Here is everything you need to know about how to wear high top Converse to help you get the most of this wardrobe staple.
The appeal of a pair of Converse high tops is their ability to complement almost any outfit: the style traverses the gym scenester, the smart/casual blazer guy and even the classic lad.
Here are some suggestions on how to style Converse high tops and some of the best outfit ideas for you to wear for those days when you’re having a minor fashion dilemma and need some inspiration.
How to Wear High Top Converse?
So how to style high top Converse? As inspiration, consider the following outfit suggestions.
With Shorts
On first reading, high top sneakers and shorts worn together sounds like territory into which no fully grown man should travel. Unbelievably, the combination functions—and functions dang well.
In fact, when everyone else is staying safe in the sun, switching out your worn-out plimsolls for a pair of brand-new Converse high tops is a good way to stand out.
Work with the rule of opposites when pairing these northward-creeping sneakers with shorts: if your shorts are dark, choose light Converse, and vice versa.
Then, instead of wearing a plain tee up top, choose a top with a bold stripe to dispel any nagging suspicions that you are on vacation.
Read More: Are Converse Business Casual?
With Cropped Chinos
Chinos and Converse high tops have much in common: everyone’s had a crack at wearing them or at least thought about it.
But if you’ve developed a strong mental association between chinos and middle-aged mediocrity, a pair of All-Stars is exactly what you need to deflect accusations of uninspired dressing.
With Raw Selvedge Jeans
Chucks aren’t exactly work boots, but they have the feel of a pair that you could wear with just about anything. With raw selvedge jeans, considered by ardent enthusiasts to be the holy grail of denim, they go particularly well together thanks to their utility.
It’s difficult to understand why so many men are still devoted to their skin-tight black skinnies and minimal white sneakers when these tough leg coverers are paired with Converse high tops.
The straightforward masculinity of raw denim is the ideal complement to the classic canvas shoes’ slim profile.
With Tailoring
It’s hard to believe that wearing sneakers with tailored clothing was a fashion sin just ten years ago. At this point, we can say with some certainty that more than 90% of men have worn low-top sneakers with formal attire.
So Converse high tops offer a less well-trodden spin on the suit and sneaks look (and you don’t have to look like During your visit, watch Doctor Who.
In the summer, a stone, beige, or grey suit will look best paired with a dark pair. A navy, charcoal, black, or green suit will work with white or cream high tops. To properly complete the look, try tonally coordinating your torso with your feet.
With Light Wash Jeans
Due to Marty McFly’s incredible skateboard trick in Back to the Future, this outfit was recognized in the menswear hall of fame. Although the gilet and checked shirt haven’t held up as well over the years, the combination of light wash jeans and Converse high tops still looks great today.
Wear a white tee tucked into your jeans to riff on those eighties vibes, but try layering a loose worker jacket to bring the look bang up to date.
With White Denim
The most volatile item of menswear is a pair of white jeans. If you make them skinny and wear tasselled loafers with them, you’ll look like a European playboy without the yacht.
Introduce a pair of high-top Converse and adopt a relaxed cut, and all of a sudden you’re one of those Instagram-famous menswear types.
With Sportswear
There’s no denying that we’re in the height of the sportswear craze, which means that tracksuits and sneakers have replaced suits and dress shoes as the standard menswear outfit.
Although bright sneakers and joggers may look good in a street style photo, high tops are a safer option if you’re not an impossibly swaggy sportswear kid.
For more Converse outfit ideas, read our post on How to Style Converse.
When to Wear High Top Converse Shoes?
When is it a great time to wear high-top Converse shoes? Thankfully, you have many choices.
They function well in the spring, summer, and fall, and they aren’t too bad in the winter unless it is below freezing and there is a lot of ice present.
You can even wear high-top Converse shoes at the gym because their structure is perfect for lifting heavy weights.
Related Post: Are Converse Comfortable?
Fashion Tips to Avoid With High-Top Converse Shoes
The main thing you should remember when styling your high-top Converse shoes is that they’re not meant for formal occasions.
As a result, they shouldn’t wear attire that you would save for an elegant dinner or a business meeting.
Summary: How to Wear High Top Converse
With their ability to complement almost any outfit, Converse high tops offer style that journeys from the smart-casual blazer to the sporty, urban lad.
They’re much simpler to style than more flashy pairs, they typically last longer than other sneakers, and they’re so inexpensive that you can always buy another pair even if you do damage them irreparably.
Being retro and modern, Converse high tops are a timeless, affordable pair of trainers.
Also Read: How to Lace Converse?
FAQs
Do Converse High Tops Go With Everything?
Jeans, skirts, even prom or wedding gowns, they go with just about anything.
Should You Wear Converse High Tops With Or Without Socks?
You should never make the mistake of wearing Converse sneakers (or any shoe) without socks.
Are High Top Converse Still in Style?
The answer is a resounding yes! All the qualities you could want in a pair of shoes are present in these timeless, practical, and stylish shoes.
