I’ve long been on the hunt for sneakers that work with “normal clothes.” I know a lot of people swear by Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars, but they’re a little too edgy for my classic style. I’ve tried the stylish New Balance sneakers (my favorite brand for running shoes) but for some reason they cut into my (bony) heels and never felt right. I wore Sperry sneakers when I was pregnant with Caroline (love the memory foam insoles) but I wanted something that was a little more stylish and a tad less preppy…if that makes sense. I finally learned about Superga Cotu sneakers after seeing them on Carly of Carly the Prepster and Mackenzie of Design Darling (both good Instagram follows if you like preppy/classic style) and I decided to give them a shot.
One Pair of Sneakers Styled 7 Different Ways
Turns out Superga is an Italian company that has been around for decades and their shoes were must-haves on my recent Ireland trip! (I’m normally a size 8 and got the 39s and they fit perfectly.) I seriously wore them every day except for one, I think. (These are the super cheap sneaker liners I wore with them and they were great and didn’t slip down! $6 for a pack of 3.)
Oh and these sneakers come in a number of different colors but I figured white was the most versatile. I sprayed them with scotchguard before wearing them and they held up well after getting lots of mileage in June. We braved a number of rain storms while in Ireland and they managed to not get too dirty. When I got home I washed them with oxyclean and our normal laundry detergent (with 2 towels so they wouldn’t clunk around in the washing machine) and then air dried in the sun with a bath cloth shoved in each of them to help keep the shape. It worked really well! They almost look brand new again. I could probably scrub with a magic eraser to get the rest of the marks off of them but I haven’t had a chance to try that yet.
Here are 7 different ways I styled my Superga Cotu sneakers. Which one is your favorite and would you wear any of these?
outfit details:
dress (Madison Mathews Juliette dress…give them a call if you want to purchase! I stuck with my normal size small) | sneakers | nylon and leather tote (always a classic, I’ve owned mine for nearly 8 years) | rain jacket (from a shop in Ireland that has US shipping for about $17…make sure you check sizing, I’m wearing a 10, here is a cute Amazon version too) | pearl earrings c/o Julie Vos | sunglasses (similar here, here and here)
outfit details:
high rise jeans (non-maternity, HIGHLY recommend these! These were held together with a hair tie for this trip, can’t fit into them anymore lol) | sneakers | nylon and leather tote | rain jacket (very old from J.Crew but here, here and here are cute options) | vinyasa scarf (8 years old but here is current version, it’s my g0-to travel accessory)
outfit details:
sneakers | nylon and leather tote | rain jacket (very old from J.Crew but here, here and here are cute options) | white jeans (non-maternity and old from Walmart but these and these are similar) | sweater blazer (old but here and here are current versions) | button down shirt (current version) | bandana (current version)
outfit details:
button front jumpsuit (old from Target but here, here, here and here are similar options) | rain jacket (from a shop in Ireland that has US shipping for about $17…make sure you check sizing, I’m wearing a 10, here is a cute Amazon version too) | pearl earrings c/o Julie Vos | sneakers | nylon and leather tote
outfit details:
yoga pants (LOVE these $25 Amazon leggings, I have 2 pairs!) | rain jacket (from a shop in Ireland that has US shipping for about $17…make sure you check sizing, I’m wearing a 10, here is a cute Amazon version too) | sneakers | nylon and leather tote
outfit details:
button down shirt (old, similar one I also have) | cardigan (under $14 and I love it!) | vinyasa scarf (8 years old but here is current version, it’s my g0-to travel accessory) | linen pants (under $15) | sneakers | nylon and leather tote
outfit details:
rain jacket (from a shop in Ireland that has US shipping for about $17…make sure you check sizing, I’m wearing a 10, here is a cute Amazon version too) | sneakers (I forgot to get a pic of the whole outfit but I promise I’m wearing them lol) | white jeans (non-maternity and old from Walmart but these and these are similar) | sweater blazer (old but here and here are current versions) | striped shirt (old from H&M but here and here are similar) | bandana (current version) | leather Apple Watch band ($12 and I love it!)
Such a cute post! I’ve also been wanting some cute sneakers for everyday wear and haven’t found any. I’ll have to give these a try!
Author
Thanks Kelsey! These shoes are so perfect and versatile, highly recommend them!
Ok favorite look here is the white on white (3rd photo I guess). All are super cute, I just love that monochromatic thing!
Author
Thanks Courtney! That was my look from day one and it’s a favorite of mine too! Love the monochromatic thing so much, especially with white!
Hi Katie,
I hope you don’t mind me asking this question but the other day you asked for blog ideas and the following came to mind. Your blog/social media has always geared a bit to doing things on budget and not spending/splurging nonstop – which has been so refreshing in an influencer world that is pretty much only promoting consumerism, and often not in the most honest way. But over the last few months as you try to grow your blog, it seems you are buying more and pushing purchases more and more. Which is totally fine, this isn’t a criticism at all – do what you want and what you have to do! But how do you handle it all from a budget perspective? Recently you posted about a bunch of Madison Mathews dresses, coats from Ireland, new H&M maternity stuff, Zara jumpsuit, Walmart finds, Lulu shorts and stuff for the kids. I’m certainly not asking about your finances or anything like that, and I know with the exception of the MM dresses these brand aren’t terribly expensive, but I would still be interested in how you manage to buy so much new stuff without breaking the bank. Because it does all add up. Hope that makes sense and thanks!
Author
Hi Kristin, here is a blog post I wrote on 12 ways we save money: http://stripesandwhimsy.com/2018/10/12-ways-we-save-money.html
Thanks Katie. I didn’t remember that post but I will certainly check it out. I’m sure there are good suggestions in there.
On all your other blog comments you seem so thankful for the comments/questions and this response is quite cold – as I said it wasn’t a criticism or anything like that and hope it didn’t come across that way. Just an honest question to your call for blog post ideas (not realizing you had done something similar). I’ve actually followed you for a long time (first introduction was the 2012 PRR where you were featured in the little magazine they do, I was so struck and touched by your story and perseverance and have been so happy to see such happiness in your life in the years since). And as a long-time follower it was just a question I had as you your blog evolves and I think many people would appreciate voices that do take budget (and if not budget, maybe need) into consideration. I really enjoy that you’re very real in so many life areas and was going off of that. Thanks again for the response.
Author
Hi Kristin, I’m sorry I came across as cold. As the mom of two little ones I have significantly less time to dedicate to blogging, yet I need it as a source of income more and more (since I no longer work full time and sharing things on the internet is my “job.”) I don’t run banner ads these days and don’t have much sponsored content so when I actually get the time to sit down and work on my blog I get the biggest bang for my buck when I share style type posts. I often share a discloser that I’m sharing because I get requests for style ideas and these kinds of posts, and that if you aren’t in a season where you can afford it I’m definitely not encouraging you to do so! In the post you commented on I reference my tote bag that I’ve owned for 7 or 8 years but share that it’s one of those pieces that will last you a long time. I try to be deliberate about what I choose to share because I think pieces with longevity are worth it. I rarely share something that’s crazy trendy, because I know that won’t hang around in a closet for long. (The raincoats were my only souvenir purchases on the trip, and at $35 a piece I think I’ll get much more use out of them than a knickknack or an “Ireland” shirt. Heck, we didn’t even bring our kids back a souvenir other than a $5 bus and a $10 tiny rag doll. I simply knew we didn’t need any more “stuff.”) I also link to items more often now because personal style is one thing I’m passionate about these days, since I don’t really have space to work on DIY furniture projects and we know this isn’t our forever home and we have no space to take on any more furniture, no matter how small or how cheap it was at a thrift store. I get asked for clothing sources all the time, which is why I’m more deliberate about actually linking items (or similar items). I have a very long list of non-money generating posts that I’d love to write, but when I sit down, knowing that I only have so much time before I’m needed by a 1 or 3 year old, I try to be as resourceful as possible so those posts get pushed to lower priority. I’ve always loved shopping, even when I was on active duty. I just share my finds more these days because we have Instagram Stories now. Sorry, I know I’m rambling. I just hope you understand that people’s circumstances and interests change, and right now personal style is the thing I enjoy writing about the most! I appreciate you reading for so long and hope you’ll stick with me! Oh and I have been thinking about money a lot more lately and am toying around with an idea of taking a whole month off from spending money on anything other than groceries that we absolutely need. Once I formulate more thoughts I’ll share on stories or on the blog.
Hi Katie! A few months ago you posted some adorable mules and I told you about the dupe at Target. Since then, I have loved the way you styled them! Anyway, Target just came out with the same style & fit but in leopard print. I had to share my excitement with you (and of course I snatched them up today)!
Author
Hi Kelsey, you’re so amazing! Thank you so much for sharing! I have a leopard pair of loafers that I bought at J.Crew back in DC in 2013 and they’re some of my favorite shoes ever. Can’t wait to check out these mules!