The 6 Shoes Fashion People Wear With Track Pants

When it comes to sporty staples, none have received industry praise quite like track pants. Practically overnight, the once gym-bound bottoms became a street style mainstay—and a go-to among fashion-forward celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence, Ayo Edebiri, and Sadie Sink. According to these trendsetters, there’s a secret to pulling off track pants: Choosing the right shoes.

Sure, you could pair the comfy bottoms with your workout sneakers, but juxtaposing them with a dressy shoe is where things get interesting. Enter the Wrong-Shoe Theory. Coined by stylist Allison Bornstein, the styling hack encourages choosing footwear that intentionally clashes with your outfit—and it’s exactly the approach to take with track pants. For instance, ballet flats with the pants strike a sweet spot between laid-back and ladylike, while kitten heels add subtle sophistication.