Including the shoes I’m swapping my white sneakers for.
There are some styles so quintessentially spring—including pastels, florals, and billowing silhouettes—that there will never be a time they’re not in. They’re those tried-and-true trends we return to year after year because they always look good and never feel too dated. And, while many of us reach for one or maybe two at once, Jennifer Garner just decided to wear them all. It’s a bit chaotic, but TBH, it works.
When the actress was spotted out in Los Angeles, she wore an empire-waist dress with a floral design and loose skirt that—even in a still picture—showed serious movement. It was such a classic look that if you Googled “spring dress,” you’d probably find something identical to hers. Over the dress, she layered a soft, robin egg blue cardigan with subtly puffed-up short sleeves, grounding the look with matching blue sneakers—the latter of which I immediately wanted for my wardrobe.
Puma Palermo Sneaker
Buy on Nordstrom $90
New Balance Classic Sneaker
Buy on Zappos $90
Streamlined, low-profile white sneakers have been the “it” shoe for years now; if there’s one style that will define this decade, it’s those Adidas Sambas. But, after yet another season of that same trending shoe, it’s starting to feel like footwear is getting a little predictable. Fortunately, stars like Garner are bucking from the norm, reminding me that, while I don’t have to ditch the classic style altogether, I can add something a little less basic to my rotation.
Colorful sneakers are one of the easiest, most effective ways to make an otherwise simple outfit a little more exciting. Emily Ratajkowski proved this when wearing bright red Pumas with a neutral ‘fit, and I’ve found that when I pair my tangerine-colored New Balances with something as basic as jeans and a white tee, I get more compliments than normal. What I hadn’t considered doing, however, was matching those vibrant sneakers to something else in the look for a monochromatic moment—but Garner has convinced me to do just that.
Her blue-on-blue was subtle but made the outfit feel complete, and it’s a trick I’ve seen more and more celebrities leaning into. Jennifer Lawrence paired yellow vans with a matching purse and buttery tank while Gigi Hadid wore cherry-red sneakers with a matching cardigan. It’s not in-your-face monochromatic, but it does make outfits—yes, even ones finished with sneakers—look more polished.
Colorful sneakers are the not-so-basic footwear trend that will be everywhere this summer, whether they’re complementing a bold piece or adding excitement to a simple outfit. Shop more styles inspired by Garner’s look, below.
Get the Look:
Vans Authentic Sneaker
Shop now: $55; zappos.com
Adidas SL 72 RS Sneaker
Shop now: $100; nordstrom.com
Dolce Vita Notice Sneaker
Shop now: $135; zappos.com
Cariuma Oca Low Sneaker
Shop now: $85; cariuma.com
Gola Tornado Sneaker
Shop now: $100; anthropologie.com
Vince Oasis Sneaker
Shop now: $250; nordstrom.com
Alohas Tb.490 Rife Sneaker
Shop now: $180; revolve.com
Zodiac Sansa Sneaker
Shop now: $56 (Originally $79); zappos.com