Sarah Jessica Parker's Unhinged Pants-and-Shoe Combo Actually Works

Eva Thomas

Fri, May 3, 2024 at 2:00 AM UTC

3 min read

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It's risky but relatable.

Pairing the right shoes with the right pants is an artform. But, in recent years, we’ve seen an uptick in interest in the “Wrong-Shoe Theory,” which is exactly what it sounds like: You have an outfit, you know which shoes you technically should wear, but you choose to forgo all common sense and logic to go with the total opposite—as in, opt for the “wrong” footwear. But, a “wrong” choice might actually be the right one, creating a look that’s more ever more intriguing than if you had chosen to ground your outfit with the safer choice.

Sarah Jessica Parker just proved this while out grabbing pizza at L’Industrie in the West Village, plus the restaurant's famous soft serve (a relatable queen!) The style icon never fails to impress me with her simple down-to-earth duties—in that from this outing, I learned that celebs still run out to grab their own pizza, like you and I. But unlike me, SJP actually looks kind of, sort of chic while carrying said pizza box. In fact, her unexpected look is a totally one that Carrie Bradshaw would wear in Sex and the City. So, let’s get to it.

Parker wore a white, loose-fitting V-neck tee that she paired with, wait for it, classic track pants with those signature side stripes, a trendy pant style Jennifer Garner recently wore, too. The bottoms were slightly cropped and a bit more fitted than your average track pants, which worked well with the rest of the pieces—notably, a knee-length polka-dot coat that offered some extra warmth on a chilly day. The accessories took the look home. Big, futuristic-style shades kept her slightly incognito, while her big, over-the-ear Apple headphones drowned out the noise of the city (I get you, SJP!) The finishing touch—and only source of color? Those hot-pink, block-heel ballerinas.

Geox Floretia Water-Resistant Ballet Pump

Adidas Superstar Track Pants

Ballet flats are trending, so it’s not all that surprising that Parker is wearing them. Unlike most ballerinas we’ve seen, hers have a raised block heel that takes the silhouette up, literally; however, like most ballerinas we’ve seen, they have a dainty front-bow, soft, rounded toe that are girly and flirty and fun. Not to mention, that in-your-face bright-pink hue alludes to the lighter pink colors of many traditional ballerina shoes.

That said, you wouldn’t normally think to wear ballet flats, a dressier shoe, with track pants—a sporty-leaning closet staple—instead, you’d probably opt for sneakers, but that’s where the “Wrong-Shoe Theory” kicks in. Ballet heels with side-stripe sweats doesn’t sound right, but TBH, it looks right. The juxtaposition of the girly and the sporty doesn’t feel too try-hard, but it also shows you’re willing to take fashion risks and stray from the pact, aka, go with something more unconventional.

If you want to make some heads turn with an unexpected, slightly unhinged pants-and-shoe combo, go with SJP’s look: tracks pants and block-heel ballerinas. Shop the pairing below; I’ll be trying this look tomorrow.