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 the 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.
Sneakers that give your outfit an “I’m going hiking” vibe? Yes, please.
I love how minimal yet interesting this style is.
I kind of can’t believe these It sneakers are still in stock.
Retro (without trying too hard).
Adidas Samba sneakers are the sneakers of the year, if you ask me.
The black and white pairs are everywhere but I also love this neutral iteration (and it’s still in stock).
Asics is a brand that’s taken off this year.
This futuristic style makes a simple outfit all the more interesting.
Already ordered ’em!
These are the perfect retro fall sneakers to wear with jeans and everything else.
Colorful kicks are everywhere ATM.
Nike Air Force Ones will always be “in”.
This bold blue is particularly fresh.
Adidas soccer-inspired sneakers are selling out left and right.
Hokas are my current workout shoes of choice.
The sportier and more functional, the better.
Snag these while they’re still in stock—Salomons go fast.
Just looking at these makes me happy.
A very cool designer pick to add to the mix.
Colorful New Balance sneakers > plain white sneakers.
Sneakers don’t get much prettier than this.
You can never go wrong with Reebok.
Sneakers + cozy fisherman sweaters is a yes for fall.
The color is perfect for fall.
Obsessed with the mesh overlay on these.
Next up, see which It sneakers Kendall Jenner wore with fall’s biggest skirt trend.
