If your vibe is laid-back, contemporary, and classy, the sporty chic look is for you. But what does sporty chic mean, exactly? The street style mixes a sophisticated, urban aesthetic with casual, wear-anywhere elements. On paper, you might think this is a recipe for clashing, but when you throw on a sporty chic outfit, you’ll see why the trend works so well.

If you’re someone who loves the sporty look but wants to appear a bit more polished, this effortless fashion trend has your name written all over it. At Vionic, we’re here to help you fine-tune your wardrobe so that you always look and feel good from head to toe. Read on for a breakdown on how to rock a sporty chic look, including outfit ideas and women’s casual sneakers along with tips for making the style entirely yours.

4 Staple Sporty Chic Outfit Ideas

At its core, sporty chic fashion is all about prioritizing comfort while making a statement. It’s perfectly mod and conveniently casual yet never sloppy. You might say sporty chic is the best of both worlds.

Likewise, Vionic’s footwear collections feature on-trend designs and timeless styles with Vio-Motion Support technology hidden within every pair of sneakers. In other words, our shoes are endlessly supportive and comfy yet also super stylish, just like the sporty chic look.

Believe it or not, you can pull off this style with different combinations of many of the items you already have in your closet. Check out these five sporty chic outfit ideas for some inspiration.

1. Classy Athleisure

What is athleisure? The athleisure trend—which involves wearing athletic wear as everyday clothes—is as popular as ever and doesn’t appear to be fading out any time soon. For many, sporty chic means classy athleisure. So, whether you’re wearing track pants, running tights, yoga pants, leggings, a compression tank, or other performance pieces, it’s easy to turn a sporty outfit into a sporty chic outfit. And don’t worry—you don’t have to be athletic or have a membership at a yoga studio to pull it off.

To nail this look, start with a couple athletic pieces and build on your ensemble from there. For athleisure, black and white is a great color scheme, as it adds to a polished, put-together vibe. For example, you could opt for a pair of black leggings with a white tank or long-sleeve shirt.

A black denim or leather jacket and some casual shoes will instantly transform this outfit from workout gear to streetwear. For shoes, we recommend slip-on sneakers in crisp white, solid black, or animal print. Animal print shoes can be a great way to add a stylish touch to casual athleisure apparel.

2. Dressed Up Jeans

Jeans are truly timeless, and also one of the most seasonless clothing items we can think of. They’re perfectly casual, flattering, and undoubtedly sporty chic. The type of jeans you wear is a personal choice. Whether it’s high-waisted, ripped, bootleg, straight, cropped, mom jeans, or skinny jeans, you know what style looks best on your frame. In terms of wash, super-light faded jeans, medium washes, and dark-wash denim all work for this look, but we’re also partial to white and black denim.

For your top, consider a basic t-shirt, vintage graphic tee, fitted tank, crop top, or a bodysuit. To ensure your outfit is just as chic as it is sporty, try to stick to two or three colors. In terms of outerwear, we recommend a quilted black leather coat or a satin bomber jacket, both of which are elegant and cool. A cute baseball cap and a pair of casual low-top lace-ups, slip-ons, or high-top bootie sneakers will complete the look.

3. Chic in Shorts

One of our favorite sporty chic outfit ideas is a pair of shorts. For this look, you can wear almost any type of shorts. This includes denim, linen, high-waisted, chino, or pleated shorts. Another athleisure-leaning option is biker shorts, which became more popular after being featured by multiple designers during New York Fashion Week (NYFW).

The right top for this outfit depends on the shorts you wear. Whether you go for a crop top, graphic tee, long-sleeve fitted shirt, button-down, or a simple tank top, remember that sporty chic style is all about balance. To make your ensemble appear curated yet effortless, stick with a color palette and combine various casual and classy pieces. For footwear, sneakers are a no-brainer. High-tops or slip-ons are both excellent picks. Throw on an oversized sweatshirt, hoodie, or cropped jacket, and you’re good to go.

4. Dressed Down Dress

Despite what you think, dresses can absolutely be sporty. A dress is already chic and feminine, so all you need to do is add a few sportier pieces. Rompers are also a great choice, as they’re basically sportier versions of sundresses.

And guess what? You can wear a dress with sneakers! Whether you wear a maxi dress, midi dress, sundress, romper, or a skirt, casual sneakers won’t look out of place if you choose stylish ones. Instead of chunky sneakers with overstated soles, we suggest finding a pair with a more subtle silhouette. Consider simple low-top white sneakers with a lace-up or slip-on design to strike the right balance of sporty and chic. Try layering your dress with a sweater or wearing a denim coat, leather jacket, or bomber. Any of these options will give you the perfect balance of sporty and chic.

The Rules of Sporty Chic Fashion

As you can see, there are many directions you can go with sporty chic fashion. Mainly, you should wear clothes and shoes that are comfortable, practical, and easy to move around in but that are also cool and contemporary.

Footwear is an essential component of the sporty chic look. With most outfits, a pair of casual sneakers is your best bet. In some instances, walking sandals can work, just as long as sporty pieces are mixed in. Active sneakers and other comfortable walking shoes for women are also solid options.

Bear in mind that some types of training shoes can make athleisure wear look simply like workout clothes, which is more along the look of sporty casual outfits. Just make sure to mix it up with casual pieces like a denim jacket, a knit beanie, a soft sweater, or a pair of jeans. Dresses, jumpsuits, and rompers can also offset active sneakers in a more dramatic yet aesthetically pleasing way.

The idea is to create a look that’s equal parts laid-back, sporty, functional, and chic. When you walk out the door, your ensemble should look intentional yet chill. This might sound like an oxymoron, but we promise, it’s not that complicated. If you’re ready to rock this look, the best place to start is with your shoes.

Sporty Chic Shoes from Vionic

Vionic is dedicated to offering the best shoes in every category. What this means is that we carry a broad range of orthotic footwear designs for men and women, including classic and trendy shoe styles. Each pair is not only stylish but also supremely comfortable and supportive.

With Vio-Motion Support embedded into every shoe, you get ultimate arch support, unmatched comfort, and comfy cushioned soles. When you wear Vionic shoes, you can walk, stand, strut, skip, dance, or prance all day without any heel pain, discomfort, blisters, ingrown toenails, or other foot conditions that make you want to swear off shoes forever.

If you’re looking for sporty chic shoes, you’ve come to the right place. We carry an impressive variety of casual sneakers, including slip-ons, low-top lace-ups, and high-tops. When you browse our collection, you’ll also find versatile active sneakers that can be worn for fitness, fashion, or both. Once you have a stylish pair, you’ll already know how to wear sneakers fashionably and be well on your way to a sporty chic look.

Browse comfortable shoes for women from Vionic today! For more sporty inspiration, check out our blog about the best shoes for working out.