If I had to use one word to describe my personal style during the spring season, it would be – practical. I'm swapping clunky boots for gorpcore trainers and wearing tops in technical fabrics instead of wool or cashmere.
With longer days and weather (hopefully) turning a corner for the better, there are way more opportunities to spend active time outdoors – and your outfits should definitely reflect this. But this doesn't mean we should all be running around dressed like gym bunnies. Take these mild months as an opportunity to show the functional side of those pieces you save only for special occasions. Introducing my favourite spring combo – the fanciest dress you have in your wardrobe, worn with a pair of practical trainers.
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Although this is hardly a new style territory, this spring is turning up the volume on the element of contrast, combining pieces you might consider impractical with styles that will make anything feel appropriate for your day-to-day activities. Think about a silk slip skirt and a plain white t-shirt, or a pair of balloon jeans and a dainty heeled sandal. These work exactly because of the contrast between the two pieces, and the same could be said for the trainer and dress combo. Dakota Johnson, Lila Moss and Mia Goth are all fans of this unexpected pairing, proving that a pretty dress can look just as easy as your favourite pair of jeans.
This styling trick is also a great way to reimagine some of your old dresses that don't really fit into your current personal style. And yes, I'd like you to reconsider even that bridesmaid dress you bought because your best friend said you have to. A pair of New Balance hybrid trainers might just be the perfect thing you need in your shoe cupboard to unlock a whole new wardrobe.
Although street style photos from the most recent shows show ample inspiration for this look, with an eclectic mix of colours, prints and fabrics, there's one designer who has perfected this look – and made it part of the broader fashion vocabulary.
Hailing from Copenhagen – also known as the capital of dresses worn with trainers – Cecilie Bahnsen is the queen of mixing frivolous, feminine pieces and gorpcore elements like backpacks, hiking boots and fully functional sportswear. Her latest show, for AW26, presented a whole new chapter of this pairing, with a collection that asked the question: what does a ballerina wear to climb Mount Everest? Lace-y midi dresses and voluminous minis came along with leg warmers tucked into ballet trainers and high-tops. This dichotomy played out beautifully, showing looks that can serve as great inspiration for spring looks, as you patiently await these exact pieces to launch in stores.
A fellow Scandi brand, Stockholm-based Rave Review is always a highlight of Copenhagen Fashion Week, and their SS26 collection was full of fun spring dresses made out of deadstock and vintage fabrics. The pieces played with volume and structure, as models walked in running shoes that brought a level of real-life dynamism to the pieces. Paired with some practical trainers, even your most out-there outfits can look totally ‘normal’.
To help with introducing this trend into your own wardrobe, I've curated nine pairs of practical trainers and accompanying spring dresses that will make you look like you stepped right off the streets of Copenhagen.
1. Onitsuka Tiger golf trainers
Also known as the ‘Kill Bill' trainers, the Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 has cemented its spot as an IT shoe over the past few years. This spring, though, the shoe has had a golf-inspired update. The fold-over tongue, a detail connected to both football and golf uniforms, is just the perfect amount of sporty that can help transform a floor-length spring dress into a daytime uniform.
The colourways of the new Mexico 66 Golf are wonderful, though my preference is the pink and black. Paired with a voluminous skirt, like this French Connection bubble-hem dress, the flat trainer acts as a counterbalance to the whimsy.
2. Salomon sock trainers
There's something about a pair of slip-on sock trainers that instantly signifies summer. Perhaps it's the fact that they look like water shoes? Either way, slip-ons are basically the comfiest hybrid between a trainer and a loafer. They will be a fab counterpoint to a mini skater dress, especially one with short or cap-sleeves with soft cheerleader vibes.
Although your instinct might be to wear slip-ons with just bare feet, we recommend pairing them with a fun sock in a matching colour to elevate the look into work-ready territory.
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3. New Balance suede skate trainers
With other silhouettes being brought to the forefront of fashion, the classic skate trainer is often forgotten about when we discuss the trendiest shoes of each season. But that's exactly why I love them – they're a trusty, reliable trainer that will work with most trousers, skirts and dresses.
So, how do we make them exciting for 2026? Pick fun colours, like this two-tone purple pair from New Balance. Complete the look with a pair of simple white socks and a voluminous mini dress in a rich fabric, like jacquard or taffeta. The contrast between the sturdy suede and the decadent dress will make this outfit work effortlessly.
4. Vans pony slip-ons
Sometimes, you spot a pair of shoes in the wild that you used to wear and think: wait, are these cool again? That's exactly what happened to me when I saw a chic girl walking down London's Broadway Market in a pair of classic Vans slip-ons. This skate silhouette has always been available in a bunch of different colours and prints, but for spring 2026, it's the choice of fabric that brings something unexpected.
One of their bestsellers is now available in a few different shades of textured pony hair, including hot pink, burgundy and – my absolute favourite – spotty cow print. The best way to take these into the new season is by pairing them with a breezy cotton shift dress reminiscent of vintage sleepwear. A weekend in the South of France is pending.
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5. Keen gingham hiking sandals
As a keen (yes, pun intended) collector of this brand, I can firmly confirm that a pair of Keen shoes will take you all across the world without a blister in sight. They're one of the best active footwear brands that will feel great on a hike and look chic on the city streets. This season, Keen's trainer sandals are reimagined with some playfulness – in classic black and white gingham.
Whether you choose to layer a white sock underneath (chilly spring evenings) or go barefoot (hot summer days), take the element of fun to the next level by pairing them with a midi gingham dress. The double print situation is guaranteed to make everyone smile.
6. Adidas Originals crochet Taekwondo ballet trainers
If you're still on the fence with gorpcore trainers – these are for you. The Adidas Originals Taekwondo ballet trainers are already quite a delicate shoe, pairing extremely well with relaxed jeans. But this off-white crochet version? Well, they're basically as elegant as a pair of two-tone Chanel ballet flats.
Slip them on under a midi A-line dress in a summery fabric like muslin cotton or linen, and the final look will easily take you to a posh luncheon, a picnic in the park or even a wedding where heels are optional.
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7. Merrell Mary Jane trainers
You've probably picked it up by now – this season's best gorpcore trainers are presented as hybrids between formal shoes and functional runners. Merrell, a footwear brand specialising in outdoor activities, is bringing out one of the chicest takes on this two-fold approach, in the form of their Relay Tour Mary Janes. Part bare climbing shoe, part Mary Jane flat, they'll make you want to whizz around the city without stopping.
For an unexpected spring pairing, wear a pair of black Merrell trainers with a printed halterneck maxi dress. A fun cross-body bag and a messy up-do will make this outfit sing.
8. New Balance hybrid trainers
Two unlikely friends come together in a look that's all about embracing the opposites. A chunky trainer reminiscent of robust hiking shoes is the perfect way to dress down a piece you only wear for special events.
This mini shift in a delicate, shiny fabric trimmed with a lace panel is one of those pieces that could make you feel overdressed, but with a pair of these New Balance hybrid trainers in complementary shades of green? It's totally appropriate for a spring day out. In case the temperatures seem testing, pair it with some knee-high socks or even layer a pair of straight grey jeans underneath.
9. Cecilie Bahnsen ballet trainers
Finishing off the list, it would be a shame not to pay homage to the designer who popularised the pairing for the street style girlies. Cecilie Bahnsen has built her brand on the popularity of the frilly signature dresses, and they're just as covetable today as they were when they first came out.
The soft pink shade and its cloud-like shape will look amazing against a pair of Bahnsen's olive green ‘sneakerinas’. Following a number of collabs with brands like H&M and Asics, the designer continues to prove that her ability to cut a flattering dress is paralleled by her skills in making a covetable shoe. Both are luxury investments that are totally worth it.
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