
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? Do you think there’s a generational divide here?
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… for my commute. But retailers have been showing sneakers with outfits for years (some of the product photos we’ve featured are pictured above), so I thought it was prime time for a discussion. Readers even recently had a threadjack pondering this issue (with several saying sneakers were never appropriate for work outfits). I’ve included some of the choices from Team Sneakers for Work below.
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 — the thinking at the time was 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).
(Another $.02: If you’re not seeing midlevels wearing sneakers, if your boss(es) are 40+ and/or your bosses are “non-fashion people” … tread really, really carefully before wearing sneakers to work.)
Also, N.B. 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).
{related: The Ultimate Guide to Business Casual for Women}
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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.
Reader favorites that have been called out over the years:
Pictured: Puma / Skechers / Allbirds / Rothy’s / Skechers / Birdies / TOMS (not pictured, but also check the brand BZees!)
{related: check out our roundups of foldable flats and washable flats!}
Sneaker Sneakers: 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…
Pictured below (by color), Row 1: black / gray / gray / white; Row 2: white / white / green / black
Pictured above (by brand name):
Row 1: Converse / Vans / Superga / adidas Stan Smith
Row 2: Keds / SeaVees / Tretorns / New Balance
Recent Reader Favorites: The Sneakers People are Wearing to Work
These were the shoes that readers called out in the recent discussion — I’d love to hear what the general reader opinion is, and how you’re styling the sneakers with work outfits!

Some readers noted that they loved their Allbirds for work. There are a ton of colors and styles, many of which are water resistant, and the shoes are generally $105–$155. The pictured shoes are $110.
Rothy’s has similar styles that are washable.
Not a surprise: Some people really love Cole Haan’s lightweight and popular oxfords. The latest ones have a leather heel detail (some in a print), whereas the originals had entirely fabric uppers. The latest shoes are $170 at spots like Zappos.
Good to note: MMLF has a collaboration with Koio, a brand often compared to Common Project — if you like the look, these are only $265 and available in three colors.
Some readers noted they liked fancier sneakers, such as Maison Margiela Replica sneakers — see also Common Project. The pictured sneakers are $540–$580 at Nordstrom.
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? (E.g., 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.
Anom
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.
Jules
I had the same question about Cariumas; I’m looking at them in black for an upcoming conference. Any reviews?
HD
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.
Seventh Sister
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.
nuqotw
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 Lone Ranger
The superga aren’t linking correctly, either from the “grey” descriptor or the brand name descriptor.
Kat G
sorry about that; fixed it!
NYNY
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!
Ali
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.
Anon
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.
Anonymousse
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.
Anonymous
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).
Anonymous
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.