Bold Statement: Fashion People Are Bored With This Wildly Popular Sneaker Style

I never thought I'd say this, but the reign of the plain white sneaker seems to have ended. But at the risk of succumbing to hyperbole, I'm not telling anyone to throw away their white sneakers by any means. I certainly won't be. I'm only here to talk about the fact that they're not as "trendy" as they once were, as evidenced by the sneakers that fashion people are wearing now. White sneakers still serve their purpose in a wardrobe—they're simple, comfortable shoe that looks good with everything, including, dresses, denim, and sweats. They're as timeless as sneakers get, and images of Jane Birkin wearing white sneakers in the '70s are ingrained in my memory because of it.

So what is happening in the land of sneaker trends in 2022? I'd say that the overarching theme is that variety is the spice of life. Everyone isn't wearing the same exact sneakers, unlike during the dad sneaker era and the Adidas Stan Smith revival era. There are quite a lot of trends percolating, among them retro soccer sneakers, colorful kicks, and uber-sporty styles.

Read on to see the evidence of what sneakers fashion people are wearing, and shop the coolest pairs that fit the non–white sneaker bill.

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(Image credit: @champagnemani)

Sneakers that give your outfit an "I'm going hiking" vibe? Yes, please.

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(Image credit: @camillecharriere)

Adidas Samba sneakers are the sneakers of the year, if you ask me.

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(Image credit: @claire_most)

This futuristic style makes a simple outfit all the more interesting.

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(Image credit: @anaasaber)

Colorful kicks are everywhere ATM.

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(Image credit: @emilisindlev)

Adidas soccer-inspired sneakers are selling out left and right.

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(Image credit: @himichelleli)

The sportier and more functional, the better.

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(Image credit: @aemiliafay)

Colorful New Balance sneakers > plain white sneakers.

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(Image credit: @lucywilliams02)

Sneakers + cozy fisherman sweaters is a yes for fall.

Next up, see which It sneakers Kendall Jenner wore with fall's biggest skirt trend.

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Allyson Payer
Senior Editor

Allyson is a senior editor for Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories for Who What Wear. Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.