How the Most Powerful Women in the World Wear the Most Comfortable Shoe on Earth

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Here's the thing about some of the most sophisticated, stylish working women in the world who we look to for inspiration: they dress sensibly for casual events. Even when they're tending to their duties (think Kate Middleton making an appearance at a sporting event or Victoria Beckham paying a visit to her showroom during a busy Fashion Week), they appear polished. But, usually, they cap off their looks with a functional shoe.

Yes, it's true: every professional power lady, FLOTUS, former FLOTUS, or royal owns sneakers. The brands they wear also happen to be quite affordable. In fact, not a single pair here rings in over $200. Read on to see the impressive collections that have wowed us through the years, then shop the cool kicks all the business babes seem to favor — perhaps even more than their black pumps.

01
Michelle Obama
Getty | Brooks Kraft

Michelle Obama

Michelle most famously showed off her varied collection of Converse sneakers while tending to the White House Garden. She styled these purple low-tops with denim and a matching belt and cardigan in October 2009.

02
Getty | Chip Somodevilla

Michelle also owns a pair of low-top Converse in this marigold shade, which she showed off with a chartreuse top and jeans in May 2013.

03
Getty | SAUL LOEB

Michelle's khaki-colored All Star Converse play up her casual basics, like the two-tone sweater and jeans she wore in the White House Kitchen Garden in October 2013.

04
Getty | Chip Somodevilla

If you think Michelle only opts for one Converse silhouette, think again. She rocked her high-top Chucks with a military green vest and flannel at the White House Garden in October 2016.

05
Princess Diana
Getty | Pool/Tim Graham Picture Library

Princess Diana

The late princess debuted her navy low-top Supergas while making a speech at Red Cross Projects in Angola in 1997.

06
Kate Middleton
Getty | Danny Martindale

Kate Middleton

Twenty years after Princess Diana made Supergas famous, Kate Middleton took a page from her book. Kate routinely slips into her crisp white pair for sporting events or when she can tone down her look with casual jeans. She wore them here on her tour of Canada in 2016.

07
Melania Trump
Getty | YURI GRIPAS

Melania Trump

Since becoming FLOTUS, Melania has shown off an extremely wide variety of shoes, never mind sneakers. But she did wear these Adidas Stan Smiths on a trip to Texas with the president while they visited victims of Hurricane Harvey in August 2017.

08
Getty | Alex Wong

Melania owns white low-top Converse too. She wore this pair with cropped jeans and a breezy button-down while visiting victims of Hurricane Irma in Florida in September 2017.

09
Getty | NICHOLAS KAMM

When Melania disembarked from Air Force One on her second visit to Texas following Hurricane Harvey, she was wearing a hunter green "FLOTUS" baseball hat that was only highlighted further by a pair of matching Converse.

10
Getty | Win McNamee

Melania's $1,500 Balmain flannel caused lots of buzz when she worked in the White House garden for the first time in September 2017. All part of the look? A pair of gray-blue low-top Converse sneakers. So far, we count three pairs of these . . .

11
Victoria Beckham
Getty | Ignat/Bauer-Griffin

Victoria Beckham

In recent years, the sophisticated designer has bounced around from design studio to hotel while prepping for Fashion Week in her Adidas Stan Smith sneakers. She even famously took a bow in the comfortable shoe following her Fall 2016 runway show.

12
Getty | Pierre Suu

Victoria's Adidas Originals Samba sneakers have also made an appearance in her Winter wardrobe. She styled these with loose trousers, a duster coat, and a crossbody bag during Fashion Week in February 2017.

13
Amal Clooney
Getty | Nancy Rivera/Bauer-Griffin

Amal Clooney

Amal mixed high and low on a visit to George Clooney's Money Monster set in April 2015. The human rights lawyer and activist capped off her Balenciaga leather jacket with Ash buckled sneakers, a more elevated option should you want to make a bit more of an edgy statement.

14
Jenna Lyons
Getty | Michael Stewart

Jenna Lyons

The former J. Crew designer has been seen wearing sneakers everywhere from the street, with ladylike dresses, to red carpet events. She wore a short-sleeved blouse and lace pencil skirt with her Adidas Stan Smiths in September 2015.

15
Miroslava Duma
Getty | Jacopo Raule

Miroslava Duma

The cofounder of Buro 24/7 and entrepreneur constantly wears sophisticated suits and long, tailored coats. But more often than not, it's sneakers or flats over heels for Mira, who wore a pair of Asics gel sneakers with a trench and Gabriela Hearst bag during Paris Fashion Week in March 2016.

16
Getty | Pierre Suu

Miroslava also styled her Nike Cortez sneakers with a long furry coat and "Google" hat at Paris Couture Week in January 2017. Easy enough — one and done.

17
Princess Beatrice
Getty | Alo Ceballos

Princess Beatrice

Princess Beatrice of York wore sleek black-and-white Nike trainers on the streets of Soho in June 2017. The trendy royal completed her look with a leather crossbody bag, mastering modern day athleisure style.