Wide leg trousers with trainers - office appropriate?

[QuentinQuarantino]

Clean, naice trainers. Not the manky asics you shuffle out to the bins in at bedtime.

Is it an office appropriate look?

This kind of thing but probably no jacket on an everyday basis. Love the look with a neat fitting Breton, white cotton shirt or fine knit, tucked in.

Am (hopefully 👏🤞) starting a new role (NHS) and just can't do formal office wear/heels. Dress code is not strict, just don't want to push it too far with the trainers.

If inappropriate, what other shoes would be good with this type of trouser?

I've never worked in or visited a secondary school where staff could wear trainers (except on non-uniform or INSET days). We have such a battle getting the kids to wear shoes instead of trainers that it would cause more problems than it was worth.

The Crocs might be a red herring. Lots of clinical staff wear Crocs for hygiene reasons. Crocs + scrubs is very different to crocs with civvies.

It’s a yes from me. But your whole look needs to be pretty sharp and intentional-looking and your trainers need to be immaculate. It would work better if you did wear the whole suit imo.

I personally detest black trainers with non-exercise clothes. Black hi-tops work better for some reason. Ballet flats with trousers are extremely dated and have a tendency to look either schoolgirlish or frumpy.

Brogues are better with slimmer trousers. Chunky-soled loafers might work?

Ballet flats make me think of teenagers in the 2000s. Extremely dated unless they're updated with a split top of pointed end

@dudsville

The NHS is massively underfunded, it's not slick and corporate. Your choices are wonderful!

Paradoxically I have found it is often the slightly shabbier workplaces which expect more traditionally smart workwear, while very slick corporate offices tend to be a bit more relaxed.

It's a no from me, sorry OP. I don't work for the NHS though, but this would be a massive no I'm my office. And I'd prob think someone had forgot their work shoes!

I work in financial services. I'm working from home, probably for the rest of the year and I'd hope longer, but if I have to be back in the office I plan to walk there and that would mean trainers unless I have a meeting I think I need to change for. Our office was already fairly relaxed - some people full corporate, others much more casual.

I get you hate them but up until we were all sent home to work they were still being worn extensively in offices across the city

Not in my city. Not in my office. Though most people I work with are under 40 and wouldnt be seen dead in a 'flat court'. Here its loafers/brogues/boots/trainers and sandals when hot.

It's a look I really like, but definitely wouldn't get away with at our place (teacher). If I wear wide legged trousers (rarely, because they don't really suit me, although I like them) I pair them with ankle boots or brogues.

Absolutely fine in my current office, in my last office I sometimes wore trainers so long as the outfit was smarter but the trainers would be black (some white, like gazelles)

I find summer so difficult, winter I'm happy to wear ankle boots but summer I hate ballet style shoes they're so twee and dated. I won't wear heels for work, they're not practical. Thankfully current office is very casual, jeans casual!

The suit is great but no trainers! Maybe a summer wedge sandal or block heel .Winter smart boots ? Sorry Im maybe a bit traditional !

Not Ballet flats no!

My mind is blown by all the ballet flats hate. I've been wearing them for years, when I worked in an office and when out for dinner, anywhere nice etc cause I cannot walk in heels. I'm 33 and now feel like everyone has been looking at me like I've got the worst dress sense😫I don't really like brogues or loafers so I always default to ballet flats.

I would be wary about spending a lot of money on ut. I think it won’t take long for the comfy / trainer look to go out of fashion again.

Love the look but wouldn't be appropriate in my office, well, when I used to work in an office.

I also hate ballet flats.

I'd go with a chunky flat sandal for the office.

I work in the NHS and you would absolutely be okay in that outfit. I would even see senior managers wearing that. Maybe not accounts or HR in a formal hearing. But for everyday, yes. You would definitely be absolutely fine.

How can a pair of clean, flat, lace up, comfortable shoes that are safe to walk in be ‘unprofessional’. You would look completely appropriate and smart., plus it’s a fresh, current look.

I don't think the NHS like their staff to wear sandals.

I stopped wearing heels a few years ago and bought a couple of pairs of ballet flats, reasonable padded ones (M&S and Gabor) but quickly realised they were as uncomfortable and bad for my feet/posture as heels were. I agree summer is a problem if you can't wear sandals for H&S reasons, I think that is why more and more are wearing trainers.

Inspired by this thread I have switched my wfh outfit from jeans to my wide leg trousers today

I bought a new m&s pair in early lockdown after a recommendation on here and had not worn them yet.

PleaseCaffienatme Ballet shoes are not terrible! Although older than you by quite a bit! I find Hotter /Clarks shoes comfortable and smart and both have more trendy styles .I have a bad ankle and also cant wear heels ,however some small heel (3/4 to an inch) may be slightly better for your feet .Lots of advice online!

@pleasecaffeinateme

My mind is blown by all the ballet flats hate. I've been wearing them for years, when I worked in an office and when out for dinner, anywhere nice etc cause I cannot walk in heels. I'm 33 and now feel like everyone has been looking at me like I've got the worst dress sense😫I don't really like brogues or loafers so I always default to ballet flats.

@pleasecaffeinateme don't worry, I hear ya! I'm in a ballet flat rut .

Can someone please direct me to some attractive brogues (I've never seen a pair that don't look like my dad's shoes)?

While you're at it, a loafer or any other work appropriate shoe that is not a sandal? I've clearly been doing life wrong. I did used to wear loafers, not sure why I stopped.

Ballet flats are pretty much the only shoes that DON'T cause me problems. I can't walk in heels and hard shoes always give me blisters on the back of my ankles as they seem to come up too high. I've always struggled with footwear and would rather live barefoot.

Loving all the horror at dated ballet flats but also horror at moccasins, which as I understand it are far more "now" than trainers.

Looks good to me.

OP, I must have worded my post badly - I wear black leather trainers with black opaque tights. Definitely not white trainers!