The trend toward utility certainly speaks to the fact that most of us have spent more time than ever at home wearing comfortable slippers, if any shoes at all. And it makes us wonder, when the time comes to get dressed up again, would we really reach for a pair of high heels?
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who was married in October in Miami, offered a case study in bridal-meets-casual. For her after party, she opted for a laid-back pair of untied sneakers instead of the traditional sky-high stilettos.
If you’re planning your own dressed-down celebration, here are five dress and sneaker duos to inspire your casually cool walk down the aisle.
The Minimalist Moment
Forget the frills of lace and sequins and take a cue from the clean lines of Khaite's designs. Vogue's Senior Fashion News Writer Emily Farra said it best in her review of Khaite's latest collection pictured above: “When we can’t predict tomorrow’s headlines, there’s a comfort in buying something you can see yourself wearing and loving 10 or 20 years from now.” Brandon Maxwell's classic dress also makes for a smart choice, especially when paired with Loewe's timeless trainers.
The Courthouse Classic
A touch of whimsy is a welcome twist to a civil ceremony. No one does playful comfort better than Batsheva: The brand’s founder, Batsheva Hay, understands exactly how women want to dress right now. “Be comfortable. Wear something not too expensive, but that feels elevated,” Hay told Vogue’s Fashion News and Emerging Platforms Editor Steff Yotka. Finish off the look with high-top sneakers for added cool-girl comfort.
The Garden Dream
Who needs a bouquet and pumps when you have a romantic floral dress and a kitten-heel-tennis-shoe hybrid? In Miu Miu’s latest collection, the unexpected pairing became a spunky alternative to formal footwear. Recreate the look with an embroidered mini by Ganni and a pair of patchwork Marni shoes-a favorite among Vogue editors
The Fashion Obsessed
Let Christopher John Rogers’s playful dresses inspire your wedding day look. “It’s about getting back to the way children see the world through very simple shapes,” the designer told Vogue’s Senior Fashion News Writer Janelle Okwodu earlier last month via Zoom. Play up the contrast with a sweet pair of black sneakers from Cecilie Bahnsen.
The Downtown Cool
Cecilie Bahnsen creates effortlessly chic dresses, too. "Her designs this season are indeed fanciful: dreamy wandering clothes for women gliding through the current limbo state of the world," Brooke Bobb explains in her review of Bahnsen’s latest presentation. Anchor a similar Khaite dress with classic Samba sneakers by Adidas for an instantly cool twist.
