White sneakers are a wardrobe essential for men. Their unmatched versatility is why I always recommend them as one of the first men's capsule wardrobe pieces, and this article is meant to showcase their interchangeability further.
When it comes to white sneakers, there are countless options available. My recommendation for the best budget pair of white sneakers still goes to the New Republic Kurt sneaker. However, another great option at around $100 is the Adidas Stan Smiths.
If you've been bitten by the "style bug" and are willing to drop extra cash on a pair of high-quality leather sneakers for a reasonable asking price, look no further than the Oliver Cabell Low 1 sneaker. These are easily on par with the iconic Common Projects Achilles, which frequently sell at over $400.
Adidas Stan Smiths (Left) & Oliver Cabell Low 1 (Right)
LOOK #1: BUTTON-DOWN SHIRT & JEANS OR CHINOS
Adidas Stan Smiths
In addition to recommending white sneakers for a starter capsule wardrobe, I always recommend a clean white oxford cotton button-down (OCBD) shirt, dark wash jeans, and khaki chinos. As you can see, simply swapping the pants can change the vibe while all else remains the same. Throw on a classic pair of sunglasses, and you're in business for the Spring or early Summer.
LOOK #2: BLACK POLO SHIRT WITH JEANS OR CHINOS
Similar to an OCBD shirt, a neutral-colored polo, such as black or navy blue, is a timeless casual piece for Spring and Summer. Pair it with khaki chinos or classic blue jeans—it's up to you.
LOOK#3: BUTTON-DOWN SHIRT, SWEATER & JEANS OR CHINOS
Oliver Cabell Low 1 (Left) Adidas Stan Smiths (Right)
Throwing on a gray crewneck sweater over top of the white OCBD shirt is a great way to smarten up the look. This is also a great example of a smart casual outfit with a sporty edge due to the inclusion of white sneakers; after all, these are "technically" sports shoes. This look is a textbook way to create clean, visually pleasing outfits using neutral colors.
LOOK #4: NAVY BOMBER JACKET & CHINOS
White goes extremely well with shades of gray, navy blue, and a little black. The ever-classic lightweight bomber jacket is perfect for Springtime and is easily reliable for dates, casual outings with friends, or even running errands.
LOOK #5: DENIM JACKET WITH DARK-WASH JEANS
New Republic Kurt (Left) Adidas Stan Smiths (Right)
Black or dark indigo-washed jeans and a different shade of denim jacket are great for pairing with clean white sneakers. Just remember to opt for differing shades of denim so as not to get too close to "Canadian Tuxedo" territory... unless that's what you're going for.
LOOK #6: DENIM JACKET, BUTTON-DOWN SHIRT & CHINOS
This is a classic and timeless look for a denim jacket. A masterclass in neutral pairings, blue, white, and khaki, will seldom ever fail you.
LOOK #7: NAVY BLAZER, SWEATER & CHINOS
Due to their inherent sportiness and casual nature, white sneakers pair well with a classic navy blazer if you're including additional casual pieces. Here, I have chosen a clean white dress collar polo, navy blue wool v-neck sweater, and light gray chinos. Again, gray and blue look great together.
LOOK #8: NAVY BLAZER, HOODIE & JEANS
This is about as casual as I would ever go with a navy blazer. Again, sticking with the same neutral color scheme as the previous look, I have swapped out the light gray chinos for a classic pair of blue jeans and replaced the wool sweater and polo with a basic white t-shirt and gray hoodie. This is a great way to dress up a street-style look if you're into that sort of thing.
LOOK #9: SPORT COAT, SWEATER & CHINOS
The sport coat goes well with a pair of white sneakers in much the same way as a navy blazer. Given that there are more types of sport coats in terms of pattern, fabric, etc., the sport coat can afford more options. Just remember that a blazer and sport coat are not the same...
LOOK #10: RAIN JACKET, POLO SHIRT & CHINOS
I love blue and green. These are analogous colors, meaning they sit next to each other on the color wheel and pair well with other neutrals, such as tan, khaki, or white. Here is a great look that will shield you from the rain and wind while allowing you to remain dapper for the day ahead. Sage green chinos and a navy blue pique polo shirt are a perfect analogous combination that complements the tan jacket and white sneakers.
LOOK #11: BROWN LEATHER JACKET & CHINOS
Leather jackets and leather sneakers go together like Steven Spielberg and John Williams (they just work). Not every leather jacket is created equal, but a classic brown variant like the one above is a safe bet. Paired with neutral chinos and a textured shirt or sweater, you have the perfect date night ensemble for the Spring or Fall.
LOOK #12: CHARCOAL TOPCOAT, CHUNKY SWEATER & BLUE JEANS
Black is painfully generic. If you opt for a dark topcoat, use charcoal or navy blue. They will afford more options in the long run, trust me. Here, I have a charcoal topcoat with a chunky beige turtleneck sweater. The blue jeans are exceedingly casual and pair well with the white sneakers due to that fact.
This look is somewhere between street style and smart casual. What makes everything come together is color and texture. Often, when those are in line, the only additional requirement is that your clothes fit you properly; as you can see, that isn't a problem here.
LOOK #13: DARK NAVY SUIT & WHITE T-SHIRT
White sneakers and a suit are seldom easy to pull off. Only do this if you have a premium pair of white leather sneakers, utterly devoid of additional accented colors and no apparent branding. This means that the Adidas Stan Smiths are off the table, given their more plastic-like look and contrasting colorway (often green) on the heel.
Suit trousers must be tapered, which means they must be tailored to you. Very rarely are they already like this off the rack. As far as the length is concerned, only wear leather sneakers with a suit if the length of your trousers is at a slight break or no break.
If I ever wear white sneakers and a suit, I opt for a navy blue or dark navy sharkskin suit with a white dress shirt (no tie) or a clean white crewneck t-shirt (as featured above). Proceed with caution if you are looking to adopt this style!
THE "GO-TO" EVERYDAY FOOTWEAR
White sneakers have the potential to be your "go-to" everyday shoes. Hopefully, after reading this article, you can see just how many options are available to you. Honestly, I could quickly come up with over one hundred outfits that all include a pair of white sneakers, and so can you. Get with the times and buy yourself a pair if you have not done so already.
