Her kicks were made to be seen.
I know what you’ve read online (and it probably came from me, too): White sneakers are the ‘It’ shoe to end all ‘It’ shoes. I firmly agree with this statement. The crisp kicks are like the bread-and-butter of a well-rounded footwear assortment. They’re easy and go with everything; you simply can’t go wrong. (See—just like butter.) However, I was recently prompted to push the limits with my sneakers, which is saying a lot since I’m a big white sneaker fan—but I guess that’s just the power of Reese Witherspoon.
The actress was photographed out in New York City in a low-key, super-chill look that’s a breeze to recreate—love it, Reese! She went with trusty medium-wash, straight-leg jeans that had frayed hems for a bit of pizzazz (the Witherspoon way, after all). She styled the denim with a simple white button-down, a black cardigan to beat the spring chill, and those eye-catching sneakers. No, they weren’t white. They were black and white.
Witherspoon is a sneaker pro—at least in my eyes. And that’s why whenever she wears a cool kick, I take note. Her black-and-white New Balance pair popped, not to mention perfectly coordinated with her black-and-white ‘fit. While all-white shoes are never going to go out of style, Witherspoon’s pair will inspire you to try something a bit more eye-catching when it comes to your kicks.
New Balance 327 Sneaker
Buy on Anthropologie $100
Vince Oasis Sneaker
Buy on Nordstrom $250
All-white sneakers are about as versatile as it gets—all-black styles are, too, which is precisely why black and white sneakers go with everything as well. While Witherspoon pretty much matched her pair to her black-and-white outfit (talk about coordination!), they would look just as cool with a yellow sundress, a pink silk midi skirt, and more. White sneakers are meant to subtly fade into the background of a look, but the stark, color-block pair stand out—and TBH, that’s why I love them.
Not to mention, black and white is probably my favorite color combination of all time. And if I, a die-hard white sneaker fan, am ready to trade my go-to, all-white pair for a black-and-white version, then you totally should, too. Because sneakers don’t always have to be subdued nor subtle—and I think Witherspoon’s look demonstrated this to a T.
Shop some of the best black-and-white sneakers on the internet below.
Get the Look:
Nike Cortez TXT Sneaker
Shop now: $90; nordstrom.com
Cariuma Uba Pro Sneaker
Shop now: $129; cariuma.com
Anne Klein Restless Wedge Sneaker
Shop now: $89; nordstrom.com
Cariuma Vallely Sneaker
Shop now: $149; cariuma.com
Sam Edelman Layla Sneaker
Shop now: $100; nordstrom.com