Best for Commuting
Florsheim Heist Sneaker
Best for Commuting
Florsheim Heist Sneaker
Switching from mall-walkers on the train to wingtips once you get to the office is so 2019. As the name suggests, this dress shoe/sneaker hybrid style from Florsheim is made with commuting in mind. When the time comes to trek to the office again, you’ll be ready with these.
It’s the color and texture of the upper for the Heist Sneaker that does it for us. Rich grainy leather with layers of polish mirror a classic dress shoe perfectly. That masks the fact that the upper and sole are shaped a sneaker, and you feel like you’re wearing a sneaker when you have them on.
Size7-14MaterialLeather upper, textile lining, EVA midsole, rubber sole
Best Affordable Option
Bruno Marc Rivera Oxfords
Best Affordable Option
Bruno Marc Rivera Oxfords
Bruno Marc’s Rivera serves a “Monday morning on Wall Street” vibe as effortlessly as it does a get-your-freak-on Friday night justice. It can polish up a laidback hoodie fit, or make even the dressiest ensemble look casual—just not too casual. (Oh, and it’s a favorite on Amazon).
Light and flexible like a sneaker, thanks to the textile upper, these dress sneakers were a joy to wear through a long work day. Derby style construction means that you can rock them with a suit for higher end business casual attire. With five colors to choose from, you can match any suit collection.
Size6.5-13MaterialTextile/leather upper, rubber outsole
Best Oxford Sneaker
Cole Haan ZERØGRAND Wingtip Oxford
Best Oxford Sneaker
Cole Haan ZERØGRAND Wingtip Oxford
When you think of dress sneakers, the first clothing brand that comes to mind is probably Cole Haan. Their ZERØGRAND wingtip oxford is, admittedly, more dress shoes than sneakers, yet the footbed is still more comfortable than most sneakers out there.
As a pioneer in the field of blending sneaker and dress shoe construction, the ZERØGRAND line has undergone a lot of field testing. Out style editors have been wearing variations of this for years and Cole Haan seems to find ways to improve the dress sneaker with each new model. By incorporating bold brogue “punched hole” detailing, the upper provides a very sophisticated heritage dress shoe look.
Size6-16MaterialLeather upper, EVA midsole with rubber outsole
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Best Derby Sneaker
Wolf & Shepherd SwiftKnit™ Derby
Best Slip-On Dress Sneaker
Allen Edmonds Randolph Slip-On Sneaker
No sweat here. Just a slide-and-go M.O. to match your smart casual style. More than that, these loafer-y sneakers look sophisticated enough to be considered dress shoes, but that sneaker-inspired sole gives their real stature all away.
Finding a go-to sneaker that will elevate your daily look is a constant search for us. We definitely found one here. Loafers are already a wear-with-everything style, especially these days. Adding a sneaker sole just makes them more comfortable and allows them to blend in better with more causal outfits.
Size7-14MaterialLeather upper and lining/synthetic sole
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Best Leather Dress Sneaker
Koio Capri
Best Leather Dress Sneaker
Koio Capri
If you’re tired of cycling through your worn-out shoe year-after-year, it might be time to upgrade to an investment sneaker that will last a lifetime. Look no further than Koio. Their sneakers are made from full-grain nubuck leather, and even finished with hand-painted edges so there’s no break in the monochrome effect. This muted ecru color goes with anything and will never go out of style, but packs a more stylish punch than your standard black or white sneaker.
The Capri is probably our favorite sneaker to wear with a suit. This particular shade of gray compliments navy as well as black. You can’t knock the suede because it is on par with high end dress shoes. While the solid color design fills in the dress shoe role perfectly.
Size7-16MaterialItalian nubuck leather upper, 100% rubber sole
Best Wool Dress Sneaker
Allbirds Wool Pipers
Best White Dress Sneaker
Good Man Brand Edge Sneaker
Now 20% Off
Good Man Brand makes the ultimate white leather sneaker–they’re the epitome of refined casual. Plus, they’ve managed to not sacrifice an ounce of quality or craft, while maintaining a relatively friendly price point.
Size7-18MaterialLeather upper and lining/rubber sole
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What Are Dress Sneakers?
The best dress sneakers are generally defined by having a uniform color, minimal detail, and higher end materials. Colors are usually in the same range as dress shoes, meaning brown, black, blue, or gray. The lone exception is white, since solid white sneakers pass for dressy, especially leather varieties. Uppers are usually leather or suede, but there are some fabric options that pass for formal. Soles can be flat or athletic, as long as they are a solid color that is complementary to the upper. Meaning that a brown or tan dress sneaker can have a white sole, and a black or gray dress sneaker can have a black or gray sole.
Some dress sneakers feature leather uppers that are identical to standard dress shoes, like a long wing brogue or a cap toe. These shoes enter sneaker territory by changing up the sole to an athletic design and can sometimes have other sneaker-like details, such as a padded ankle. You can even have a fabric upper that is designed to look like a dress shoe, but feel and perform like a sneaker.
What to Consider in Dress Sneakers for Men?
Material: What makes up the upper and the outsole is what will make or break your footwear. Thankfully, for most dress sneakers—which often come in a quiet form of a minimalist upper over a flat sole—the upper is most likely leather or suede. Both are durable enough to last for years and require little maintenance after daily wear; and the outsole is often rubber which offers a sturdy grip and excellent traction for when you walk. Leather as an upper is also often waterproof to keep you warm and dry, while suede is great for hotter days. Moreover, some dress sneakers are made with knit uppers to be extra breathable for summer.
Versatility: We don’t mean that the best dress sneakers should be able to handle you running a lap or taking a hike in them, but more often than not, dress sneakers are versatile enough for daily wear such as running errands and commuting, as well as for formal occasions such as at work in the office, during cocktail parties or evening dinners, or at the bar. As such, leather sneakers are often failsafe as dress sneakers since they’re truly versatile enough for you to get the most out of them.
Occasion: When purchasing a pair of dress sneakers, keep in mind how you want to wear them. If you’re a commuter, definitely opt for the hybrid option. If you’re chucking all your dress shoes and plan to dress sneakers in suits, pay attention to the shape—you’ll want something slim that will fall in line with your pants. If you plan on being active, go for one that has a great amount of foot support, and be sure there’s perforation for breathability.
How to Wear Dress Sneakers
Don’t over-complicate it. Dress sneakers, at their core, are still dress shoes, only casual enough for non-formal occasions or non-dressy fits. I.e., they can easily be dressed up while giving a more relaxed vibe, or down while making you look more elevated.
For dressing up:
whatever outfits you wear with dress shoes, dress sneakers can easily blend in with them. Especially now, when the line between dressy and casual is more blurred than ever, even your most tailored suit ensemble can be grounded with a pair of dress sneakers. In fact, if your dress sneakers of choice are a pair of Oxford sneakers, you really won’t notice much difference from suiting up with Oxford dress shoes; however, with lace-up leather sneakers, you’ll definitely look more laid-back and casual in them, while still copping an overall elegant, formal flair.
For dressing down: again, whatever outfits you wear with regular sneakers, dress sneakers can go with them, except they’ll make your whole fit look smarter, shaper, and more elevated. That means, anything from t-shirts over joggers to hoodies over sweatpants to sweaters over jeans to just about your whole daily wardrobe rotation, can be anted up by dress sneakers. Albeit, you’ll be dressing down, the style of dress sneakers definitely provides an elegance and professional flair that you won’t find in other shoe styles.
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How Do I Wear Dress Sneakers to Work?
When it comes to office attire, you generally want to skew towards the formal side of the dress code. When choosing dress sneakers, this means sticking with solid colored flat-soled sneakers, preferably in leather or suede. These are good for offices with a more “modern business casual” vibe. In other words, if you are allowed to wear chinos and a sweater or dark jeans and an oxford shirt, then you can get away with flat soled dress sneakers.
You can also go with the athletic-soled dress shoe genre because those fit into the same business casual category. Choose these for more elevated dress codes where “dress shoes” are stipulated anywhere in formal writing. Essentially, if you have to wear a suit or at least a collared shirt and slacks, then these sneaker-ish dress shoes are the best choice.
As for styling, you want to put together outfits that work with dress shoes and then just sub in your dress sneakers. A helpful tactic is to always skew a little dressier when you are wearing sneakers. This will help counterbalance the formal tilt of the sneakers. For example, if you would normally wear an oxford shirt with slacks and dress shoes, wear a spread collar dress shirt when you go with dress sneakers. When in doubt, adding a casual blazer will always elevate your dress sneakers to office level.
How Do I Clean Dress Sneakers?
While most athletic sneakers and canvas sneakers can be cleaned in a washing machine, that is almost never the case for dress sneakers. A little elbow grease and some simple products will be required. Which method you use depends on what material your dress sneakers uppers are made of. As for the soles, since they are pretty much all made out of rubber, you can wipe them clean with a wet washcloth and a little dish detergent.
Leather: Leather dress sneakers are the easiest to clean because most dirt, dust, and stains will wipe off with a wet towel. An old toothbrush works well for getting into cracks and crevices. For pesky marks, use a simple dish detergent like Dawn on a wet washcloth.
Suede: If you own any suede shoes, jackets, or accessories, then it is worth investing in a suede brush. You can find them on Amazon and they work wonders. Any dirt, dust, smudge, or scuff will rub right off. However, if this does not work and your suede has a set in stain, you will have to take it to a professional cleaners.
Textile:
Any kind of textile upper can be cleaned with a wet towel and laundry detergent. Just wet the towel and dab a dime sized amount of detergent onto the towel, then scrub away. Use an old toothbrush to get into cracks and crevices. For set-in stains, you can use a stain treatment like Shout before cleaning.
Brad is a contributing style commerce editor. After a decade working for menswear brands including J.Crew and Ralph Lauren, Brad switched from selling fashion to writing about it. His words have appeared in Huckberry, Heddels, and The Manual.
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