Hi tops, y’all. Pink hi tops. Hellz to the yes I did. Whispering pink, that is. I can seriously only do a whisper of pink at any given time. You may have already seen them over on Instagram (follow me @elletrain over there).

Comfy and badass at the same time, these Vans SK8-Hi Slim Zips are my new favorite shoes for spring and summer. I’ve always adored hi tops, but have had trouble finding a pair that aren’t too clunky or unflattering on my short legs. Flats + short legs are a tough combo in general, but then add some height to the top and a light color and woah, tricky.

These?  They work. I think it’s the slim fit around the ankle and the fact that they aren’t too high. I’m in love.

The Four Simple Outfits

I wanted to highlight several styling options, but also wanted to keep the outfits really easy to re-create.  I used the same basic, everyday tee, then focused on how well the the hi tops work with my four favorite pairs of pants. Boom. A recipe for a rad outfit on days when you don’t want to think. Bonus: they’re all super comfy, too!

Outfit 1: Tee, Fave New Jeans, Sneakers

tee | jeans | sneakers

You recently heard about my new go-to jeans for spring. Here they are. They are in high rotation these days. They also cuff perfectly above the hi tops. The half tuck top is essential for us shorties to lengthen the leg, especially when wearing a taller shoe like these. Easily swap in a gray v neck tee for the white sleeveless.

Outfit 2: Tee, Overalls, Sneakers

tee | overalls | sneakers

You know I had to include overalls. Gah. They are SO easy you guys and so good for spring. The cropped fit of these is perfect with hi tops and draws your eye to the slim part of my leg at the ankle = flattering look.

Outfit 3: Tee, Black Skinnies, Sneakers

tee | black skinnies | sneakers

 Simply good. Grab your favorite black skinny jeans, cuff above the hi tops, throw on a tee, half tuck. Done. Really the recipe for most of these outfits. Have I mentioned how much I love the J Brand Skinnies though? Yes, I have. So good for many reasons, but especially this one:  When cuffing black skinny jeans, it’s so much better if the inside is the exact same shade as the outside.  Otherwise, you end up with a different-colored cuff which visually cuts off more of your legs.

Oufit 4: Tee, Joggers, Sneakers

tee | joggers (Gap’s newer version) | sneakers

I was kind of surprised by how well these sneaks work with joggers. Sometimes it’s tricky to pair comfy, looser pants with flat shoes, but these work. Again, getting a jogger that shows a bit of ankle or is nice and slim at the ankle creates a much more flattering look. Be sure to keep the fit slim on your joggers, too. (Btw, it looks like these joggers now come in petite sizes! They didn’t when I bought them, but I’d love to have a petite because they run a little long in the rise for me. I’m wearing a regular Small here, just for reference).

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