Sneakers with business or business casual attire is a notoriously difficult look to pull off. People have made fun of the (real) British Prime Minister and (the fictional) Kendall Roy for trying out the look.
Fear not, though: with the right shoes and the right attitude, you can look really good wearing sneakers with some slacks, a shirt, and a blazer. In this article on the six best business casual sneakers for men, we’re going to get to the bottom of how to successfully mix street and business fashion.
A good first step is to moderate both sides of the equation: you don’t want to choose shoes that are too street, nor do you want to try to pair them with clothes that are too formal. If you manage to construct a fit that’s business casual from head to toe, then you’re doing it right.
Let’s jump right into looking at some sneakers that can work.
Key Takeaways
I’ve been wearing sneakers when going places that require business casual for a very long time, which has helped me figure out some best practices through lots of trial and error.
And I’ve put all that experience into creating this list of the 6 best business casual sneakers for men, choosing pairs that I own personally and a few new releases that I can’t wait to own.
Overall, I’ve chosen the Myrqvist Oaxen Navy Suede. The sneaker’s incredibly simple design looks great with lots of different types of outfits—including business casual, of course—while the suede material lends them a touch of class.
I’ve also included a few very different options, such as the street-style CLOSED High-Top Sneakers and the sleek black leather CLAE Deane Raw Edge. With the amount of diverse options we have in store for you, I’m sure you’ll be able to find a pair that you’re excited to wear to your next business casual occasion.
In This Article
Best Overall: Myrqvist Oaxen Navy Suede
Why they’re great: The pairing of the simple profile of the Myrqvist Oaxen Navy Suede with its high-quality materials elevates it to the top of our list of the best men’s business casual sneakers.
The navy edition of these sneakers is especially versatile for pairing with business casual clothes, meaning that you’ll never have trouble putting together an outfit to wear them with.
Who are they for? These are truly a pair of sneakers that can work for just about anyone.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: The fact that suede is so delicate and sensitive to water means that you might not want to wear these sneakers in all conditions. But if you’re buying them primarily to wear with business casual attire, that won’t be a huge issue.
Material: 100% Suede | Sole Material: 100% Rubber | Sizes Available: U.S. 6.5 – U.S. 12.5 | Colors available: 4
Best Everyday: CLAE Deane Black Leather Raw Edge
Why they’re great: These sweet-looking black leather sneakers from
Who are they for? Those of you who want a pair of business casual trainers but also want something to wear more generally should really think about the
Flaws but not deal-breakers: I can see some people not liking the raw leather finish at the edges of all the panels that make up the shoe, but it’s kinda my favorite part of the shoes. I still say they’re some of the best business casual sneakers for men.
Material: 100% Leather | Sole Material: 100% Rubber | Sizes Available: U.S. 4 – U.S. 12 | Colors available: 3
Best Street Style: Closed High-Top Sneakers
Why they’re great: Now, we’re going to go a bit radical with the Closed High-Top Sneakers. These all-white, B-ball court-ready high-tops will look really great with a pair of chinos or some gray or brown slacks.
Who are they for? These are some of the best business casual sneakers for men. They are the choice if you really want to stand out while wearing sneakers with your business casual kit.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: These may be the most casual pick on the list, given their classic sneaker shape. But dress them up with a suit or even just a blazer, and they’ll have you looking like you own a sports team.
Material: 100% Cowhide | Sole Material: 100% Thermoplastic polyurethane | Sizes Available: EU40–46 | Colors available: 3
Best Luxury: Aurélien Chocolate Shearling Bayside Sneaker
Why they’re great: These excellent sneakers from Aurélien are a great way to combine street shoes with business casual attire while looking even more high-class than you would with a pair of traditional dress shoes. You can wear these chocolate brown sneakers with any outfit that you’d wear a pair of brown leather dress shoes with.
Who are they for? These are a pair of shoes for people who aren’t satisfied by anything except for the very best.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: The version of the sneakers I’ve recommended might be a little bit dark for some people’s taste, but there are luckily a number of other color schemes available.
Material: 100% Suede | Sole Material: 100% Rubber | Sizes Available: U.S. 6 – U.S. 12 | Colors available: 6
Best Budget: VILOCY Men’s Casual Breathable Sneaker
Why they’re great: I really like the approach that VILOCY took with these sneakers, using a knit mesh top that gives them an athletic look while still working with business casual outfits. The breathable mesh will also keep you feeling fresh when you’re wearing them, even during the heat of the summer.
Who are they for? If you’re looking to mix the athleisure look with business casual sneakers, then these shoes are a great way to get started.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Not all the colors that these shoes come in are appropriate for wearing with business casual clothes. But there are lots of options that will work.
Material: 100% Mesh + Foam Rubber | Sole Material: 100% Foam Rubber | Sizes Available: U.S. 7 – U.S. 14 | Colors available: 10
Best on Amazon: Steve Madden Men’s Fenta Fashion Sneaker
Why they’re great: The Steve Madden Men’s Fenta Fashion Sneakers are some of the best business casual sneakers for men. They’re a great find at this price and on Amazon. The same cut of shoes can be ordered in a variety of different materials, giving you the chance to find the exact sneaker you’re looking for.
Who are they for? If you’re looking to make an easy purchase without worrying about sizing charts or shipping details, then these shoes are a great option for you.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Some people aren’t a fan of the leather patch on the back of the shoes, but it’s not a detail that would get on my nerves.
Material: Various | Sole Material: 100% Rubber | Sizes Available: U.S. 7 – U.S. 17 | Colors available: 8
Buying Considerations for the Best Business Casual Sneakers For Men
Material
Although it’s possible to wear sneakers made from any material in a business casual setting, I usually advise people to stick with similar materials that formal shoes are made from.
In my opinion, the best business casual sneakers for men feature materials that help keep everything looking smart and consistent rather than clashing. As a result, the list we’ve just gone over is really heavy on sneakers made from leather and suede.
Style
To continue with the advice I started this article with, it’s generally best to keep the style of your sneakers pretty conservative if you’re planning to wear them with business casual attire. Wearing a bright red pair of Jordans, for example, might seem like a very cool idea, but it’s a very difficult one to pull off.
I’m not saying it’s impossible, but going with a simpler shoe like the Myrqvist Oaxen Navy Suede will certainly make things go easier and raise a few fewer eyebrows. In terms of color, think black, white, brown, or navy.
Size
Whenever you’re buying shoes online, it’s crucial to follow a few general best practices that can help ensure that you find a pair of shoes that feel great on your feet.
Although knowing your shoe size is a necessary first step, it’s unfortunately the case that you’ll often have to size up or down a half-size (and sometimes even a full size) when buying sneakers from different brands.
The best course of action is checking out the sizing guide of whatever brand you’re buying from to ensure that you’re going to get the perfect fit for you.
How We Chose
We took a lot of care when putting together this list to ensure that we were not only including sneakers that can look great on somebody wearing business casual, but also featuring high-quality materials and craftsmanship.
I know how annoying it is to get a pair of sneakers you love only for them to fall apart after a few wears—so don’t worry, you’re safe from that outcome if you go with any of the options on our list of the best business casual sneakers for men.
We’ve also evaluated each of our picks on the same four crucial metrics we use in each and every one of our articles:
Brand Reputation: If a brand doesn’t have a great track record of producing great-quality sneakers, then it quite simply hasn’t made this list.
Customer Reviews: We consider online reviews to be an incredibly valuable resource for putting together lists like these since they let us know what real shoppers think of the products that we’re considering.
Price: We’re not a fan of high-price tags simply for the sake of high-price tags. All the products we feature have the value that’s necessary to justify their sticker price, whether they’re budget or luxury options.
Transparency: Last but not least, we always ensure that the brands we feature are open about crucial but boring details like where they get their materials from and the details of their return policies.
Why Trust Us?
One of the passions of the editorial team here at FashionBeans is mixing street and high fashion, and wearing sneakers with suits is definitely an example of that. And, although each of us has our own taste and preferences, we came together to make sure that we all approved of each pick on this list unanimously.
We each reviewed hundreds of different sneakers from dozens of different brands to find suitable options for that list. After that, we all got together on a Zoom call and, after lots of arguments and compromises, came up with the final list. It’s a rigorous process that gives us a lot of confidence in each of the products that made the cut.
Final Verdict
We decided to rate the Myrqvist Oaxen Navy Suede Sneakers as the best business casual sneakers for a few reasons. The combination of navy blue suede with an off-white rubber sole looks great and gives you a ton of options when it comes to pairing the sneaker with more formal attire.
There are also a few other color options you should check out on their site.
FAQ
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Yes, men can definitely wear sneakers with business casual outfits. Wearing sneakers with traditional business casual pants like slacks or chinos can look really great, especially if you have a pair of sneakers that look really sharp and upscale.
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Running sneakers are not business casual by nature (for that, you might want to look at derby shoes or other types of casual dress shoes). However, you can definitely make running sneakers into a business casual option if you’re clever about your styling.
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The most crucial step to making sneakers look business casual is choosing sneakers that will work with business casual attire. You should go for sneakers that aren’t too insanely designed or brightly colored, instead choosing options that are monochrome in colors that won’t clash with business casual clothes.
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Ryan Jamison