Fashion

Slay in High Tops: 2025’s Hottest Styling Hacks

By 7 Mins Read

You’ve finally mastered the high top versus hot top debate, but now you’re facing a new challenge: the sheer variety of these trendy sneakers! From sleek, slim high tops to elevated heeled versions, our 2025 guide breaks down the different high top styles and offers expert tips on how to rock them.

What Are High Tops?

High-top sneakers are exactly what they sound like: trainers with uppers extending above the ankle. These can be categorized into two primary styles: slim and chunky.

Thin High Tops

Thick High Tops

Heeled High Tops

Shop The Look

High-top sneakers now feature cleverly concealed wedge heels, a true gift for those of us who are vertically challenged! Wedges remain among the most comfortable heels for walking, making these sneakers ideal for busy days. You can find heels in both slim and chunky high-top styles. However, the chunkier designs, reminiscent of Beyoncé’s Isabel Marant sneakers in her “Love On Top” video, are currently considered more stylish and chic.

How to Tie High Tops

Ever wondered how to style high tops? Here’s a key tip for 2025: A lower lace and looser tie creates a more casual, laid-back vibe.

How to tie Converse

Photo Credit: Pinterest. Shop the look: Converse

Slim high tops usually feature laces. High tops paired with shorts or skirts create a stylish look when laced fully. However, when wearing skinny jeans with high tops, loosen the laces or tie them halfway. This prevents your ankles from appearing too thin and your legs from looking wide. Converse laces tend to be long. You can tuck the extra lace into your shoes or wrap them around your ankles before tying them.

More self-explanatory are thick high tops which can come with straps, laces, or both.

Outfits with High Tops

How to Wear High Top Sneakers with Trousers

Thin high tops go best with wide-bottomed trousers – opposites do attract! For a cool, modern look, the best white or black Converse high top outfits comprise a pair of cropped trousers that show a little skin around your ankle. This will help balance your proportions and has a fashionable edge that will dress up the casual sneaker.
 
Avoid baggy trousers when wearing thick high tops as together they can make you lose your shape and appear bigger than you are. But, high tops with leggings or leather pants look great. They are also solid shoes to wear with skinny jeans. Tuck the trousers or leggings into a pair of black high top sneakers for a relaxed and cool look that will draw focus to your stylish shoe choice. High top aficionados, Rhianna and Miranda Kerr, are constantly snapped rocking this look.

How to Wear High Tops with Jeans and Shorts

Never tuck your jeans into thin high tops. Instead, follow style icon Sarah Jessica Parker’s example and wear a pair of white high top sneakers with turned-up boyfriend jeans for a casual and easy look.
 
Thick high tops look cool and relaxed with a pair of skinny jeans tucked into the shoe; this combo is perfect for the ‘oh I just threw this on’ look.

In the summer, swap your jeans for a pair of short denim shorts to make your legs look (almost) as long as model Cara Delevingne’s.

High tops and shorts

Photo Credit: Pinterest

How to Wear High Top Sneakers with Skirts

Together, a midi skirt and Converse create a really cute and youthful outfit. High tops can be worn with tights but, if it’s warm enough, bare legs and a simple pair of ankle socks are a great option.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Shop The Look

Thick high tops are a great investment if you have good legs as they go with almost all style of skirt. Paired with a mini skirt and simple t-shirt, they create a real rock-chick vibe.
Sincerely Jules wearing high tops outfit

Photo Credit: Sincerely Jules

Shop The Look
[show_shopthepost_widget id=”2480828″]

These sneakers also go with maxi-skirts. A mid-length jersey pencil skirt will create the perfect mix of street-style and fashion. You can even wear thick high tops with flowy maxi skirts á la Kate Bosworth and Zendaya Coleman.
Olivia Wilde and Kate Bosworth high top sneakers and midi skirts

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Shop The Look

How to Wear High Top Sneakers with Dresses

As Dakota Johnson and Alexa Chung have shown, high tops go with almost any style of dress. In the spring and summer, Nike hi tops or a pair of classic Converse look great with a simple floral dress, adding a tomboyish twist to an outfit.

Dakota Johnson and Alexa Chung Summer dresses with converse outfits

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Shop The Look

Choosing a Colour

All black high tops or all white high tops are the most versatile colours choices as they are easy to style and complement other colours and patterns in your outfit.
Red is also a popular choice: the bold tone will add a bright burst of colour to dark outfits while maintaining the shoe’s sporty edge.

Lots of fashion brands make patterned high top sneakers; you can even customise your Nike lace up high top sneakers! Choosing a patterned pair will help you put your individual stamp on an outfit. As well as patterns, some brands add tassels, studs and other extra embellishments which, when carefully selected, can really enhance a look.

Giuseppe Zanotti Devlin Wedge Sneakers £900.00

Giuseppe Zanotti Devlin Wedge Sneakers £900.00
ASH Vegas studded leather high-top trainers £169.00

ASH Vegas studded leather high-top trainers £169.00
Vans Suede Sk8-Hi Moc Shoes £75

Vans Suede Sk8-Hi Moc Shoes £75
Minna Parikka Bunny Glitter Sneaks £220

Minna Parikka Bunny Sneaks £220

How to Wear High Tops: Key Tips

  • High tops are an easy way of adding an element of cool to any outfit.
  • Keep your balance – the heavier and bolder the shoe, the simpler and sleeker you should keep the rest of the outfit.
  • The looser the laces, the more laid back your look.
  • Have fun with colours and prints, but whatever you go for, make sure they don’t clash with the rest of your outfit.

Read more great articles on women’s fashion at guidespot.com.

Giuseppe Zanotti Devlin Wedge Sneakers £900.00

Giuseppe Zanotti Devlin Wedge Sneakers £900.00
ASH Vegas studded leather high-top trainers £169.00

ASH Vegas studded leather high-top trainers £169.00
Vans Suede Sk8-Hi Moc Shoes £75

Vans Suede Sk8-Hi Moc Shoes £75
Minna Parikka Bunny Glitter Sneaks £220

Minna Parikka Bunny Sneaks £220

How to Wear High Tops: Key Tips

  • High tops are an easy way of adding an element of cool to any outfit.
  • Keep your balance – the heavier and bolder the shoe, the simpler and sleeker you should keep the rest of the outfit.
  • The looser the laces, the more laid back your look.
  • Have fun with colours and prints, but whatever you go for, make sure they don’t clash with the rest of your outfit.

Read more great articles on women’s fashion at guidespot.com.

Author

You know you're going to give your kid a complex if you call them "The Mean Bean" instead of; sweetiepie, sugar face, bear, etc. My nickname stuck- even when I got nicer. AND my affinity for all things BEAN happens to be tremendous; Coffee beans (my coffee feign), Cocoa beans, Vanilla beans, chickpeas (yes, it's a bean), black beans....and so on. As for the "mean" part, depends on which ex-boyfriend you ask. I think I'm super sugary. And no, I will not be writing any guides about beans. Unless I get a special request.

Related Posts

Write A Comment