How to wear white trainers

[lazylinguist]

This is probably a silly question . I'm 49 and not very fashion-conscious, but am trying to develop a bit of style! I've never embraced the trainers-with-non-sporty clothes look, but a lot of people whose outfits I like seem to be wearing white (leather?) trainers with even relatively smart clothes.

Sooo I know I'm clueless and well behind the curve, but ... am I a bit old to carry this look off?And if not, can anyone recommend some (preferably fairly inexpensive), not blingy, not sporty, white trainers? I'd ask dd, but I can't face the withering look!

Have a look at Lisa’s lust list on insta, she is not far off our age and has lots of inspiration for trainer smart casual looks.

I am over 60 and love to wear dresses . I want to try wearing them with trainers as I struggle to find shoes that fit. Could anybody recommend some wide fit white trainers please .

All I can add is that white trainers are for summer only which you can wear with absolutely anything

Is that look going to be in for next year? It's been so standard now for a few years, any trousers and any jeans online are paired with white trainers.

Trouser lengths and width are different this summer so personally, I think a runner boot will look better with shorter wider trousers.

So I wouldn't spend a fortune on a pair of white trainers now.

White trainers or any trainers really look amazing with everything, at any age. I wear vintage floral dresses with trainers in the summer and with tights in the winter, with socks or without socks, with wide leg jeans, 501s and black tailored trousers for work. There’s a lady I know in her 80s who wears trainers with everything and to everything and always looks incredible and chic. They are so comfortable that you’ll automatically look more relaxed and in turn very stylish.
Make sure the ones you buy are really comfy because that’s one of the main reasons for wearing them. Sadly a lot of them can be really uncomfortable, I for example can’t wear Superga’s because the soles are too hard.

The shops in my small town that I class as for middle aged mums were stuffed with these sort of trainers last summer, I see them as frumpy but am in my late 60s so what would I know? (Some of my teenage students wear similar but I see a wide range of footwear on show).

Make sure the ones you buy are really comfy because that’s one of the main reasons for wearing them.

Yes, I've just noticed that the reviews on the leather Asos ones say they aren't comfortable...

@sandgrown I have wide feet as well and find my Adidas shoes very comfortable. Clarks also have some really nice trainer styles and do wide fit in some of them.

[quote Zinnia]@sandgrown I have wide feet as well and find my Adidas shoes very comfortable. Clarks also have some really nice trainer styles and do wide fit in some of them.[/quote]
I find Adidas comfortable too but I go up half a size, it makes all the difference.

when I wear them I generally wear white Stan Smith's with the green trim.

Bit tricky now though with the mud and wet weather!

Depending on the vibe you're going for you could do Superga, Nike Internationalists or Air Force 1s. I think my next ones will be Internationalists. Veja is another brand (really not keen, everyone and their dog has them) - M&S did a good rip off of them.

I have to say I don't wear mine with everything but do wear them a lot with leggings and sweatshirts, jumpsuits and long denim skirt etc.

I’m 50 and go for comfort, and I find Nike Internationalist the best, I wear them almost every day, not in the winter rain though. I wear them with white trainer socks, so a bare ankle, bit cold in this weather.

I don’t think I’m too old for them at all. I wear them with jeans, skirts, dresses, joggers. I’ve had them for a couple of years now, they still look ok but I’ve just bought a second pair “for best”. Can’t imagine them going out of style for a few years, and even after that I’ll still wear them.

I had to sell my Internationalists, they're a bloody nightmare on wet pavements (and as I complained on these very boards a while back!) I was quite badly hurt slipping over in them just before lockdown 1. It amazes me Nike continue to sell them with those soles. I know they're "iconic" but surely they've been sued by now??

Sorry rant over. They do look cool though.

It’s a shame those ASOS ones arent comfy as they are really nice op.

I think being white they just freshen up any look. It’s about the only white shoes anyone wears and makes a lovely change for spring and summer from the usual black, navy, grey, brown that people wear.

Just buy some trainer whitener, keeps them looking like new.

I'm 59 and prided myself on cracking the white trainer look this summer. Like most trends, I arrived at it a couple of years late. The key is no-show socks - and to reveal a bit of ankle if you're wearing trousers (roll jeans that are too long). White trainers with dresses and bare legs are fab. I have a nice but slightly boring navy blue dress - mock-wrapover style, three-quarter length sleeves - and wearing it with white trainers lifts it to a new level (or so I tell myself).

I love Vejas (Esplar) and find them really comfortable, though I know not everyone does.

For those looking for wide-fit trainers, I have wide feet and my Vejas are fine.

I just bought these ones! . Plus some no-show socks to wear with them.

They are really nice, good choice!

I've been thinking of buying a pair for spring/summer. I can't decide between totally white, bog standard converse, or these Stan smiths with a little bit of colour?

I quite like these grey trousers for wearing with white trainers, and I've ordered the Lucy and Yak dungarees, so would like to be able to wear the trainers with those. Thinking the Stan Smiths will really push me into CBeebies presenter bracket worn with the dungarees though?

www.office.co.uk/view/product/office_catalog/2,20/2143115023040

www.office.co.uk/view/product/office_catalog/2,20/2452010867

lucyandyak.com/collections/umi-cotton-dungarees/products/organic-umi-cotton-dungarees-in-maroon-new-sizing

www.asos.com/asos-design/asos-design-zip-front-flare-trouser-in-grey-check/prd/21442883?colourwayid=60167326&SearchQuery=&cid=27108

I am probably committing some sort of crime, but I wear my white Stan Smiths with ankle grazing jeans and trousers and black knee-high socks at this time of year. (I wouldn’t wear them with dresses and tights.)

Today I wore them with black wide cropped cords from Cos, with a tucked in t-shirt from Topshop, and a fluffy Arket cardigan.

For pp looking for wide fit, my feet are small but very wide and I find both SS and Veja fine.

Those are lovely @lazylinguist.

I absolutely love Me and Em's trainers but the price is prohibitive.

www.meandem.com/leather-trainer-white-black-suede

www.cefinn.com/collections/new-arrivals Samantha Cameron usually shows her summer outfits with white trainers, it is an enduring look. The new arrivals section of the web site has plenty of styles modelled that are suitable for the over 20's worn this way.

Should have said that I have these, www.toa.st/uk/product/womens+footwear/fflam-fflan-ffnar/novesta+star+master+plimsolls.htm?clr=FFLAM_PaleBlueTransparent_sw in the khaki and pale blue colours, very comfortable,, not expensive and the pale blue ones look lovely with summer dresses.

How big are your feet? I'm a 3/small 4 and find shapes like Stan Smiths look too wide and stumpy on my feet with dresses. Ok with jeans, but not ideal. I do have very small ankles as well though which probably doesn't help. Air Force1s look ridiculous full stop.

For me, something that tapers towards the toes is much easier to wear with skirts, so something like Gazelles or some of the Gola shapes. Think 70s style trainers rather than 90s. Internationalists do work, but I agree with pp, can be lethal on wet pavements.