Sneakerheads have been infiltrating the street style set for the past few years now – and we're honestly totally here for it.
Way back when, traditional shoe styles ruled the roost, whereas now rocking a pair of trainers to Fashion Week is totally commonplace and stylish sneakers are ten a penny.
Excellent news for exercise avoidants – there's zero need to work up a sweat to justify treating yourself to a fresh pair of kicks.
© GettyThis season, we're all about utilising our trainer collection to the max and styling our pairs alongside dresses. Injecting your wardrobe with a generous dose of casual cool will stand you in good stead on days when you need to look polished, but not overly formal.
If you're into high-octane patterns, keep things understated with a minimalist, single-hue trainer, perhaps echoing one of the print's accent shades. High tops pair well with mini lengths – check out styles by the likes of Gola, Puma, and Lazy Oaf.
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Chunky, retro styles offset the initial drama of a maxi, and Salomon's xt-6 are a case in point. Our fail-safe style rule? It's hard to go wrong with crisp white trainer. Classics such as Nike Dunks and Adidas sl 72 OG's are a safe bet, but Autry also excels in this area. And for a slightly smarter, work-appropriate style, laceless is the way to go.
H! Fashion rounds up the best trainers to wear with dresses:
Salomon XT-6
Salomon
Style with...
A colourful sun dress.
There's a reason why every fashion girly in East London has a pair of Salomon sneakers. Comfortable, just the right amount of chunky and easy to style, these white options are perfect for wearing with jeans or a midi dress for a slice of Copenhagen-cool style.
White Lace Up Ballet Sneaker
Lazy Oaf
Style with...
A collared mini dress.
I would go as far as to say that these are the cutest sneaker options on the market right now. Described as a ballet flat/trainer hybrid, they boast all the fun that comes with a ballet flat and the practicality that comes with a sneaker.
SL72 OG
Adidas
Style with...
A cream oversized suit and gold jewellery.
Brown shoes are making a comeback and these sporty yet easy to style options are currently beloved by all the cool girls in the social media sphere.
Adidas Originals Country OG trainers
Adidas
Style with...
A denim maxi dress and an oversized tee.
Inspired by iconic 1970s cross-country styles, Adidas Originals' Country OG trainers are bold and full of bounce. With a playful, intrinsically sporty appeal, these would seamlessly dial down a dressier piece or work within a more casual ensemble.
550 Rubber and Mesh-Trimmed Leather Sneakers
New Balance
Style with...
A stretch-infused cami dress.
Inspired by basketball footwear, New Balance's 550s feature cushioned midsoles for maximum comfort and vivid blue accents all over - great if you're after something a bit more interesting than a simple white trainer.
GEL-NYC Leather and Suede-Trimmed Mesh Sneakers
Asics
Style with...
A cream ribbed knit dress.
An Asics noughties classic has reworked to create this model, and as someone who isn't usually swayed by the Dad sneaker trend, I'm actually very into these. I like that the soles have an element of height without being overly chunky. Team with racer shades and a cap for maximum cool-girl appeal.
Dunk Low Retro Premium
Nike
Style with...
A thigh-skimming oversized hoodie.
Subtle shades of brown are a breeze to style, and these Dunk Low Retro Premiums feel super versatile. I love the cream and brown sole for a slightly less stark effect (than crisp white, for instance) and would totally wear these with dresses and baggy jeans alike.
Medalist Mid High-Top Leather Sneaker
Autry
Style with...
A light-wash denim midaxi.
Steeped in 80s cool, these high-tops by Autry feature smooth, white perforated leather and thick rubber soles. Box-fresh white kicks hit different, and I love the retro appeal of the logo inlay.
Classics Women's Tornado Trainers
Gola
Style with...
A crisp linen midi dress and a blue button-up cardigan.
These retro-inspired trainers boast bold energy in the best way because we all know life is far to short to be wearing boring shoes. Made from nylon and suede and complete with a cushioned gum sole, these will instantly become your go-to shoe of choice.
How we chose:
- Style and versatility: All our trainer picks feature a cool silhouette and work harmoniously with the dress styles we've suggested. When combing through the internet's top fashion sites for the best styles, we made sure that each of our choices feel either trend-relevant or timeless for maximum wearability.
- Variety: We've curated our edit with different styles in mind, ranging from high-tops to Dad sneakers.
Why you should trust me:
I am Hello! Fashion’s Fashion Features Writer. With a love for all things fashion (the quirkier the better), I can usually be found playing dress-up in my own wardrobe, watching Gilmore Girls for the 8th time or finding new outfit inspo and DIY musts on TikTok, nothing in my closet is safe from a safety-pin bow embellishment. I have been in the styling world for almost 5 years now, specialising in editorial features, luxury campaigns and music videos. As for the world of magazines, I have worked for various digital and print publications around the world, focusing on fashion. Basically, fashion is my bread and butter.
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