Formal Dress and Sneakers Outfit Ideas

When it comes to being stylish, who said you couldn’t be comfy? In recent years, the formal dress and sneakers outfit has become more popular than ever, and for good reason. It’s a cute pairing that helps you show off your elegant side but with a flare of added charm. Plus, there’s nothing more comfortable than swapping out high heels for a pair of snug sneakers.

That said, choosing a formal dress and sneakers outfit isn’t always easy. If you don’t nail the style, you’ll look unprofessional and less formal, so it’s a fine line you need to walk. Luckily, we’re here to help you do exactly that.

Read on to discover some of the ideal formal dress and sneaker outfits.

When Can You Wear a Formal Dress with Sneakers?

You can wear a formal dress with sneakers to almost any formal event. The only time you’ll want to avoid wearing sneakers with a dress is if it’s explicitly stated that you shouldn’t. Black tie events might also be a little too formal for sneakers.

We tend to prefer this pairing for nights of dancing with your friends, dining in a nice restaurant, or even at weddings. Before you decide to sport this outfit, take some time to evaluate the dress code to see if it’s appropriate.

5 Formal Dress and Sneaker Outfit Ideas

You can rock sneakers with a formal dress in a lot of ways, but you have to get creative. We cover some of the ideal formal dress and sneaker outfit ideas below.

We have a combination of options that are suitable for black tie events and even more subtle choices like a dress for cocktail hour.

Tulle Dress and High Great Sneakers

Tulle dresses are a quick and simple way to look elegant. You can wear them to dinner, formal events, and events where you plan on doing a lot of dancing. To make this outfit work, you’ll want to pair the dress with a fresh pair of white high-up sneakers – this will look the ideal.

Sequin Mini Dress and Flat Sneakers

The sequin mini dress is one of the ideal options when it comes to a formal dress and sneaker idea. What makes this combination fun is how simple and elegant it can be. For example, a black sequin dress with some silver sparkles will really pop when you pair it with white sneakers, which makes it perfect for formal events where you’ll be doing a lot of dancing.

Sequin Bodycon and High Great Sneakers

When you need to wear a formal dress, it doesn’t get much more formal than a sequin dress. We recommend going the bodycon route if you plan on pairing it with sneakers, and the sneakers should be high-up. If you want to make the outfit fun, pair something like a black sequin dress with white and red or white and blue sneakers.

Floral Print Mini Dress with Sneakers

When you’re going to an event that’s more like a cocktail hour or business casual, you can get away with floral print mini dresses. Pair a cute floral mini dress with white sneakers, like Vans, and you have yourself the perfect business casual outfit for a summer cocktail hour or networking event.

Long Floral Linen Dress and Sneakers

Have an event on the beach? Or do you need to dress formally for a wedding in the middle of August? If so, a long floral linen dress with flat sneakers can go a long way.

It helps if the dress is beige, white, or off-white, and the sneakers will look good with a bit of suede. Throw in some Adidas stripes and you have yourself a unique dress and sneaker combo that just works.

Embrace the Sneakers and a Formal Dress Today

There’s something uniquely elegant about pairing a formal dress with sneakers. While it was something that was frowned upon in the past, sneakers and formal dress outfits continue to be popular, and who doesn’t want a little added comfort?

That said, this is an outfit you need to wear properly, or else you’ll get into some trouble and you won’t look good, so it’s important to pair the right sneakers with the right dresses. While this can be challenging, Sherri Hill makes it easy to find formal dresses that pair perfectly with a pair of sneakers.

Plenty of options are available in a wide variety of styles, so you never have to miss out on new trends and styles.