Over the last year, my appreciation for sneakers has grown exponentially. Whereas before the pandemic sneakers were mostly an afterthought, now I find myself planning my entire outfit around a specific pair.

Looking back, I can say with complete confidence that the reason I avoided sneakers was because I had no idea how to wear them, or that sneakers and athletic shoes are not the same.

I especially love pairing my sneakers with a dress or cute skirt outfit. Not only is it on trend but it definitely keeps my feet happy when I'm running around town.

There are no hard-and-fast rules that I follow when pairing sneakers with a dress or skirt outfit, but I'll try to put my thought process into words for you in the form of tips.

1. When in doubt, go with a neutral pair. My black retro-style and taupe sneakers are by far my most worn pairs because between the two of them, they blend with pretty much any outfit. If those don't work, I go with white.

2. With colored sneakers, like my pink and yellow Converse, I either use them to pull a color out of a pattern or to provide a pop of color.

3. Patterned sneakers work best with solid-colors, unless you're a master at mixing prints (I am not).

4. Dress length doesn't really matter. If your sneakers are in danger of being hidden by a maxi dress, consider gathering the hem into a knot on side.

5. Wear low-cut socks or none at all. These are my go-to.

6. Don't overthink it. In the end, if you like your outfit that's all that really matters. If you don't, you won't be comfortable in it, and trust me, that is the fastest way to ruin a look.

Now on to the outfit ideas.