What To Wear With Wedge Sneakers

(Marc Jacobs Sneaker Wedges)

I can’t really explain it.  It defies all logic, and pretty much goes against everything I believe in and hold dear.  But all I want in life is a pair of wedge sneakers.  I know, I know…a few short months ago, when my eyes were first accosted with such an image, I blinked and groaned.  Wedge sneakers?  Are we living in the Spice World?  Gross.

(Isabel Marant / Willow High-Top Sneaker)

But then I had a change of heart.  I’m not really sure what did it or how my newfound appreciation…no, love…no, obsession…came to be.  But lo and behold, the moment I first laid my blinking little brown eyes on those amahhhhzing pair of Marc by Marc Jacobs sneaks, I knew my life would never be the same.  I just hadddddddddd to have them.  Now obviously I don’t have $300+ to spend on a pair of sneakers that don’t promise to shave a few minutes off my daily run, but a girl can dream right?  And so in the spirit of all the wonderfulness that is the wedge sneaker, here is a little guide of how to pair your pair with almost everything (yes, I said everything) in your closet.  After all, who has the dough to spend a small fortune on a pair of trendy sneakers that you can only wear with one outfit?

First up, naturally, is a pair of jeans.  Jeans go with sneakers like peanut butter goes with jelly.  Go casual and rock a pair of wedgies with your skinnies and a tee.  The shoes will brighten up your outfit and give it a little pizazz, without overdoing it.

Given that the temps are rising, shed a few inches off those jeans and strut your stuff in a pair of shorts.  Just because the weather is warming up doesn’t mean you need to stick to sandals for the next few months.  A pair of colorful sneaks can be just as refreshing to the eye as a platform sandal, and twice as comfortable.  Plus, you won’t feel overdressed walking around in the middle of the day, and you’ll still get the benefit of a few extra inches beneath those Achilles heels of yours.

Want to spice things up a bit more?  Throw on a dress or mini skirt and be the epitome of cool this season.  These sneaks are all the rage and totally NOW, so instead of pairing your day dress with the same old espadrilles, toughen up the look a bit and go for shocking with some sneaks below the ankles.

The beauty of these shoes is that while they are sneakers, the wedge and the fact that they are so in right now means that you can wear them at night.  Yes, even to that totally cool and exclusive bar on Saturday night.  Has a doorman ever turned down Marc Jacobs or Isabel Marant?  I didn’t think so.

So whether you’re sporty, trendy, girly, tough, a punk, a priss, a casual cutie or the most dramatic fashionista, these sneakers should not be overlooked.  Sure, they may not be in style in a year or two, but they are awesome now, and so adorable now, and so hot right now, and in 20 years when you were wondering why on earth you spent your hard-earned cash on a pair of wedge sneakers, you’ll look back and think, “maybe I looked ridiculous, but damn I felt good.”

In completely unrelated news, my birthday is in a month.  Just throwing it out there.

After graduating from college in ’09, Allyson Barkan flew off to Greece to teach English Literature at a private high school and explore Greek and European culture for a year.  Since returning stateside, she now works in Entertainment Public Relations in New York City.  For travel advice, stray observations as a 20-something in the big city, and the occasional hilarious misadventure, follow Allyson atwww.allysonbarkan.com and on twitter at @aebarkan.