and decided to hang on to that endorsement of my fashion sense.)
The superga aren’t linking correctly, either from the “grey” descriptor or the brand name descriptor.
sorry about that; fixed it!
I started wearing sneakers to the office in 2019 after knee surgery in a very non-fashion industry. My default pair are Vince grey & black snakeskin-print slip-ons. I’m not seeing the exact pair anywhere now, but they have been surprisingly versatile, and are still going strong!
The proportions of the Vince slip-ons are so good. They are not my most comfortable shoes, but they are comfortable enough and look good.
I started wearing Ecco sneakers everywhere when I tore my plantar fascia in 2018. The injury has heeled, but I continue wearing either Ecco or Paul Green sneakers to work.
I wear Ecco all-white leather sneakers to work on fridays. But many of my seniors wear sneakers too and not just on Fridays. I am just waiting to find all-black sneaker for the workdays.
I wear trainers (sneakers for US people) most days I’m in the office, unless I have something especially formal / just feel like it. Having said that, my office is business casual and my outfits lean towards the formal end of that, and I’ll wear canvas shoes instead of ratty old running trainers, so it looks intentional!
I’d feel ridiculous wearing heels, as it’s such a male-dominated environment.
I’ve been wearing Rothy’s slip-on sneakers (the black ones with the white soles) to work and I think they look super cute, especially with straight-leg ankle-length pants (they look fine with longer pants too, but it’s less of a look).
I work in a very formal government office in DC, and have seen plenty of sneakers around — mostly leather ones with white soles. And a HUGE reduction in both heels and pointy flats — I usually wear oxfords. This place, which was 99% suits pre-pandemic, has changed enough to really impress on me the weight of social changes. Also, after an achilles tear and ankle surgery, I have no f**** left to give and have exactly one pair of heels that lives in my desk for the fanciest of meetings.
Anyone have a recommendation for sneakers that come with leather liners? I have a pair of P448 (thanks to recs here!) that have leather insoles and they are amazing, but no longer made :( Thanks for any tips!
Birkenstock sneakers have leather liners.
My Paul Green sneakers have leather uppers, linings and insoles.
I haven’t tried their sneakers yet, but Pikolinos are on my radar because my feet love their other styles and they all have leather liners.
You can also just buy leather insoles and swap them out
Have you tried wool lined shoes like Allbirds? (not every style, I think) They seem to make a big difference for my feet. Synthetic linings are less comfortable, and leather linings are nice, but I have to put foot powder into them to keep my foot from sticking to the lining (I don’t wear socks most of the time.)
I wear golden gooses to the office. Pre pandemic, I would have died before wearing sneakers to the office and now I have about 5 pairs of them and hardly wear anything else. They’re expensive but the cost per wear is down to pennies.
Are you changing them out during the day and counting each wear anew?
Not sure about 8:15 pm ….. but I sure do.
Same here, I love them. Also have about 5 pairs, maybe 6 and wear them all the time.
They work for me with jeans and a blazer when visiting clients in jail or prison. Or slacks, a top, and sneakers.
Why all the white sneakers? Dark/black sneakers are only for commutes and weekends?? To me white sneakers look wayyy more casual. I love the hybrid look of leather Vince sneakers, or Allbirds or Rothys slip-ons in black with a white sole.
I agree!
I wear navy blue sneakers only, usually with some white trim and a white sole. I think they look so much better than white.
i had posted about this. agreed. white doesn’t go with everything. i bought a pair of black golden goose knock offs (i think they’re dolce vita) and wear those with darker colors… otherwise like a samba or gazelle in black or dark grey or navy, even dark green depending on your propensity for flair.
Update to my update incase anyone cares. My friend reached out to me and we have plans this weekend, I’m not going to ask about their relationship status, but we’ve come full circle so this will probably be the last I mention it here.
I’m happy to hear this update.
It’s very possible that my workplace is just curmudgeonly, but I have seen no one adopt the sneakers-with-dress clothes look.
i think your workplace is curmudgeonly. it’s basically everywhere i go.
No sneakers where I am either.
I love my Adidas Bravada platforms for the office. Super comfortable and being canvas inside and out, they breathe.
I initially tried Cole Haan Grandpro Topspin and the proportions were so odd I wondered if I got a knock-off pair even though I ordered straight from CH. The shoes felt really stiff and cheap, not what I was expecting for the price. The fit was strange, too, very narrow on the ball of my foot but bubbled out quite wide around the midpoint. Maybe that’s how CH runs? Definitely not for me. I also cannot do Keds or Chuck Taylors (sadly for me, happily for my wallet b/c I would buy all the colors otherwise).
My office is low-key. I am currently rocking P448 sneakers in their colorful graffiti/black print with a conservative pair of neutral charcoal-plaid trousers, a loose black blouse, and minimal jewelry. I view wearing colorful sneakers with an otherwise basic outfit as on par to men who sport quirky socks or those oxford sneakers with an edgy contrast sole.