Smartish work outfits with trainers ideas?

[islandholiday]

I'm looking forward to starting my new job in a few weeks. I will be a reasonably senior woman (aged early 40s).
It's definitely a smart-casual kind of place, the two women I met who were more senior than me wore trousers/top/scarf combos - but v relaxed and comfortable looking.

I normally like sharper dressing than that, and love pencil skirts or trouser suits etc. But what I'm thinking for this job is that I could pull together some good outfits but with trainers (to make it look more relaxed- and also mean I can easily nip out in my lunch hour).

It's not a look I've ever done myself before, but I did go to a European conference last year and all the (young) women were wearing trainers with smart clothes and looked really elegant.

I'm a bit worried about looking stupid, but I wondered if any of you had ideas for looking good at work, still being professional, but wearing trainers?

Thanks!!

I'm not sure proper smart with trainers can be pulled off by a woman in her forties (as wrong as that is) but I like short jersey dresses or longer tube dresses with trainer s

When I first joined MN the S&B regulars were that any adult woman would consider trainers unless training. How times have changed, thankfully.

I work in a casual office work environment, but wouldn't do trainers at work

I do white stan smith’s with slim black trousers and white tshirt or shirt. I also wesr wide leg black trousers with same shoe and striped tshirts. I am 52 yo and always get told I look great. Could be pity

Depends on the trainers. I’m in my forties and I’ve just got these Supergas in the sale - I think they’d be fine with casual dresses or slacks.

I'm fast approaching 50, reasonably senior in a corporate environment (admittedly pharms so more casual than e.g. the law) and do this look a lot. I wear retro trainers (Stan Smiths, Puma Suede, Converse, Vans) with wide legged trousers (woollen in winter, linen in summer) and silk blouses tucked in. Would also wear trainers with maxi skirts/dresses but that feels a bit more casual. En brogue suggests trainers look good (and smart) with a leather pencil skirt. Actually enbrogue is really good on trainers full stop. Also, look at me and em, ignore the fact that the models are the same age as your daughter, and see how they style workwear with trainers.

Midi wrap dresses in a light material + comfy shoes FTW

I’m a lecturer in a creative subject and wear black Stan Smiths to work a lot. In winter often with a leather skirt per pp, although mine is more A-line, and in warmer weather with cropped wide trousers/culottes, and with midi skirts and dresses.

Well fitting slim black trousers to just about the ankle, a white silk shirt and plain white or black trainers (like the ones whistles sells) is a common look around here.

As PP have said, as long as they're fairly minimal or retro cool it works with most semi-smart wear. Nothing that looks like you're about to do a 10k. And I don't they work at all with super-smart corporate wear - so if you're going for a pencil skirt I'd make the top more casual.

Yes, you can definitely do this. I work in a professional environment (law) and have noticed a dramatic change in the way women dress. Sure, they might still have some heels under their desks for client meetings, but on a day to day basis more and more of them wear flat shoes, including leather trainers.

That look doesn’t work with very smart dresses or formal looking pencil skirts but fine with most other outfits.

Sorry - have realised I basically repeated what everyone else said!

Thanks everyone- that is all really good advice. Yes I didn't mean I wanted to wear trainers with my current clothes, more that I was wondering what sort of looks would work with trainers - then I'd go out and buy what I need. Also thanks for the recommendations of what sort of trainers to buy.

I have some flat loafers, so will start in the first few weeks not in trainers- but may well incorporate them into my look after that.

I suppose I want to be able to do smart-casual and still look great, whereas I feel if I don't plan for it I will just end up looking frumpy and not put together.

This thread has made me wish it would cool down so I could wear trainers to work again. It's too hot at the moment!