The Only 15 Sneaker Brands That Fashion People Are Wearing Right Now
If you were to draw a Venn diagram of the fashion crowd and the sneaker crowd, you'd see a major overlap. In the past few seasons, the two have become even more integrated than ever before, thanks to several designer sneaker collaborations that have piqued both the interest of fashion insiders and in-the-know sneakerheads who are experts at clocking the latest drops.
With comfort being a top priority when getting dressed, a pair of cool sneakers has gone from being an afterthought to an absolute must-have among fashion people, and we're here to divulge exactly which pairs they're reaching for the most right now—15 sneaker brands, to be exact. From perennial classics like Converse and New Balance to the Salomon and Asics pairs that are becoming more popular by the day, keep scrolling to discover the best sneaker brands and see how fashion people are styling pairs from each.
Adidas
From their celebrity following to their perpetually sold-out status, there's no question that the It sneakers of the moment include the Adidas Sambas and Gazelles. Fashion people adore their cool retro appeal and range of fun color options, from classic neutrals to saturated shades.
New Balance
New Balance continues to sit at the top of our shopping lists, whether it's for one of its chunkier 990 styles or the '80s-inspired 550s. There's a pair for everyone.
Converse
It doesn't get any more timeless than the canvas high-tops from Converse, which seem to resonate especially well with French women and their effortless, minimal style.
Reebok
Retro sneakers are the styles of the moment, and Reebok is a mainstay for easy and affordable pairs that look just as good with a tennis skirt as they do with tailored trousers.
Onitsuka Tiger
If you follow a certain subset of cool girls online, you've seen the bright-yellow pairs from Onitsuka Tiger in your feed. The label's Mexico 66 pair is quickly rising as the next It sneakers, and we think they have the potential to become the next Sambas.
Nike
Is it even a conversation about sneakers without a mention of Nike? From its meticulously engineered performance pairs to styles like the Air Max that basically invented "athleisure," you'll always find Nike in a fashion person's closet.
Loewe
From its retro Flow sneakers to the buzzy collab with running-sneaker brand On, Loewe has made a name for itself as the new go-to brand for luxury sneakers.
Salomon
With huge celeb support from Hailey Bieber, Bella Hadid, and many more, Salomon's hiking sneakers are the unlikely pairs we didn't see becoming so popular.
Asics
Asics has been surprisingly back on our radar as a fashion-person sneaker label ever since Bulgarian designer Kiko Kostadinov began his ongoing partnership with the brand. The sneakers to come out of his curation feature some of the most exciting color combinations and silhouettes we've seen in sneakers in a while.
Air Jordan
While they're hardly new—their history goes back to 1985 and, of course, their namesake Michael Jordan—these iconic high-top sneakers are definitely having a renaissance. Nike has been releasing updated Air Jordan 1s in pretty new color options like baby blue and Kelly green, and fashion people have been all over them.
On
It seems like On's Cloud sneakers popped up out of nowhere with their distinctive Swiss cheese–like soles, but if you ask anyone who owns them, you'll hear nothing but praise for their cloud-like comfort and running-ready support.
Superga
Kate Middleton and Emily Ratajkowski (two celebs whose style arguably couldn't be more different) both love these sub-$70 white sneakers, so they must be onto something.
Gucci
On the heels of its viral collaboration with Adidas, Gucci is seeing a spike in interest in its sneakers, with in-demand pairs like the pink Gazelles that sold out in minutes.
Hoka
Prepare to hear phrases like "the comfiest sneakers I've ever put on" and "game changers" when Hoka comes up in conversation. The ultra-cushy soles on its popular Bondi and Clifton sneakers make them heavenly to wear, and the platform lends a little lift.
Chanel
Sneakers don't immediately come to mind when we think about Chanel (its iconic ballet flats or slingbacks are more likely), yet the underrated pairs have found a cult following among the fashion crowd for their modern streetwear-inspired designs.
This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Anna is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who has been a member of the Who What Wear team for over seven years, having begun her career in L.A. at brands like Michael Kors and A.L.C. As an editor, she has earned a reputation for her coverage of breaking trends, emerging brands, luxury shopping curations, fashion features, and more. Anna has penned a number Who What Wear cover interviews, including Megan Fox, Julia Garner, and Lilly Collins. She also leads the site’s emerging travel vertical that highlights all things travel and lifestyle through a fashion-person lens.
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