DH saying black suit + sneakers is not smart enough

[GilmoreGirl84]

I went to a business breakfast wearing a black suit (jacket + trousers), paired with a burgundy shirt underneath and a pair of box fresh New Balance 327, white and burgundy. I had to travel by car and by train to get there and walk 20 minutes in the City, so I went for smart casual. DH is saying the sneakers look odd but I am pretty sure it is acceptable these days to wear them ironically under a suit? For reference, I work in the charity sector but it was a business event.

I’m in the north so maybe our trainer styles are different up here, but I think NB are gym trainers.
That said, suit and trainers isn’t a bad look. I expect your DH is a bit behind times and thinks it should be court shoes or brogues with a suit. I disagree with him.
I wore smart pants and adidas to work today.

This is what I was going to say.

I can imagine it looked quite stylish with the colour coordinating with your top, but they’re sporty/casual trainers so would never count as business attire. It works in a lot of workplaces, I wouldn’t wear them to an event or an “unknown” place as I think it’s better to err on the side of too smart than too casual.

If the dress code is casual enough that trainers are okay, then there is no need to be so formal as to wear a suit.
For me, trainers and suits just don't go - they are for dressing for completely different dress codes.
Only you know what sort of event it was and which it should have been.
but your dh is right in that a fornal suit and trainers don't belong together.

Trainers would look absolutely,y ridiculous with a business suit.

I think they are fine and work well. I am currently a fan of these sorts of trainers with smart trousers or smart brogues with cropped / rolled jeans and a blazer. Business clothes conventions are definitely more relaxed after those of us that had a couple of years working at home got used to working in our slippers. And agree - wrong material for gym / running.

Love this look I've 3 pairs of 327's and you can definitely wear them dressed up or down. Think they would look great with a suit.
I like them worn like this too...

To me that looks like she's just grabbed her trainers to quickly put the bins out. Those type of trainers just don't go with anything other than leggings/joggers to me.

I'd have gone with loafers or brogues. Not a fan of the ubiquitous big white trainers look.

Is there a reason you can't wear shoes ? I think wearing those with a suit makes it look like you forgot to pack shoes.

I wouldn't wear trainers to work. They are okay to travel in but I would change for work. However, people are often casual at work now so it might not look too out of place.

I personally find from the look you described with a suit and trainers sounds smart yet casual and you picked a good look! Its how I dress too as high heels and I don't get on 😂.

I don't understand why you didn't carry a pair of shoes with you to swap into.

I would want to be prepared once I'd read the room.

I work in a creative sector & your outfit is 100% standard in my world.

Sometimes I read replies on here to something fairly innocuous & realise I must live in a m world to many here.

I'm at the most senior level & I could & would wear similar to work / meetings etc

Me too. It’s like the 1980’s called around here sometimes. (And I remember a time when female accountants had to wear a skirt suit and high heels !!! )

There's a big difference between working an "all nighter" in your own office and attending a business event.

It's ok for someone to wear those shoes in the office, if not seeing clients, but I would be very displeased if one of my employees turned up at a day time business event, particularly if clients or potential clients were there, wearing them.

Same for me. The picture on the left in particular looks ridiculous.

Times have definitely changed. It was all pinstripe suits and stiletto heels when I started work. Power dressing I guess.

Nowadays I wear trainers to work but I do have a weird guilty feeling about it, even though everyone else is pretty casual. I feel like I'm at work in slippers or wellies or something I shouldn't really be wearing.

I love being able to wear comfy trainers to work though!

Box fresh trainers coordinated with a suite in the context you describe is fine. Dont give it a second thought OP your partner sounds like he's got dated taste

@Annasgirl it amuses me on one hand but it's also so deeply conservative even today in 2023.

I would be comically out of place in my world if I wore 99% of the recommendations offered in general on MN

Sometimes it makes me pause & be v happy I work in the area I work in & that I have total freedom to dress as I wish at all times.

I personally hate trainers with suits. I would presume that you had to walk a long way and had planned to change into smart shoes but had forgotten.

I don’t think there’s anything ironic about it, it’s just rather scruffy.

I'm 50 and I'd wear them. I'd wear them with a suit too.

@GilmoreGirl84 not gym trainers at all. I googled them and think they'd look great with a black trouser suit.

It depends on where you work. I'm a partner in a large, private client firm. Clients are starting to want face to face meetings again - some clients are casual, others aren't. I think it's a bit insulting to the clients not to dress smartly.

If I meet my own accountant or financial advisor I'd expect them to be in business wear and that doesn't mean trainers.

This is a common look- depends on the suit cut as well, I think it's fine these days, anyone in a suit and smart shoes will look out of place, not you.

Thankfully the times when the only option for work was 3 inch heels has gone. Rock the trainer look❤

It does seem to depend where you work although I personally would like to see my bank manager / solicitor/ accountant move with the times & be less conservative. Seeing people in suits or heels or other 'business wear' does not affect my opinion of their ability provide the service I need.