Leave your heels at home and brace yourself for the torrent of new must-have sneakers. From retro kicks to dad-style wheels, these are the comfiest, yet coolest trainers dominating the fashion circuit…
When a trend comes along that offers that magical fusion of comfort and style, you know we’re onto something special. Back in the ’90s, it was all about the Nike Air Max and Adidas Sambas, fast forward to 2011 and Phoebe Philo, then Creative Director of Céline, reignited the Stan Smith tennis shoe obsession. Today – well, this is so much more than a trend – trainers are owning the style spotlight. And not just in the gym! We’re seeing elegant tailoring teamed with chunky Asics and dresses with old-school soccer shoes. This is a movement both you and your feet will want to join.
There’s a definite buzz around the retro Adidas Gazelles and Sambas. With those distinctive stripes appearing on the likes of Kendall Jenner and influencer Lindsey Holland, retrocore is where it’s at for 2023. However, if you’re after something chunkier and effortlessly cool (ironically what was once deemed the dad shoe), the New Balance 550 is where it’s at. This basketball shoe, revived from the ‘80s, includes Bella Hadid, Rihanna and Emily Ratajkowski as fans. All suggests we should add it to our wardrobe repertoire.
In the last year we’ve seen a rising interest in gorpcore – a term coined by Jason Chen in The Cut back in 2017, which stands for ‘good old raisins and peanuts’, AKA the trail mix eaten on hikes by outdoor enthusiasts. Think utilitarian or practical meets fashion, as designers created high-end hiking boots, fleece jackets and now trainers. Much like the snow boot trend, sneakers featuring GORE-TEX technology, lace-up detail and high performance elements are hitting the pavements just as much as the mountains. Start looking to Nike, Salomon, Hoka and Adidas.
Whichever look you go for, from low tops to high tops, we’ve got you covered. In fact, as we all look to improve on sustainability, we have also included our favourite vegan trainers below, featuring brands Veja, Saye and Stella McCartney.
Retrocore continues to win in the style stakes with everyone from supermodel Kaia Gerber to Harry Styles stepping out in Adidas soccer shoes.
Scroll For High Tops
Pop on hi tops for that instant injection of cool. From Isabel Marant to Nike and Diadora, all your fave labels have created styles worth coveting.
Vegan Fashion Trainers
Still the same stylish sneakers, only made from recycled materials. LØCI is one brand using recycled ocean plastics to craft a truly sustainable collection, while Saye Modelo ‘89 Vegan Apple is made from apple waste from the food industry. The advances in technology to support our planet are mindblowing, especially when they come together to create such an incredible range of covetable products. Veja has been at the forefront of the changes, but now the choice is great with innovative labels Momoc, Corail and MoEa all delivering eco- friendly fashion looks.
The products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however, The Handbook may make a small commission on some of the products purchased through affiliate links.
