As I grow up and spend increasingly more time away from my hometown in northeast Ohio, I start to get nostalgic about those carefree summers as a kid. I can remember exploring every inch of my small suburban neighborhood. No backyard, wooded trail or creek was left unturned, and I never left the house without my Teva sandals or some other type of sporty water shoe.
But I’ll admit to having traded in the outdoorsy spirit of my childhood long ago for the more fashion-forward city girl I am today, which is why I am particularly loving how sports apparel has infiltrated the fashion realm—it’s like experiencing a slice of my childhood again. I think it’s now safe to say that Teva shoes are like the sportier (and just as comfortable) cousin of the Birkenstock.
As New York Fashion Week for men wrapped up late last week, it left a novel idea in our minds about the direction of menswear as a whole. No longer are there definitive outlines in a man’s closet between workwear, weekend wear and sportswear. The new man wants to have a sense of ease and comfort in almost anything he does. So designers took note, and we saw sports sandals emerge from Craft Atlantic and classic sneakers from Public School.
In a near perfect example of the athleisure and sportswear culmination into our everyday attire, I caught this Fashionisto shopping around Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood and looking pristinely polished in his Tevas no less. As I am always a fan of high-low combinations, I was immediately inspired by his pairing of these sports sandals with a clean button-down shirt. Listen up, guys—this is the way to make sportswear work on the street because a little bit of polish goes a long way. This Fashionisto proves that no matter where you are, whether it be the city or the country, adventure can be right outside your door.
How To:Â Ditch the head to toe sportswear look and wear sporty sandals with your everyday weekend wear. For guys, they pair best with easygoing trousers and a graphic T-shirt for a cool spin on this childhood classic. For girls, a floaty sundress does the trick.
