Yes, You Can Wear Trainers in Summer

Here are five outfits to prove it.

Jul 11, 2024

This post is in partnership with New Balance.

Ahh, summer. The season of sun, light nights spent in beer gardens, trips to the continent and… tricky outfit planning. Last week, I wrote about how a lot of us can get a bit panicky come summer, buying and wearing things we don’t actually like, purely because we think we should. I gave a rundown of my summer capsule wardrobe — a list of the items I wear all the time and turn to every time I question whether something is “me” — and on that list were trainers.

Trainers (or “sneakers” to my US audience) may not be the obvious summer footwear choice. They don’t exactly free the foot like a pair of sandals do, and you probably wouldn’t want to wear them on a beach day (unless you don’t mind spending the rest of summer trying to get the sand out). But day-to-day, they make an excellent shoe. Choose a pair you love and you’ll have comfort, style and a nice bit of colour to inject into an outfit.

I’ve just nabbed a couple of new pairs of New Balance trainers in the sale that are light (a must for summer), comfy (a must for my ageing feet) and colourful (a must for my mostly neutral wardrobe).

There’s currently up to 50% off in New Balance’s end-of-summer sale, including some of my long-time favourite trainers, RC30, 574 and 237. They don’t do sales very often, so now’s a good time to grab that pair you’ve had your eye on (or update your Pilates wardrobe with some new leggings).

Here are five summer looks with my new pairs. True to British summer form, there are a few long sleeves and long trousers in there that will also make a nice transition into autumn, as well as some (fingers crossed) heatwave-ready outfits.

Look 1

Wearing: Louisa Charlotte Oates coat, Something to Hold shift dress*, New Balance 574 trainers in Incense with poppy*

This is the kind of outfit I wear when the day shifts between warm and sunny, and grey and drizzly. The dress is a good classic, sleeveless shift, so it’s perfect for summer, while the coat is light enough that I don’t overheat when I’m wearing it. The colours tie in perfectly with the trainers and I love that the addition of poppy red brings another colour into the mix. Side note: these trainers are actually from the kids’ collection but they go up to a UK size 5.5 — I wear my usual size and they fit perfectly.

Look 2

Wearing: American Apparel sweatshirt (old. Similar here), Collagerie x With Nothing Underneath shorts (last season. In light blue stripe here and plain navy here), New Balance 574 trainers in Dolce with sea salt*

A jumper and shorts look will always be a staple for me (so much so that I included it in my summer capsule). I like the mix of long sleeves and a relatively loose fit on top, contrasted with the short shorts on the bottom. Plus, it’s the perfect combination for the days that could do with clothes that suit fluctuating temperatures. A pair of trainers is the finishing touch if you’ve had enough of sandals or you’re spending the day running various errands and racking up your step count and need something comfier on those feet. I love the muted yellow of these trainers — they add a touch of colour that doesn’t feel ‘too much’.

Look 3

Wearing: Something to Hold shirt*, Lines & Current necklace*, Margaret Howell trousers (second-hand), New Balance 574 trainers in Incense with poppy*

This is a staple day-to-day outfit for me, especially when I’m working. I’m a freelance writer and content marketing specialist by trade, so I don’t need to wear anything to suit a corporate environment, but I often like to wear something that puts me into ‘work mode’. The shirt is loose, comfy and oversized, and the trousers are tailored, which instantly makes me feel as though I’m going to be productive (even if it doesn’t always work out that way…). The trainers give the outfit a casual twist and are just the thing if I’m heading out to meet clients and need something that will (comfortably!) get me from A to B.

Look 4

Wearing: Uniqlo shirt, So Elly shorts*, New Balance 574 trainers in Incense with poppy*

This is quite possibly the most summery look of them all and one I hope to be wearing soon, if and when it eventually warms up. If not, I’ll be saving it for a trip to Italy I’ve got planned for next month. This look is inspired by

Erika Veurink

’s post from a few months ago. In it, she shared what people were wearing in Paris, including one barista’s outfit of basketball shorts and a jumper, which has had me hankering for a similar pair of shorts ever since. They’re comfy, they’re airy, they’re practical, they make an obvious pairing with trainers… what’s not to love? To stop this outfit from going too P.E kit, I’ve popped a loose short-sleeved shirt on top, adding an element of tailoring.

Look 5

Wearing: Reformation top, Anchovy pearl necklace via The Collaborative Store*, Source Unknown trousers, New Balance 574 trainers in Dolce with sea salt*

Readers of my big summer trouser edit may recognise these trousers. I bought them from Source Unknown in the sale and love the folded waistband detail (plus the fact they fit my 5’4” frame without any adjustments!). They’re loose and light so they’re great in summer when it’s warm but you still want a long trouser. I want the waistband detail to stand out, so I’ve paired it with a simple black sleeveless top, but I also want a summer-friendly detail, hence the yellow trainers.

Any items marked with * have been kindly gifted by brands. All thoughts, picks and reviews are my own.

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