Like a cool autumn breeze, fall’s biggest sneaker trends are a breath of fresh air for your everyday wardrobe. The season’s vibe, as my colleagues and I have deduced from scouring the fall runways and spending countless hours walking around New York, is a return to elegant simplicity via slim, sporty, retro designs. Barely-there outsoles elevate casual outfits; track-inspired silhouettes offer nostalgia and walkability; bright pops of color might just convince you to put your white sneakers to rest. These are the biggest sneaker trends my fellow editors and I will be wearing this fall, from chocolate-brown suede to Scandi-girl runners.
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Miu Miu Gymnasium Technical Fabric and Python-Print Ayers Leather Sneakers
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1. Chocolate brown
You heard it here first: Fashion people are trading in their stark white kicks for earthy brown sneakers. The neutral is just as effortless to wear—it looks great with white socks, black pants, faded jeans, patterned dresses, and just about everything else—while offering a little more of a risk-taker’s point of view to any outfit. Chocolate brown looks great in suede, and the picks below make the most of the color in easy-to-style silhouettes.
2. Extra-slim soles
All of my favorite sneakers of the moment all feature the absolute thinnest soles possible, and my fellow fashion insiders agree—chunky kicks are on the back burner for now. Ushered in late last year by Dries Van Noten’s streamlined sneakers, available below, the trend has now reached everyone from Reformation to Veronica Beard. I love this silhouette because the loafer-like soles feel more elevated than those of regular sneakers; you can wear a pair with a suit to the office or with a dress on a dinner date without feeling underdressed.
3. Post-Sambas Adidas
Sambas will never be over; if anything, they’ve ascended to the realm of the wardrobe staple. But for those of us who like to change things up with our footwear, it’s time to evolve. And Adidas is on the case, releasing so many archival silhouettes and sought-after collabs that it’s almost impossible to keep up. I’m betting on the Tokyo as the next It shape; invest now to stay well ahead of the curve. Alternatively, one of the brand’s buzzy Wales Bonner collaborations is still in stock, retro releases are readily available, and a folded-tongue take on Sambas has hit shelves. Take your pick.
4. Animal prints
Bold animal prints popped up on countless runways this season, including zebra at Balmain and leopard at Khaite. Some of the most buzzed-about shoes of the entire season, meanwhile, were Miu Miu’s snakeskin sneakers, which added a bit of bite to demure coats and knee-high socks. So whether you deck out your sneaks in python, cheetah, or croc—all faux, of course—your footwear rotation will keep up with fashion’s current edgy, glamorous streak.
5. Retro runners
Everyone needs a good pair of athletic sneakers in their closet, and one of fall’s hottest silhouettes is the ’70s track shoe. Defined by foam midsoles and grippy outsoles, these kicks combine the foot-friendly benefits of walking shoes with the retro charm of vintage sneakers. Heritage styles from Nike, Puma, and Reebok are enjoying a major moment, while Loewe and Tory Burch have released their own takes on the style, meaning we’re in for a lot more of these shoes in the coming months. Style your choice with crew socks for the full throwback effect.
6. Easy plimsolls
The sneaker of choice for both Jane Birkin and prep-school teens, lightweight plimsolls—perhaps the simplest kicks on the market—have charmed the fashion world as fall settles in. With sporty origins and svelte profiles, they fit right in with the rest of the moment’s minimal sneaker trends. Honor the classics with a pair from Keds, Tretorn, or Converse; go with $35 Feiyues to fit in with the growing number of Americans adopting the iconic Chinese-French brand, which is now readily available on Amazon.
7. Sporty high-tops
Boxing shoes have been quietly growing in popularity at the fringes of fashion, popping up in recent runway collections from Stella McCartney and Ann Demeulemeester, plus on stylish celebrities like Lola Tung. And thanks to new releases from Puma, Adidas, and Onitsuka Tiger, they’re finally poised to go mainstream this season. Combining the silhouette of a boot with sneaker soles and sporty side detailing, these shoes more than speak for themselves; a simple skirt or wool shorts will give them plenty of room to breathe.
8. Techy running shoes
While you might associate this genre with your dad, you can thank Scandinavian girls and hiking’s growing influence on fashion for the recent explosion in technical sneakers. Equipped for backcountry runs and city treks alike, these pairs are unapologetically athletic: silver accents, bold colorways, thick soles, large logos. Channel gorpcore with a tank top, a nylon jacket, and track pants, or try your hand at Scandi styling with a chunky cardigan, a full skirt, and an oversized scrunchie. Either way, you’re in for an exceptionally comfortable day.
9. Sneakerinas
The most divisive shoe trend to arrive on my radar has officially hit the big time. Following in the footsteps of labels like Miu Miu and Simone Rocha, which have long offered ballet flat-sneaker hybrids, brands like JW Pei and Jeffrey Campbell are now releasing their takes on the trend. And all of a sudden, they’re everywhere; I can’t take a trip on the subway without seeing someone wearing Puma’s dainty sneakers or Vivaia’s lace-up flats. This is a nice in-between for anyone who loves flats but needs a more walking-friendly option. Pro tip: Ballerina sneakers look especially great with long skirts and baggy jeans.
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