while i’ve played my fair share of sports over the years (tennis, softball, volleyball, and –whether or not you believe it to be a sport —cheerleading), i wouldn’t necessarily describe myself as “sporty.” and for whatever reason i’ve always equated the sneaker trend with being the aforementioned superlative so i never paid it much attention other than for the occasional workout –and for a very brief time —running shoe.

then i turned 36 and started carrying around my 30-pound and 21-pound twins (not usually at once, but in the jogger, yes!) and even the shortest of “we’re just going around the block” walks became breeding grounds for injury in my beloved zara ballet flats. so after i tweaked my foot on an aforementioned neighborhood jaunt, i decided it was time to face the music and build up my sensible footwear arsenal. as you may know, i already own these low-top converse sneakers (that i love!), but i just ordered a high-top version (as highlighted below) and the new balance sneakers i’m wearing in the top photo. the converse have yet to arrive, so in the meantime, i’m sharing my thoughts on the trainers as well as linking a variety of alternatives that would be cute and functional for your mom-friendly wardrobe.

new balance x j.crew 996 sneakers in suede || (worn above!) so reviews say these run extremely small (and narrow!) so i erred on the side of extreme caution and sized up an entire size. to be honest, i’m not 100% sure if i’m a 9.5 or 10 postpartum so i figured it would be better for them to be a little big than too small. when they arrived, i was very happy i ended up with the 10.5. they’re a tad bit big, but i have a wider foot so i’m grateful to have the additional room. i love the neutral palette (they do come in a rainbow of color combinations!) and can see them going with a ton of pieces in my wardrobe. the natural inclination is to sport them with my best athleisure –a pair of black leggings, oversized sweatshirt, and white ankle socks but i also styled them with my distressed jeans and a midi dress (the latter which felt very european!). the idea of a sportier sneakers with “street clothes” is definitely a foreign concept for me so i’m still on the fence of whether or not i’ll keep them, but they certainly made a great first impression!

converse authentic glam chuck taylor all star || i actually tried high-top converse months ago and they made me look like i had clown feet (they were comically long) so i’m taking a risk trying them again, but one of my best girlfriends just got herself a black pair of high-tops and she looks so cool that i wanted to take a stab at them myself. i almost bought the canvas style before landing upon these leather gems. i mean, i’m obsessed! they look so rock ‘n roll chic which isn’t really my vibe, but maybe it COULD be?! jury is still out on whether or not i can pull these off, but i’m excited to at least try. if the black is a miss, i might order them in cream or white instead. i plan on wearing them with black jeans and a white tank for a classic look. oh and in case you haven’t worn converse, they notoriously run big, i sized down 1/2 size.

and here are a few more cute styles i found while perusing the interwebs:

j.crew trainers || j.crew high-top sneakers || reebok classic nylon sneakers || gola x j.crew mark cox tennis sneakers || chuck taylor all star leather || nike court royale 2 mid (planning on ordering these to try, they’re a great price point!) || madewell court sneaker || madewell sidewalk low-top sneakers || madewell kickoff trainers in neutral colorblock leather || adidas original forum mid casual shoes || vans sk8-high seasonal sneaker

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