The Joy of White Trainers
From left to right: Zara Ivory Platform (last season) / M&S White Leather / Veja Esplar Leather Trainers
Of all the wardrobe essentials, white trainers are my number one ‘must have’ item!
White trainers are simply brilliant because:
they are comfortable
they go with everything (skirts, trousers, jeans and dresses)
they give your existing wardrobe a new lease of life
they make any outfit look effortlessly stylish
they make you look super cool
Join the white trainer gang and find your perfect pair. Here are my top 6 choices (see links in text) of the white trainers currently available on the ‘online’ high street; with tips, style hacks and ways to wear!
Basic
In a very nice faux leather with subtle rose gold trims, these pumps from Next make a great starter pair. They come up half a size to a size too big; however they do half sizes and have a wide fit option, so hopefully there is a pair for everyone.
They have a similar last (shoe mould) to a converse - so if that’s your thing, you’ll love these! However if you prefer something with a deeper sole, try H&M’s canvas platform pair (pictured below). This is a great summer option but I find they come up a tad small! Again they do come in half sizes.
A lot of platform style trainers, extend their chunkiness into the shoe itself; resulting in a less flattering look with a less comfortable, inflexible feel. The aim is to find a streamlined shoe, with simply a deeper sole.
Top Tips:
Tie trainers an eyelet down with the laces in a criss cross pattern - this lengthens and slims the leg. Avoid a high thick tongue that hides your ankle, or your leg will look shorter and wider.
Turn up a jean with a tiny or deep cuff (depending on the style of jean) to reveal the ankle (slimmest part of leg) to balance the frame and style up your look!
Similarly, if wearing a high top, turn up your jeans or crop your trouser to show the top of your shoe and a little bare skin - thus highlighting the ankle and slimming/lengthening the leg.
Boot-cut and wide leg: wear your trousers/jeans long over your trainer, revealing just the toe cap.
H&M Canvas Platform Trainer
Leather
Once comfortable with the whole concept, graduate onto leather. Leather gives comfort, water resistance and breathability (your feet wont smell - especially in summer with bare feet)!
The Duchess of Cambridge, has been photographed re-wearing her go-to pair of white leather Superga since she was first spotted in a pair in 2016. The Italian brand’s sneakers are flatteringly low cut (best without socks) - making them my top, light weight, summer choice. Many brands that don’t produce their own trainers, stock Superga as their essential white flat shoe. You can get Superga here at Sosandar.
For an all year round leather pair, with more warmth and support; I really like these from M&S, a bargain at £45. They come up half a size big - but all M&S shoes come up big. Anyone know why they do that? I get that with clothes, it can be flattering and therefore help sales - but shoes?!
Top Tips:
Take out and wash the laces to give your trainers an instant re-fresh. Wipe down the rest of the shoe using kitchen cleaner.
For a more thorough clean: pop the whole shoe (laces removed and washed separately) in a pillow case into the washing machine. Go easy with leather; at least until you’ve had them a while (washing the laces and wiping down is best) and NEVER put them in a tumble dryer. Your shoes might survive but maybe not your dryer!
Coordinating contrasting heel backs with dress / Styling wide-legs long over platform trainers
Ecological
The French brand, VEJA uses organic cotton, amazonian rubber and well sourced leather; making them possibly the world’s most sustainable trainers. They are also beautifully designed; it is therefore no surprise, that they are the sneaker choice of many top celebs.
They are not cheap, but not crazy priced either: the lead in pair (shown below) are £89.99 available from Office here.
Top Tips:
Keep it simple in white or ivory with minimal trims and fuss and your pumps will go with all your outfit choices. A side stripe in a contrasting colour will give them a sporty vibe (which is fine if that’s always your thing) and prevent you from being able to wear them with a dressier outfit. Back heel trims in a contrast colour is a nice touch, especially if that colour features heavily in your wardrobe or matches your bag colour for example. Silver or gold are good trim colour options and can work as the all-over shoe colour (instead of white) if the design is simple.
A white trainer will draw one’s eye down to your feet and naturally back up to your face, thus lengthening and slimming the frame.
Try an all one colour outfit - say: navy jumper, jeans and coat with your white trainers to take this lengthening/slimming trick to the max.
VEJA Trainer - Styled with skirts & jeans
Top End
You’d have to pay upwards of £300 for a designer pair of white trainers, which given the price per wear (when you find the perfect ones) could work out just fine. Alternatively, most mid-market brands run a basic white leather trainer for around £100.
These Russell & Bromley ones, I think, do the perfect mid-way job and when paying a little more for a trainer, I want something that is a bit more special. These are platform, slip-on style and also come in a delightful soft gold. They do, rather annoyingly come up half a size big and don’t have half sizes. What is it with sizing these days???
Wear with those wide leg trousers that are on the long side and/or pieces you reserve for heels and/or evening attire. Not only will you get more wear out of those dressier pieces but you’ll also gain comfort, similar height and cool factor on those smarter occasions - this is when a silver or gold pair come into their own.
And then there are sports trainers, but that’s another ball game for another blog…
Top Tip:
A platform sole on the right shoe, won’t make your feet look bigger, but will make your ankle and legs appear slimmer and balance out curvier hips or a fuller middle. Add on the height advantage too - and you’re all set!
With new beginnings and warmer days ahead, spring is the ideal time to purchase an outfit changing, wardrobe enhancing, spanking new pair of white trainers.
If you want to know which trainers are right for you, your lifestyle and your shape - get in touch here