Summer is all about no-fuss style. While I sometimes fuss & muss over what I’m going to wear in order to be comfortable when running from work to do some errands to going out with my beau, the temperature continues to rise. Effortless comfort is most important in the end, even when I want to wear a scuba dress & some wow-worthy high heels. However, what’s more fuss-free than a canvas sneaker? I know, some jaws might be hitting the floor at my mention of a sneaker here on Style Darling Daily.

I’ve never been much of a sneaker fan, only because I don’t find most sneakers attractive. I’ve owned the same one pair for years that I’ll break out for the occasional woodsy walk or hiking venture. Sneakers have an athletic function & not much of a presence in my life when I’ve found so many comfortable ballet flats that I can wear for work & while going about my daily routine. Aside from that, sneakers have just never equaled fashion to me… until now. Sneakers have taken on this whole new street style vibe, as seen on celebrities in Converse & tennis shoes, such as style icon Olivia Palermo, singer Rihanna, performer Dita Von Teese, as well as models Gigi Hadid & Karlie Kloss.

As a kid, I grew up wearing Keds-adjacent sneakers since the look-alikes at Caldor (remember Caldor?) & other bargain-centric stores were just more reasonable for my budget-conscious family. The white canvas material would only stay white for about a day until the remnants of nature, as well as the wear & tear of childhood stained the exterior. Honestly, I never quite looked back on that shoe style until today when I received an email from Payless about their latest canvas collection, featuring shoes in up to 17 different colors & pattern varieties, ranging in a limited time sale price from $10-$15, available in women’s sizes 5-13, with their summer-ready American Eagle Bal Sneaker.

When I ooo-ed & ahh-ed at these cute options, I began to imagine how to style these sneakers, especially with sweet & casual summer dresses. Of course, any of these dresses can be worn with wedges, sandals, or heels to add a little more dressy flair when headed out for a night on the town, but why not consider a sneaker if you’re going to the local carnival, on a sunset walk, or just enjoying a casual lunch with some friends?

This Westport belted denim shirt dress @dressbarn (available in plus) is just one of the many versatile denim options for the tan linen sneaker, especially when neutrals are just so easy & classic to style. Try this look with textured hoop earrings & classic bangles & you’ll be ready for anything!

The yellow-red combination might not be for everyone, but the primary color mix of the linen blend swing dress @Old Navy (available in sizes XS-XXL) with the bold red sneakers is a daring & summery way to play with color blocking, especially when paired with a denim jacket & layering necklaces!

White is the color of the summer & you really can’t go wrong with this ruffle off the shoulder dress @Express when looking at all the footwear possibilities. You could wear the purple eyelet or the dark blue stripe one day & then embrace the chambray polka dot sneaker the next! This look can be styled with some colorful tassel earrings & a basket weave belt too!

Some days, even in the summer, we just wanna wear black. Maybe it’s a New York thing, but here we can turn the dark hue into something playful & casual-chic with the plus cargo dress @H&M & the black eyelet sneakers. Try a gold chain choker & chunky ring to dress up the monochromatic look!

Lastly, use online coupon code 15CANVAS for an additional 15% off, expiring 07/09/17, because we could all use a little help when it comes to summer shopping! What’s your take on the summer sneaker-dress combination? What color combinations are you looking to try this season? Where are you shopping for your favorite footwear finds? Happy Styling!