There’s a time and a place for flashy or seasonal trending sneakers, but a pair of trainers with staying power that you can confidently throw on with any outfit is essential, and can become your personal, signature shoe. Minimal white sneakers tend to get the most wear since they complement just about anything, but depending on your preferred color palette, you might love a shoe that mixes blacks, browns, or grays.
From coveted designer iterations to forever classics, take your pick from the below sneakers for women that’ll never go out of style.
Vogue’s Top Sneaker Picks:
- The Classic White: Adidas Samba OG shoes, $100
- The Sustainably-Made: Veja Esplar leather logo sneakers, $150
- The Comfy Walking Shoe: Nike Cortez textile sneakers, $90
- The Designer Must-Have: Gucci tennis 1977 sneakers, $790
- The Chunky Dad Trainer: New Balance 530 sneakers, $100
- The Cool Girl Pick: The Row Mica distressed lace-up sneakers, $1,490
- The Most-Wanted: Puma Speedcat OG sneakers, $105
- The Retro Favorite: Proenza Schouler track sneakers, $690
- The Easy Slip On: Vans classic slip-on sneakers, $60
Timeless Leather
A leather sneaker is always a great place to start: The material gets better with age, plus offers a snug and secure fit. Leather styles run the gamut in terms of price; Common Projects is often on the higher end, but for affordable picks, turn to Veja (the sustainably-minded French sneaker brand has been worn by everyone from Kate Middleton to Reese Witherspoon), to forever classics from Reebok, Adidas, and Nike.
Put it in Retro
Designers have been revisiting vintage-inspired sneakers for a while now. You’ll recognize the narrow silhouette which tapers in the foot for an elongated look. We love the ones from Loewe and Miu Miu to pair with flowy trousers and dresses, for a casual yet cool mix. However, new styles from Chloé, Proenza Schouler, and Toteme are stealing our editors’ hearts. They are cool, comfy, and oh-so-stylish.
Classic White
You can’t go wrong adding a crisp, white trainer into your lineup; it’s the easiest sneaker to style. Saint Laurent’s leather, low-top sneaker is a bestseller if you’re looking for a designer buy, while Tory Burch, Adidas, and On deliver leather styles that ring under $200 and hit on the tenniscore trend. For a high-fashion pick, turn to Dries Van Noten’s lace-up kicks, featuring cool, speckled laces and scallop trimming; it’s soon to be your everyday go-to.
The Cool-Girl Pick
Whether you consider it gorpcore or sporty chic, the street style set loves a practical, supremely comfy sneaker for everyday wear. Sporty, Dad-styles from New Balance, Nike, and Salomon tend to be the most popular in this category, thanks to accessible price points and a near-constant stream of new arrivals, in limited edition colorways. But don’t miss out on Puma’s Speedcat OG (a favorite of Emily Ratajkowski’s!) or the Adidas SL 72 varieties; these both tend to fly the moment they are restocked.
The Old-School Canvas
You may recall canvas shoes as the OG tennis sneaker (with plimsolls being their lighter-weight counterparts for school gym classes). Today, you’ll find the breathable fabric incorporated in a variety of styles. Tried-and-true favorites include Vans lace-ups and Converse high-tops (a favorite of Kendall Jenner’s). Quiet luxury lovers will also gravitate toward The Row’s now classic interpretation—a sleek, canvas option mixed with breathable mesh.
Slip on and Go
You may have outgrown your slip-ons after graduating high school, but even still, it’s hard to deny their appeal; you literally slide your foot in and voilà—you’re set. Vans will always be Vans, but for a more luxe take on the slip-on of your teenage years, turn to Bottega Veneta for a sumptuous leather version in its heritage Intrecciato weave. Backless versions from Golden Goose and Superga have also created a stir in this category.
