Four days, four ways: How Ashley Belle styles sneakers for the office

“Having pieces in my wardrobe that work for the nine-to-five (and whatever comes after) is a must.”

Working in the creative field, Melbourne-based Ashley Belle feels lucky to be spared from what she calls the “corporate dress code of doom.” Instead of sensible kitten heels and poly-blend pencil skirts, Ashley’s workwear wardrobe looks a lot like what she wears on the weekends – versatile pieces that experiment with proportion, colour and print.

A partnerships manager and content creator, Ashley’s busy schedule means she’s constantly on the hunt for pieces that make getting dressed easier. It explains her affinity for cute sneakers that work in more ways than one, like Converse’s latest silhouette, the Chuck Taylor Lo.

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Taking inspiration from ’90s street style, the plush suede sneakers pay homage to the retro Chucks silhouette with the addition of playful, contrasting laces. And the best part? “They’re super comfortable,” Ashley says. “I’m often running off to an event straight after work. Having pieces in my wardrobe that work for the nine-to-five (and whatever comes after) is a must.”

For a week of meetings, events, dinner dates and content creation, we challenged Ashley to put her signature spin on the new Chuck Taylor Los. Scroll on to see what she came up with.

Monday: Black top and plaid skirt

“I feel like this outfit is the perfect mix of sporty and feminine,” says Ashley. “Pairing sneakers and a maxi skirt is such a good way to dress down an outfit for the office – especially when you work in an office like mine. Monday also means pizza and date night after work, and this combo is perfect for moving from desk to dinner.”

Tuesday: Polka dot jacket

Once Tuesday comes around (the halfway point in Ashley’s four-day work week), her number one priority is comfort. “This is another combo you’ll see me rinse and repeat,” she says. “This Steele jacket is one of those pieces I’ve worn more times than I can count. The polka dots add a bit of fun to what’s essentially just jeans and a white T-shirt.” 

Ashley was also drawn to the contrasting, two-tone laces of the Chuck Los. “The black and white mix matches everything, while adding a bit of visual interest to an outfit,” she says.

Wednesday: Matching striped denim set

On Wednesday, Ashley started the morning with double denim and her regular iced oat matcha. “As a wise person once said, you can never go wrong with a matching set. I wear this Kowtow combo as a set or as separates every single week without fail. It’s such an easy way to look put together without trying too hard,” she says. 

Thursday: Puff sleeve blouse and brown pants

A lover of outfit repeating, Ashley’s work wardrobe consists of versatile, always-reliable staple pieces. “Before I make a new purchase, I like to think of at least five or six different ways I can style that piece with what I already own,” she says. “And I already have 101 different ideas of how to style these Chuck Los.”

For the final outfit of the week, Ashley opted for a puff-sleeve blouse from one of her most-loved local labels, Katharina Lou. “It’s another one of those items that’s so easy to throw on when you want to look like you put a lot more effort into your outfit than you actually did.”

Check out the new Chuck Taylor Lo sneakers here.