How to Wear a Dress and Sneakers

When other people describe my style, they use words like "casual" and "relaxed" — I am from California, after all. But just because I like to keep things simple, it doesn't mean that I don't have an eye for fashion trends — I mean, it is my job. That being said, there's one trend I've been obsessing over all Summer long: the unexpected combination of a dress and sneakers. I know I'm not alone in craving a way to style my Summer dresses that doesn't require teetering around in painful heels, but this look is about more than just comfort. Really, it's about bending the rules of what is "okay" to pair together, and that's what makes it so fun.

While some say sneakers are too boyish to pair with feminine dress designs, sporty shoes actually offer the perfect balance. To prove it, I took one of my all-time favorite sneaker styles, the Adidas Stan Smith, and paired it with five of this season's chicest dresses – spoiler alert, it totally worked! So, whether you're headed out on a first date, or just need some fresh office-wear inspiration, this is the Summer style hack worth giving a try. Read on for a step-by-step style guide to making this unexpectedly cool combo work for five totally different occasions.