With the plethora of trainer trends currently on the market, it's safe to say we can use all the help we can get to narrow down the options. Which is why we turned to the experts at Edited, a fashion and retail technology company that's always the first to know about market trends. We asked if there's a trainer trend that recently bit the dust, and Edited's answer came as a surprise, as the style the team named was quite a new trend: Satin trainers.
Katie Smith, Edited's senior retail analyst, pulled data on the trend and told us that "44% of satin trainers are currently discounted by an average of 40% off. And 75% of styles that were reduced in the last three months have not yet sold out, despite hefty reductions! That's because our relationship with trainers has shifted. We want our footwear to match our fast-paced, action-packed lives. Satin trainers, though lightweight, won't wear well through wet weather in the colder months, let alone a trip on the tube!"
Smith makes a very good point about the impracticality of the satin trainers that were everywhere this summer, but what about the trends that everyone is buying? She pulled the data on that too.
Keep scrolling to find out which four trainer trends are on the top of everyone's lists right now, according to an expert.
Futuristic
"Futuristic footwear inspires us to feel like we can cope with whatever the day throws at us. There are some seriously futuristic trainers hitting the market and selling well. Otherwise known as sock trainers, these are the biggest footwear trends of the season, backed especially by luxury brands. With their high tops and stretch knit, sock trainers play the perfect contrast with the current wide-leg, oversize silhouette. In the luxury market, the number of sock trainer products has grown by 220% from Q1 2017 to Q3 2017. Based on last quarter's new arrivals, the average price is £300. Discounting on the style is incredibly low too—this one is set to stay for a while!" — Katie Smith
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Classics Rerun
"Nostalgia is hot right now. We've seen brands like Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger become hot—property for younger, trend-led shoppers. Nineties footwear styles that are making a comeback and re-releases from activewear brands are fueling this trend. There's something for everyone—from the classic Air Max to the skate-friendly checkerboard Old Skool Vans." — Katie Smith
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Related: Female Sneakerheads: The Cool Women Who Are Obsessed With Trainers
Lightweight Mesh
"These trainers are so light, you forget you're wearing them. Advances in fabrics and technology mean that our trainers are becoming our second skin. In the last three months, there have been 33% more of these styles arriving into stores than at the start of the year. This latest wave of knitted, mesh, and breathable styles is connecting well with consumers with its average price point of £70." — Katie Smith
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Related: I Asked an Expert—This Is How to Keep Your White Trainers Looking Like New
Embellished
"Consumers definitely want function, but that doesn't mean they've entirely given up on form. Embellished-trainer styles are still trendy, helping inject personality into the wearer's look. We're talking metal rivets, pom-poms, gemstones, embroidery, and appliqué—any razzle-dazzle to make your feet stand out from the mix. Of course, Gucci is keeping this trend hot, with its sneakers embroidered with bees, daggers, embellished crowns, and flower motifs." — Katie Smith
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Next, see the best trainers of all time.This post originally appeared on Who What Wear US.
