Shop 36 Elevated Sneakers That Will Never Go Out of Style (2024)

If you’re looking for somewhere to start, you can never go wrong with the iconic sneaker houses like Nike, Adidas, or Vans. You can also shop material or silhouette first, like a leather low-top or canvas slip-on. For street style cred, a high-fashion collaboration is always near (see: Adidas and Wales Bonner), as are gorpcore picks that marry utilitarian elements with more contemporary design sensibilities. The overarching approach: find the style that you prefer, whether that's sporty, chunky, or slim, then decide on the colorway and material. Minimal white sneakers tend to get the most wear since they complement just about anything, but depending on your preferred color palette, you might love a shoe that mixes blacks, browns, or grays.

There’s a time and a place for flashy or seasonal trending sneakers, but a pair of trainers with staying power that you can confidently throw on with any outfit is essential, and can become your personal, signature shoe. From coveted designer iterations to forever classics, take your pick from the below sneakers for women that'll never go out of style.

Timeless Leather

A leather sneaker is always a great place to start: The material gets better with age, plus offers a snug and secure fit. Leather styles run the gamut in terms of price; for affordable picks, turn to Veja—the sustainably-minded French sneaker brand has been worn by everyone from Kate Middleton to Emily Ratajkowski—Nike, and Adidas. If it’s designer or bust, Gucci’s chunky, dad sneaker is the way to go.

Put it in Retro

Designers have been revisiting vintage-inspired sneakers for a while now. You'll recognize the narrow silhouette which tapers in the foot for an elongated look. We love the ones from Loewe and The Row to pair with flowy trousers and dresses, for a casual yet cool mix. Anything from Adidas and Wales Bonner’s ongoing collab sells out whenever it drops—the soft blue mesh with chocolate brown stripes is this season's must-have. This color pairing is absolute perfection.

Classic White

You can't go wrong adding a crisp white trainer into your lineup; it's the easiest sneaker to style. Saint Laurent's leather, low-top sneaker is a bestseller if you're looking for a designer buy, while Tory Burch and Adidas deliver leather styles that ring under $200 and hit on the tenniscore trend. For high-fashion picks, turn to Toteme or Alaïa, who remixed Superga’s canvas shoe with intricate lace detailing, for a collab that is still going strong in our books.

The Cool-Girl Pick

Whether you consider it gorpcore or sporty chic, the street style set loves a practical, supremely comfy sneaker for everyday wear. Sporty, Dad-styles from New Balance, Asics, and Solomon tend to be the most popular in this category, thanks to accessible price points and a near-constant stream of new arrivals, in limited edition colorways. But don’t miss out on Loewe + On’s newest drop of CloudTilt kicks and Bottega Veneta’s glamorous silver trainer. Tired feet will thank you.

The Old-School Canvas

You may recall canvas shoes as the OG tennis sneaker (with plimsolls being their lighter-weight counterparts for school gym classes). Today, you'll find the breathable fabric incorporated in a variety of styles. Tried-and-true favorites include Vans lace-ups, Tretorn low-tops and Converse high-tops (a favorite of Kendall Jenner’s). Quiet luxury lovers will also gravitate toward The Row's latest interpretation—a sleek canvas option mixed with breathable mesh.

Slip on and Go

You may have outgrown your slip ons after graduating high school, but even still, it's hard to deny their appeal: You literally slide your foot in and voilà—you're set. Vans will always be Vans, but for a more luxe take on the slip-on of your teenage years, turn to Koio’s clean leather, M.Gemi’s woven option, or Common Projects’ soft suede for effortlessly minimalist designs that can be styled with everything.