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.

People don't seem to get that just because they wouldn't do something, it doesn't actually mean it was inappropriate.

Large, largely private client driven, non legal aid, non criminal, law firm.

This sounds pretty much like my go to work attire, absolutely normal in my industry. Love those trainers!

I think it's absolutely fine. I see it everywhere, with both long wide trousers that break over the shoes and slim cropped and think it looks great with both.

I'm a reformed city lawyer, but was at a city law event recently and I'd say about a third of the women had some variation on that look.

RobertaTheRotund · Today 07:16
@LynetteScavo I have seen quite a few chunky platforms and block heels (thank fuck no stilettos. If they ever come back, I'm not wearing them {bangs gavel})

Yes, about six months ago when loads on here were proclaiming heels were dead I made the observation that high fashion houses and Matches and Net a Porter were showing lots of heels, chunky platforms, etc., and they would trickle down. And I'm definitely seeing them on the street more now. We were out for the evening in East London recently and I noted several women (younger and cooler than me) wearing loose trousers, rolled up, with chunky heeled sandals in pastel colours, some with gladiator-style laces. It actually looked fresh and super cool.

The bad news, though, is I'm now noting some stilettos and kitten heels on Matches and Net a Porter...

Great shoes!

They don’t look at all suitable for the gym, in my opinion.

I see this type of pairing all the time - on very senior women. I work in finance - female board members and senior execs would occasionally wear trainers and trousers. Not always and not all of them - but it isn’t unusual.

trainers are absolutely fine in the charity sector for most occasions (although when I have meetings with important funders I don't wear them).

I went to an early evening event in a City bank last summer - a lot of the women were wearing trainers (especially the more senior ones). I agree with a pp - trainers are better than the flouncy floral dresses a lot of people wear. (I don't do the white trainer/floral dress combo ever though).

I think trainers are ok in most sectors now - I think court shoes and pencil skirts look much more inappropriate these days.

I am coveting some kitten heels, I must admit.

Yes quite. This is what irks me about these threads. Posters make sweeping statements about trainers (or jeans or whatever) being acceptable in every workplace, or that charities are all very informal, and that's obviously just not true.

For what it's worth (nothing 🤣) I like the aesthetic. Just can't wear it to work.

I was at a business event last week- a presentation by surveyors working in my specialist sector. All the men were in suits and many wearing ties, women in dresses, or trousers and jackets. I didn't check everyone's footwear (I'm not actually mad despite evidence to contrary) but I'd put money on no one wearing trainers. Trainers would have stuck out a mile. The 2 assistants with me weren't.

OP will know her own sector and what's acceptable.

I love kitten heels.

I think France wears comfy footwear don't they? Could be in super smart suit but trainers too.

But I agree. Trainers are definitely not acceptable in some workplaces, such as mine.

Probably not at the forefront of acceptable ‘business fashions’ then. The quarrel of lawyers I work with still by-and-large favour pinstripe, Oxfords and the long-dead court shoe.

I love kitten heels.

’nuff said.

I'm fascinated by the fact that people think the NB trainers are 'gym trainers'. They're ubiquitous here in London at the moment, it seems like every second person is wearing them (I'm too stingy so I've got the M&S dupes) but I cannot imagine that anyone would wear them to the gym.

I've never even heard of NB trainers until this thread 🤷 or various others mentioned throughout. I'm not a massive fan of trainers, I think they make feet look clunky and kind of, childish I think? I can't put my finger on it but yeh, not a fan.

New Balance 327 are the current ‘it’ trainer, not really a gym shoe. The outfit sounds great to me.

I think they look better and are much more practical than the very high heels that some women seem to think are appropriate for business meetings.

I think that, if you're a charity that's leaking funding, and if some lawyers, however archaic their dress sense, invite you to a breakfast meeting because they're thinking about throwing some money (or other support) your way in order to comply with their corporate social responsibility policy, and if you also know they're fixing up a similar meeting with your closest 'partners', aka rivals, then I'm afraid you dance to their tune.

I'm not saying this is the op's situation, quite possibly not. But it happens.

They are probably on par with appropriate-ness to me.

I don't wear high heels as they throw my back out and I can't walk for days. I stick to flat shoes and boots, brogues, loafers.

I don't know why so many posters seem to think there's nothing between trainers and high heels. Have you never heard of brogues, loafers, pumps?

If you want to wear flats with a trouser suit, I think these all look great, ie Converse, brogues or Birkenstock clogs!