Ed Sheeran's F1 Red Carpet Nikes Keep the Suits & Sneakers Debate Raging

Jun 26, 2025

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You can certainly wear trainers with tailoring. The question is: should you?

Ed Sheeran might be the most dedicated sneaker guy of them all. I’ve spent the best part of ten minutes trawling the internet for evidence that he's ever worn smart shoes, and I’ve found one picture. One picture, in 15 years! And that was at the Met Gala. Everyone knows that Anna Wintour puts you in a headlock if you don’t make an effort.

So, it was no surprise when the singer turned up to last night's F1: The Movie London premiere in a suit and sneakers. Much like the film’s cast, he went tonal: a baby blue two-piece and a pair of Nike Air Force 1 Lows with a colour-coordinated swoosh and trim. It was a remix of a look he road-tested at the Time 100 Gala in April: white tee-shirt, colourful suit, matching swoosh.

And to be clear, there's nothing wrong with that. Not only do I respect an easy-to-follow style formula, but I have no real interest in relitigating the whole ‘can you wear sneakers with a suit?’ debate. For my money, the high-low combo presents too many pitfalls. Whenever I've tried to pair sneakers with tailoring, I just look like I'm about to power walk to the office or show you around a sad studio flat in Thurrock. But there are plenty of very well-dressed men who regularly make it look chic, including the likes of A$AP Rocky, Harry Styles and Frank Ocean. And Ed certainly knows his stuff.

But if you are planning to go smart-casual come wedding season, we do have some advice.

First of all, we think bulkier trainers pair better with wider trousers; it balances out the proportions and means you'll spend less time fishing your trouser leg out from the tongue of the shoe. If you do choose to go for a slim sneaker – the shoe of the summer, according to Esquire's style editor – the icey-white Common Projects/Axel Arigato/Arne trifecta has become a go-to over the past ten years or so. But we'd also recommend broadening your horizons by investing in a shoe with a little more personality and detailing. Depending on the colour and cut of your suit, a pair of tried-and-tested Adidas Sambas or SL 72 OGs could work; maybe even some Onitsuka Tigers, or a pair of canvas Vans/Converse high-tops.

Read our guide to summer suiting here – and take a look at some of the best sneakers to pair with them below.

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