12 Ways to Style and Wear Basketball Shoes Casually

Style experts offer hot tips to rock your kicks off the court

Co-authored by Veronica Tharmalingam

Last Updated: March 23, 2023 References

You don’t have to be a star on the court to rock basketball shoes like an MVP. Basketball shoes are naturally cool and laid-back, so it's easy to incorporate them into any casual outfit. As with any other fashion accessory, pulling off basketball shoes in a casual setting is about familiarizing yourself with different options, staying true to your sense of style, and not being afraid to take chances.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Susan Kim
Professional Stylist
Expert Interview. 30 April 2019.} In this article, we'll show you how to do all 3 with expert style tips so you can rock your kicks any way you like. Let's take a look!

1

Turn heads with eye-catching colors or patterns.

Use your basketball shoes to make a bold statement. If you really want to turn heads, cop a vibrant pair that promises to hog the spotlight no matter what else you’re wearing.^{[2]
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Veronica Tharmalingam
Professional Stylist
Expert Interview. 6 April 2021.} Neon, reflective stripes, lifted heels, oversized tongues, animal patterns, faux fur—it’s all fair game. Fortunately, basketball shoes aren’t known for being subtle, so you have plenty of options to choose from.^{[3]
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- High-tops will draw even more notice than low-tops, since there’s more of them to look at.
- In addition to color, features like lace type, sole shape, accent details, and limited-edition artwork can make an already fresh pair of sneakers stand out even more.

2

Go understated with basic colors and designs.

Choose something simple if you want your shoes to go with anything. Simplifying your chosen shape and color palette is the best way to make your sneakers feel like an integrated part of your ensemble rather than the main attraction. Tones like black, white, gray, and navy blue go with just about everything. Red, tan, and army green are also easy shades to work into any number of outfits.^{[4]
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- Similarly, the fewer unnecessary details your shoes have, the greater number of other items they’ll harmonize with.
- Although they’re rarely thought of as basketball footwear anymore, Converse’s Chuck Taylor All-Stars are the quintessential no-frills hoop shoes. Their slim silhouette, modest construction, and almost unlimited number of colorways makes them endlessly versatile and effortless to pull off.^{[5]
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3

Channel a timeless sense of cool with a classic.

You can never go wrong with old school kicks. If you’re not sure whether you can pull off some of the wilder designs out there, play it safe and snag yourself a set of perennial favorites, like Air Force 1s or basically any entry in the Air Jordan line.^{[6]
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Research source} These shoes tend to have simpler silhouettes and fewer accents, allowing you to keep a low profile even as you elevate your shoe game to new heights.^{[7]
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- Reebok Questions, Converse Weapons, and Adidas KB8s are also worth mentioning as part of the “who’s who” of basketball shoes.
- As far as modern styles go, Nike Kyrie 5s, Converse All-Star Pro BBs, New Balance OMN1S, and Puma Clyde Hardwoods are examples of newer basketball shoes that have retained some of the simplicity and versatility of their retro ancestors.^{[8]
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4

Hunt for discounted models if you're on a budget.

You can find inexpensive choices if you look. If you’re looking to add some basketball shoes to your footwear collection but can’t afford the kind you want, search for a similar pair that’s a little closer to your price range while you save up. Selling clothing and accessories you no longer wear to consignment stores can also give you a little more money to put towards a big purchase.^{[9]
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- Basketball shoes are notoriously expensive, since the most sought-after models are usually pumped out by giant name-brand companies and designed in collaboration with celebrity athletes.
Tip: It also helps to know where to go to find a killer deal. Sites like eBay and RunRepeat, for instance, can be good places to track down secondhand sneakers that are still in decent shape, provided you don’t have a problem buying used.^{[10]
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5

Stay true to yourself and wear what you like.

Don't worry about how “in” your sneakers are if. Instead of fixating on what everyone else is sporting, spend some time browsing shoe stores, online retailers, and fashion blogs and simply see what catches your eye.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Susan Kim
Professional Stylist
Expert Interview. 30 April 2019.} Let your sensibilities dictate your style, not the other way around.^{[12]
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- Whether it’s the season’s hottest release or an old-school staple, finding a pair that looks good to you is just as important as finding a pair that looks good on you.

6

Wear slim-fitting pants to show off your shoes.

Bottoms that taper through the ankle will make your shoes more visible.^{[13]
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Veronica Tharmalingam
Professional Stylist
Expert Interview. 6 April 2021.} They’ll also help you avoid dreaded issues like bunching and draping, which are guaranteed to make you look sloppy no matter how clean your kicks are.^{[14]
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- Skinny jeans and fashion sneakers go together like peas and carrots.^{[15]
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  Susan Kim
  Professional Stylist
  Expert Interview. 30 April 2019.}
Tip: If skinny jeans aren’t your thing, opt for a standard slim-straight or tailored cut. One of these styles will create just the right profile without hugging too tightly.^{[16]
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7

Avoid pairing overly skinny bottoms with overly large sneakers.

Most basketball shoes are a bit on the bulky side. When worn with pants that are a tad too snug, their size can become even more pronounced. Unless you’re okay with this kind of chunky, bottom-heavy look, you’ll be better off choosing trousers that don’t create as much visual contrast.^{[17]
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- Feel free to go as tight as you want in the leg department if you’re modeling a pair with a slimmer silhouette, such as Jordans or Air Force 1s.^{[19]
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- Another exception to this guideline is wearing compression pants underneath a pair of shorts, which can actually contribute nicely to a sporty aesthetic.

8

Choose a denim wash that complements the color of your kicks.

Go for a color contrast to make your shoes pop. Whereas the right jeans will lock down that laid back athleisure vibe you’re going for, the wrong ones can totally sabotage your outfit. As a general rule, contrast is your friend. That means that if your shoes are lighter in color, your jeans should be darker, and vice-versa.^{[20]
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- Denim on either end of the brightness spectrum will typically help brightly-colored shoes pop. Putting medium washes with neutral midtones like pale blue or slate gray, on the other hand, may cause both colors to run together.
- When in doubt, remember your complementary colors—blues go with reds and oranges, purples go with yellow and greens, and so on.^{[21]
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9

Wear joggers if you want to highlight every detail of your shoes.

Joggers have elastic cuffs at the bottom. The cuffs cinch the material on the lower leg close to your ankles. The result is a clean, trim fit, with no annoying fabric to conceal your prized footwear.^{[22]
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- Joggers come in a wide range of cuts, styles, materials, making it easy to find a pair for almost any occasion.

10

Cuff or roll straight-leg pants.

You can show off your shoes even if you don't favor slim-fitting styles. This is a good compromise if you want to rep your favorite display pieces proudly but don’t want to have to update your wardrobe to do so. Just grab that fringe of fabric encircling your ankle, fold it up a couple of times, and prepare to be showered with compliments.^{[23]
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Veronica Tharmalingam
Professional Stylist
Expert Interview. 6 April 2021.} For best results, make sure the resulting cuff starts no higher than about 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the top part of your shoes.^{[24]
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- Try not to get too carried away, or you could end up looking like you’re expecting a flood.

11

Make loud kicks the centerpiece of your outfit.

Consider muting your main wardrobe if your shoes are extravagant. That way, all the glory will belong to your treads. Fancy patterns, elaborate detail work, or overabundant branding elements could put you at risk of going from techy to tacky.^{[25]
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- To avoid clashing, make it a point not to display too much of the same color or pattern on both your shoes and clothes. This goes double if your uppers and lowers are almost the same shade, but not quite.
- If what’s on your legs is too flashy, it may distract from what’s on your feet.

12

Slip into some shorts for an easy outfit.

Shorts are a great go-to if pants don't work with your sneakers. Sometimes, you just can’t find a shoes-pants combo that works, despite how many you try out. When this happens, you may have no choice but to ditch longer bottoms altogether in favor of shorts. Not only will this solve the dilemma instantly, it will also likely make your outfit look a little more natural, since this is how most people are used to seeing basketball shoes worn on the court.^{[26]
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- Shorts also present you with a wider range of options in terms of fit and color, since they don’t run directly into your shoes the way pants do.
- The only downside of making your shoes shorts-exclusive is that you’ll only be able to break them out when the weather is warm, or when you’re actually playing basketball.

Expert Q&A

Question

Can I wear basketball shoes with jeans?

Veronica Tharmalingam
Professional Stylist
Veronica Tharmalingam is a Personal Stylist who runs her fashion consulting business, SOS Fashion, in Los Angeles, California and Paris, France. She has over 10 years of experience crafting stylish wardrobes for men and women. Veronica is also a professional model and has worked with international brands like Harrods, LVMH, and L'Oreal.

Veronica Tharmalingam

Professional Stylist

Expert Answer

Yes, basketball shoes look great with a nice pair of slim fit or skinny jeans. Avoid pants that have flared legs though since they won't show off your shoes as well.
Question

What kind of sneakers work best with jeans?

Susan Kim
Professional Stylist
Susan Kim is the owner of Sum+Style Co., a Seattle-based personal styling company focused on innovative and approachable fashion. She has over 5 years of experience in the fashion industry, and received her AA from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.

Susan Kim

Professional Stylist

Expert Answer

There are so many different types of sneakers, so it really depends what kind of brand and look you’re going for. I would recommend pairing a rounded toe slip on sneaker with skinny jeans for a comfortable and chic look.