How to wear trainers to work while still looking professional
Nervous about wearing sneakers in the office? As reports, you shouldn’t be
When it comes to hair dryers, it’s obvious when you’ve got a dud on your hands.
Take those unwieldy white plastic things you find in hotel bathrooms that have one pitifully weak setting and leave your hair a frizzy mess.
Clearly, you need something a lot more powerful to deliver a decent DIY blow-dry, but beyond a certain price level, how can you tell whether it’s worth splashing your cash on a hightech tool?
Are premium hair dryers a sound investment or a load of hot air? We swapped our regular devices for two much-hyped new launches in a bid to find out... “For some time now, I’ve been looking to upgrade my run-ofthe-mill Tresemme hair dryer. While there’s no denying it’s served me well,
I’ve long fancied myself something a little more, well, fancy. A little more premium. Yet perhaps not quite as budget-busting as the £300 Dyson Supersonic.
“Enter the Alfa Italia Superleggero — a pro-salon alternative that comes up trumps at half the cost. Dubbed the brand’s ‘powerhouse’ edition, it’s not only driven by an impressive 2500w motor with multiple heat and speed settings; it also comes complete with a unique self-cleaning system, which automatically ejects hair and other unwanted bits of debris.
“Putting it to work, I can confirm its carefully crafted handle makes for a more comfortable hold than my last one — plus, the super lightweight build means it’s that easy enough to manoeuvre into position as needed.
“Just be careful not to burn your scalp if you’re testing out the highest setting, as it really does get hot. You have been warned.
“As for its effectiveness, it goes without saying its drying time is far quicker than that of my usual dryer and, more importantly, it drastically reduced my frizz and flyaways to give a smooth salon-style finish. So much so, in fact, that for the first time in ages, I didn’t need to reach for my straighteners. And less heat to my long-suffering tresses is always a plus in my book.
“But one of my all-time favourite features — and it deserves a mention here — has to be the Superleggero’s uber-polite approach to noise. Leading a quiet revolution, this all-rounder (unlike many of its raucous counterparts) has developed a silencer to reduce motor noise, meaning a much gentler start to the day for all. Win, win.” “I must admit I was sceptical about expensive hair dryers — how many ways are there to blow out hot air? The new Panasonic promises so much too — quick drying, reduced hair damage and split ends, improved shine and no static.
“Apparently, it’s all down to nano-sized ‘mineral ions’ — small water particles directed back into your hair as it dries — and ‘intelligent temperature control’, which calculates the surrounding temperature and adjusts itself when necessary.
“My usual hair dryer is basic, old and it’s always felt as if I’m doing damage to my hair every time I use it. This hightech one looks far more stylish on my dresser, and for all its technical-sounding capabilities, it’s really easy to use.
“With five temperature modes and three power levels, you can tailor the level to whatever suits your hair type, but even the hottest setting wasn’t too hot and I was still able to dry mine more quickly than usual.
“The instructions say to change to the variable setting when hair is 90% dry, so I do (it switches between hot and cooler air every few seconds), and not only is it much more pleasant to use in the summer, but the changing temperature seems to give the top layer of my hair extra shine.
“There’s also a 50C ‘scalp’ mode which feels far more comfortable on my roots, a cold mode for a quick ‘setting’ blast at the end and a ‘skin’ mode for a moisture blast on your face afterwards.
“The overall effect is that my hair doesn’t feel dried out. It looks far sleeker, straight but still with plenty of body, more conditioned and nourished and with less flyaways. My partner said I looked like I’d just stepped out of the salon and I almost feel like it too.
“Over time, lots of users report an improvement in split ends, so only time will tell, but I can safely say my old hair dryer is going straight in the bin to be replaced by this brilliant high-tech beauty.”
Long gone are the days when trainers were strictly only for the gym. Nowadays, sneakers are everywhere and the fashion crowd have swapped their stilettos for Nikes. Trainers might have the high-fashion seal of approval, but many people are still nervous about wearing comfy kicks in the office.
Sneakers don’t exactly have a reputation for being smart or formal — first and foremost they’re designed to run and jump about in, which doesn’t really scream ‘office wear’.
However, this interpretation of trainers is shifting, and with it comes so many more options and styles to buy.
So-called ‘fashion trainers’ are even making their way onto the red carpet — just look at Serena Williams at this year’s Met Gala, who paired her Versace Gown with bright yellow Nike x Off White Air Force 1 sneakers.
Office dress codes have been steadily loosening up, and unless you’re working in a strict corporate environment, few of us are expected to wear formal suits every day.
This doesn’t necessarily mean you can wear anything you like to work, but it has opened up opportunities, particularly for women, who are no longer tied to mandatory high heels.
So, what should you think about when considering trainers for wearing to work?
You’re still in an office and want your shoes to match this level of professionalism.
The last thing you want is to look like you forgot to bring proper shoes to swap into after your commute.
The best place to start is to play around with materials.
Trainers made out of canvas or knit are less likely to look formal, so if you’re new to sneakers in the office, your best bet is to start out with leather or suedelook sneakers.
Stick to block colours, like whites or blacks, to keep your outfit looking crisp.
A good example of this is the Duchess of Sussex in Sydney last year — a pair of classic Veja white trainers made her outfit look relaxed but still polished.
Veja is a cult sneaker brand specialising in vegan shoes, but it’s definitely on the pricier end of things, with a standard pair coming in at £115.
Statement colours like metallic trainers in gold or silver are also an excellent choice.
They make it clear you’ve made a fashion choice and aren’t just wearing any old pair of gym shoes. These look particularly good when worn with a slouchy suit or slacks — basically the definition of ‘smart-casual’.
Whatever you choose, it’s important to keep your shoes looking clean and fresh. Bright white laces can make the world of difference, so if yours are looking a bit worse for wear, take them out of your shoes and either soak them in soapy water or put them in the washing machine.
Don’t be tempted to put your shoes in the machine as well, because that can potentially damage them. Instead, sponge off any marks with lukewarm soapy water, not hot water, which can also damage your kicks. If you can, dry your shoes with a microfibre cloth to best protect the material.
If you’re feeling particularly dedicated to your shoes, you can invest in cult product Crep Protect Spray (left), £9.99, to keep them pristine for as long as possible.
Every workplace is different and everyone’s style varies, so these are just some guidelines to help you figure out exactly what’s best for you.