Perfect Pairs

Get the Season’s Comfiest Casual Look with 10 Super Cool Sneakers and Their Perfect Handbag Pairs

A couple years ago, half the fashion industry simultaneously decided it wanted to wear flats. For those of us who still have functioning nerves in our feet and calves, this was a godsend: it’s wonderful to be able to be comfortable and feel like you’re presenting yourself well at the same time. This embrace of flats has gone far beyond a dainty ballet flat or trendy gladiator sandal, though–the industry finally got around to embracing sneakers, which have been a part of streetwear culture for decades. Hallelujah.

In those intervening years, I’ve become something of a sneakerhead. A sports injury from my youth and my professional involvement in the fashion industry made the opportunity to invest in some really cool, really comfortable shoes too tempting to pass up, and now I have so many they line one of the walls of my bedroom, in addition to filling my under-bed storage. (And that’s only the ones that aren’t precious enough to be stored in their original boxes.) The occasions on which I don’t wear sneakers are few and far between, and that means I’ve gotten pretty good at pairing them with every kind of clothing imaginable. Naturally, that facility has extended to bags.

I want all of you to be as comfortable and stylish this fall as possible, so if you’re still a little unsure how to incorporate sneakers into your wardrobe without feeling like you just came from the gym, check out some guidance below for a bevy of different aesthetics.

Chloé Drew Bag
$1,950 via Nordstrom
New Balance 620 Capsule Core Sneakers
$75 via Urban Outfitters

New Balance makes some of the best shades of gray in the sneaker game, and they’d all look great with this deep blue Chloé bag.

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Fendi DotCom Bag
$3,050 via Nordstrom
Nike Tennis Classic Ultra Sneakers
$150 via Net-a-Porter

A Fendi bag deserves a sneaker pairing that goes a little bit beyond solid colors, and the grey-and-white polka dots on this pair of Nikes coordinate well with the DotCom’s contrasting python strap.

fendi-dotcom-bag-nike-tennis-classic-ultra-sneakers

Givenchy Antigona
$2,280 via Net-a-Porter
Adidas Originals Superstar Sneakers
$80 via Net-a-Porter

This is the 22 Years Old And Instagram Famous starter pack, but the look works far beyond that aesthetic subset, too.

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Loewe Puzzle Bag
$2,850 via Net-a-Porter
Puma Fierce Shine Sneakers
$100 via Nordstrom

These sneakers look terrible in all the stock photos I found of them, but I’ve seen them on plenty of people in real life and they always look very cool and futuristic. The only way to do them justice is to pair them with a bag of the same forward-thinking caliber.

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Mansur Gavriel Lady Bag
$1,195 via Nordstrom
Nike Air Max Thea Ultra Premium Sneakers
$130 via Nike

Pink and burgundy is one of my favorite color combinations, and these two pieces together are cool-girl weekend perfection.

mansur-gavriel-lady-bag-nike-air-max-thea-ultra-premium-sneakers

Mark Cross Laura Bag
$1,895 via Net-a-Porter
Gucci Ace Sneakers
$695 via Gucci

A silver bag is a perfect foil for these over-the-top kicks: it’s a neutral color choice that still stands up to a statement shoe’s personality.

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Prada Bibliotheque Tote
$3,580 via Net-a-Porter
Alaïa Laser-Cut Sneakers
$950 via Net-a-Porter

If you want to go the high-end sneaker route, this crisp bag and shoe combo is about as fancy as it gets.

prada-bibliotheque-tote-alaia-laser-cut-sneakers

Prada Corsaire Bag
$2,440 via Net-a-Porter
Vans Sk8-Hi Slim Sneakers
$75 via Nordstrom

We’re not recommending you take a brand new Prada saddle bag to the skate park, but if you were going to, I bet this one could stand up to the task.

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The Row Bindle Knot Hobo
$1,190 via Neiman Marcus
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Leather Low Top Sneakers
$65 via Nike

The Olsen twins were a major influence in bringing back the Birkenstock, so we know they have a thing for classic, comfortable, relatively inexpensive footwear. We think they’d approve of this minimalist pairing in particular.

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Valentino Rockstud Mini Bag
$1,295 via Net-a-Porter
Common Projects Achilles Suede Sneakers
$410 via Net-a-Porter

If your personal style skews toward the femme, this combo would look lovely with a floaty little dress.

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