Sorry, Flip-Flops and Ballet Flats—I Think Summer Dresses Will Always Look Best With This Shoe
Dresses and trainers have become known as a "boring" combo, but I'm determined to change that. From elegant maxis to cute minis, these six outfit ideas prove these two are meant to be together.
If there's one thing the warm weather calls for, it’s a summer dress. Whether you gravitate towards a soft shirred maxi or a silky mini, the right piece will carry you through the season. But once you have your dress locked in, knowing what shoes to wear with it is usually the next big question. Everyone has their tried-and-true footwear rotation (think buttery soft leather sandals for the classicists, or ruched loafers for the polished). Almost anything goes when it comes to dresses, but the shoe I've seen them paired with less often now is trainers.
A few years ago, trainers and dresses were regularly worn together. A fail-safe pairing, it's not only incredibly low effort but also easy to style, and can be mixed and matched for a range of different occasions. Heading to a festival? A breezy dress will keep you cool whilst the trainers are more forgiving as you navigate the treacherous fields. Travelling abroad? They’ll make light of those pesky cobbled steps.
But in more recent years, it's fallen out of favour slightly. Whilst fashion folk may seem to have moved on to jelly shoes and ballet flats, there are a few certain celebrity It-girls that have been wearing them lately, reminding me just how good this duo can be. From Kaia Gerber to Anne Hathaway, celebs are styling an array of different dress and trainer styles together, so you should too! Here, I've saved 5 outfits I think will work just as well this summer as they will next. Enjoy!
5 Dress and Trainer Outfits to Recreate in Summer 2026:
1. Maxi Dress + Sporty Jacket + Trainers
Style Notes: Dresses don't always have to feel pretty and "feminine". A real cool-girl take on this ultimate pairing is a maxi dress and a sports jacket to make it feel a little more casual. Finished with a slick-back bun and silver trainers, Millie's outfit [pictured above] is a combination I'll be replicating this weekend.
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DISSH make some of this season's best summer dresses.
The denim feels so much closer to a jacket.
These have been some of this seasons hottest trainers.
2. Polka Dot Dress + Trainers + Shoulder Bag
Style Notes: Polka dots have been trending since last summer, especially in the form of cute tops, jackets and knee-length skirts. The polka dot dress is a much more classic take on this print trend, and styled with a classic pair of white trainers, this is a wearable, functional summer look that doesn't require much fuss.
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The lace trim elevates this dress.
Perfect for the shorter girls amongst us.
Reformations bag selection is some of the best.
3. Pleated Dress + Baker Boy Hat + Trainers
Style Notes: Is there anyone cooler than Emili Sindlev? Here she shows us how to make this combo feel less dated and more fashion forward. Pairing her sporty off-white dress with silver sneakers and a camo baker boy hat, it's an ensemble that the best dressed Gen Z would be happy to replicate.
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Such a dreamy summer dress.
Onitsuka Tiger just keep getting better and better.
Y2K, eat your heart out.
4. Check Dress + Wax Jacket + Satin Trainers
Style Notes: What I love about Rebecca's style [above] is how she isn't afraid to wear prints. This check dress and jacket with burgundy hues pair beautifully with these soft pink satin trainers. By now we all know and love the Miu Miu satin trainers, but if your budget doesn't stretch that far, there are plenty of affordable versions on the market that feel like a hybrid between a ballet flat and a trainer, in short, the sneakerina.
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You'll wear this on repeat come autumn.
Such a statement piece.
The OGs are still in stock, but I've equally fallen for these from Marks and Spencer.
5. Mini Tank Dress + Technical Trainers + Cool Accessories
Style Notes: Sometimes, especially in the heatwave, less is more. The perfect summer dress—a tank style like Ruby's pictured here—might be minimal, but your accessorising doesn't have to be. What you lack in layers, you can make up for in the finishing touches. Resin bangles, slim shades and a crossbody bag that will fit in all your festival needs are all you need to elevate this low-key dress + sports shoe.
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Skims dresses are great foundational pieces.
Silver trainers aren't going anywhere soon.
Stack 'em high.
