The Women’s Sneakers To Take Style And Comfort One Step Further (2024)

It doesn’t matter whether you’re the proud owner of a walk-in wardrobe or live by the rules of a perfectly curated ‘better, fewer’ wardrobe: a pair of sneakers is a wardrobe essential for everyone — and we mean everyone.

The best sneakers for women have made their way into the closets of some of our favorite stars: stylish enough to earn their place with your weekday style and comfortable enough so you’ll look forward to slipping them on.

They’re classy enough to give you a boost of confidence during work meetings and cozy enough to fall back on for those indecisive outfit days.

Classic sneakers, colorful sneakers, designer sneakers, and fashion sneakers: buying a new pair of trainers nowadays comes with plenty more opportunity for wear outside of the gym. Of course, a great pair of workout shoes is another wardrobe essential, but this year these will also be accompanying you to brunch, evening drinks, weekend trips, and everything in between.

Warning: you might not want to wear any of your other shoes again (including those very comfortable flats).

The 27 best trendy sneakers for women

Check our special women’s sneakers buying guide after the list to see exactly what you should pay attention to when shopping for a new pair of sneakers online.

Axel Arigato Clean 90: Best overall sneakers for women

Practical and stylish, cozy and comfortable, unique and versatile enough to not need an extra 10 minutes of thinking time when outfit pairing. In short: Axel Arigato sneakers. Take it one step further and you’ll find a pair that promises to do all of the above and maybe even a little more. The pair in question? Axel Arigato’s Clean 90 Triple Sneaker.

Clean by name and clean by nature, these are the women’s sneakers you’ll simultaneously want to admire in your wardrobe and also wear on every occasion possible. Fresh and understated—but never boring, these women’s trainers confidently walk into the world of luxe footwear without much competition at all. Buy them and get used to seeing the same minimalistic silhouette in all of your photos from now on.

Check my in-depth Axel Arigato Clean 90 review to see why I love them so much.

Best for: Polished minimalism on a daily basis.

Gucci Ace: Best designer sneakers for women

Designer sneakers don’t come much better than Gucci sneakers, and these trainers promise to look incredible and last for years on end. That’s if you ever stop admiring them long enough to wear them rather than gazing at them in your shoe closet.

Sure, you could go all out with some of Gucci’s more heavily embellished designs but for a pair that promises to hold their own with the rest of your outfit, look no further than this clean and pared-back version of Gucci’s coveted Ace sneakers.

Crafted in Italy, the low-top sneakers combine luxe, smooth, white leather with a touch of gray on the heel tabs, the iconic perforated GG logo on the side, and a comfy inner to pull it all together.

Best for: Taking your first steps into the Gucci footwear cult.

Nike Air Force 1 ’07: Best value sneakers for women

You can’t go wrong with a pair of Nikes. Quick trip to the gym? Pull out the Nikes for a boost to your burpees. Heading out for a stroll with friends? Your Nikes offer blister-free fun to focus on catch-ups and coffee. Smart casual meeting? Pair those Nikes, once again, with tailored trousers for effortless put togetherness.

The Nikes in question? We’d have to go for the Nike Air Force 1 ’07. The kind of trainers that look just as stylish when they’re bright white and fresh out the box as they do when they’re a little battered and worn-in, a pair of Nike Air Forces are an easy addition to your wardrobe with crisp leather and bold white design. Chunky soles offer extra support and a dash of streetwear chic to any outfit. They’re undoubtedly the best Nike white sneakers.

Best for: Spotting them first, browsing for an hour, and inevitably circling back to buy them at the end.

Oliver Cabell Low 1: Best distressed sneakers for women

Distressed jeans are out and distressed trainers are in. Those carefully threaded gently pulled, and ever so slightly worn-in sneakers show signs of age in the best way possible to add a casual touch to any outfit. The best-distressed trainers come courtesy of Oliver Cabell – a brand that’s known for taking the idea of the humble trainer and elevating it with buttery-soft Italian leather and that famous, minimalist silhouette.

A wardrobe staple for any self-respecting sneakerhead, the Oliver Cabell Low 1 Sneakersadd a vintage touch in a way that’s both stylish and versatile.

Oliver Cabell’s cult status means you likely already know just how soft these sneakers are before your paths finally cross. But, much like those super soft blankets or impossibly smooth, silky luxury bed sheets, you can’t quite appreciate the levels of comfort that come from these sneakers until you’ve got yourself a pair.

Check our in-depth review of Oliver Cabell’s sneakers and our profile on Oliver Cabell’s brand.

Best for: Understated, Italian chic with a unique vintage touch.

New Republic Malibu: Best platform sneakers for women

Much like gin and tonic, bread and butter, or ham and cheese: think of platform sneakers and the brand that should come to mind is New Republic.

Featuring a chunky platform sole for an effortless lift, TENCEL footbed for extra cushion, and Cali cool vibes, these Malibu platform sneakers are the holiday your feet deserve and exactly what you need when you’re on your feet all day.

Understated enough to pair perfectly with any kind of outfit, these minimalist sneakers will only ever leave your feet for a clean before you breathe a sigh of relief and quickly place them right back where they belong.

Best for: Giving you that extra height physically and metaphorically.

Koio Capri Triple White: Best white sneakers for women

Much like the white T-shirt, a good pair of white sneakers is an essential building block to any woman’s capsule wardrobe.

Handcrafted in Italy from full-grain leather, Koio’s Capri Triple White is our favorite pair for keeping at the front of your wardrobe at all times, with their laidback cushion-cozy style. These are the white sneakers you’ll find yourself dreaming of whenever you’re obliged to wear something a little more formal, and the pair you’ll automatically throw in your bag ahead of any vaguely described occasion. A pair that will make you dig a little deeper into the world of leather repairs, cleaning materials, and whitening creams. But know that whether you keep your Koio box-fresh or let them get scuffed up—you’ll love them either way.

Best for: Comfortable outfit pairing no matter the occasion.

Adidas Originals: Best classic sneakers for women

There’s a good reason you’ll spot Adidas Originals in basically any shoe store you ever enter. These classic sneakers are ubiquitous with comfort and style, carefully bridging the gap between being timeless and constantly in season.

These iconic Stan Smith leather sneakers are just as soft and supple as their leather outers would have you believe: a budget-friendly addition to your weekday wardrobe that far surpasses comfort levels considering its price point.

Even if you’re someone who would typically shy away from such a popular pair of sneakers, you’ll likely find yourself admiring the Stan Smiths on the feet of your friends, before giving in and buying yourself your own pair. The only regret is not giving into them earlier. Like a comforting cup of tea or a favorite pair of pyjamas, you’ll quickly struggle to imagine life without your Stan Smiths.

Best for: The little white sneaker as classic as the little black dress.

Allbirds Tree Runners: Most comfortable sneakers for women

Trainers for walking might be a given. But not all trainers are created equally and while some of your favorite new pairs might get more than a few enviable glances over brunch, they might not fare quite so well when brunch has finished and you’re attempting the long walk back to the station. Let us present to you the brand behind the world’s most comfortable shoes: Allbirds.

The Allbirds Tree Runners are ready and willing for all of your adventures, with their huge range of colorways and sustainably made materials. These Allbirds are produced from eucalyptus trees, which makes them feel just as good on your feet as in your head.

Check our in-depth Allbirds review to learn more about the shoes, or read our story behind Allbirds to learn more about the brand itself.

Best for: Getting off the train a stop earlier to put your sneakers to good use.

M.Gemi The Cerchio: Best women’s slip-on sneakers

The beauty of M.Gemi comes in many forms. First, the unique designs that the brand produces, with the finest materials and one-of-a-kind styles. Then, the almost unspeakably comfortable soles that your feet slip into. Finally? The overall effect, when you’re walking out the door and look down with a dash of admiration. And M.Gemi’s Woven Leather Sneakers are designed to not only look good, but also to slip into your lifestyle seamlessly.

These women’s sneakers don’t require any kind of effort in the form of laces – the slip on nature fuses perfectly with even the busiest of lifestyles. Available in a range of muted tones including olive, grey, and black, these slip-on sneakers are effortlessly chic. A lightweight sole makes them walkable for even those unexpectedly long distances while the woven, rich leather adds a premium touch to your look.

Best for: Instant cool no matter how time-conscious the occasion.

Superga Cotu Classic: Best budget sneakers for women

Casual sneakers should feel like an old friend: reliable, sturdy, and always there when you need them. Superga’s Classic Sneaker is an obvious choice when it comes to fulfilling exactly that role and, available in enough colors to stock up for every occasion, these trainers are casual and laid back in a classic style that blends in, in the best way possible.

Super comfortable and machine washable, Superga’s trainers are the pair you’ll reorder again and again. The adult equivalent of your favorite childhood teddy bear, these affordable sneakers are cute, comfortable, and endlessly reliable.

Best for: Feeling like a catch-up with your best friend whenever you slip them on.

Veja Esplar: Best sustainable sneakers for women

You’ll walk with a newly refined spring in your step when you’re wearing Veja trainers. The new kid on the block – or rather, the older kid on the block who’s recently finding popularity – Veja produces a range of fashionable sneakers produced using sustainable materials. All of Veja’s trainers are made with raw materials sourced from organic farming and ecological agriculture, without chemicals or polluting processes.

It’s hard to go wrong with any pair of Vejas – every shoe the brand releases is just as fashionable – but for a versatile option that looks just at home during Fashion Week as it does during your WFH sessions, opt for the Veja Esplar sneakers.

Best for: Being the catalyst to improving your sustainable wardrobe.

Maison Margiela Replica: Best suede sneakers for women

The quest for a comfy pair of wear-everywhere women’s sneakers stops right here.

Drawing inspiration from vintage styles from the ’70s, the Replica sneaker by Maison Margielais modern and streamlined, nostalgic and contemporary, juxtaposing and effortlessly blending in. It’s a sneaker of contrasts that easily brings life to even your ‘back of the wardrobe’ outfits and instantly adds a dash of vintage chic to your day.

Just like the brand’s iconic perfumes, these low-top sneakers will be your go-to whether you’re going on your Saturday stroll or strolling through life. They’ve been made in Italy from suede and set on bouncy rubber soles.

Best for: Searching through the back of your wardrobe for more old college memories.

Chloe Lauren: Best black sneakers for women

You know what they say, the best outfits start from the feet up. Well, you can’t go wrong with a pair of black sneakers—and even more so if the luxury sneakers are courtesy of Chloe.

Great for adding a smart casual touch to any outfit, Chloé’s Lauren sneakers are detailed with the label’s signature feminine scalloping along the upper sole and features thick rubber soles.

The versatile staple pair of black sneakers will see you through all kinds of adventures. Wear these low-top sneakers with cropped pants or feminine dresses to showcase the logo on the pull tab at the rear.

Best for: Looking stylish even on potentially muddy occasions.

Dior Walk’N’Dior: Best low top sneakers for women

Dior is one of the best luxury brands that have successfully established a foothold among the sneaker community. Evidence of this is Dior Walk’N’Dior sneakers (if you’re on Instagram, you know).

Proving once and for all that glamor and comfort can go together, these timeless luxury sneakers feature a chunky white rubber midsole with embossed J’ADIOR signature and a sturdy canvas printed with Dior’s motif.

Laidback style fuses with a hint of bold confidence to create a sneaker appreciated for its trending popularity as well as its timelessness. Comfortable and stylish, they’re a win-win pair for anyone looking for luxury low-top sneakers.

Best for: Being your fashion fallback on any occasion.

Common Projects Achilles: Best minimalist sneakers for women

Common Projects’ whole focus as a brand is to keep things simple: streamlined, understated and chilled out. Slip into a pair of Common Projects sneakers and immediately find yourself feeling a little more refreshed on even the most stressful of days. So it makes sense that the brand would produce some of the best women’s low top sneakers: a pair that exemplify the very notion of laidback lazy days with their clean lines, minimal silhouettes, and Italian leather.

The Common Projects Achilles sneakers are a winning addition to your wardrobe to infuse an instant dose of chic while letting the rest of your outfit continue to do the talking. Premium materials combine with timeless design and the brand’s signature gilded serial number (Common Project’s calling card to those in the know) to produce a unique shoe that fulfills all of its criteria and more.

Best for: Proving that less is more.

Balenciaga Triple S Clear Sole: Best dad shoe sneakers for women

Even if you’d never typically consider your dad to be a style icon, no one can deny that the humble dad trainer is definitely back in fashion and looks set to stay there for the foreseeable future. The ultimate when it comes to comfortable footwear, it seems parents might have been – literally – one step ahead in the shoe game with sneakers that are versatile enough for an entire day’s worth of activities but stylish enough to look cool doing so.

No sneaker better identifies changing fashion trends quite like Balenciaga. But our favorites come in the form of the Balenciaga Triple S Sneakers.

Designed just as much for running as it is for pairing with your favorite streetwear picks, the clear iteration of the distinctive layered outsoles adds extra attention to an already confident trainer.

If they’re good enough for the likes of Beyoncé Knowles and Kylie Jenner, Balenciaga’s uber-cool chunky trainers are definitely cool enough to step any wardrobe up a notch.

Best for: Forever being the butt of jokes from your (newly fashionable) dad.

Converse Chuck 70: Best women’s canvas sneakers

Some fashion styles should be kept in the past but Converse is absolutely not one of them. You probably bought your first pair of Converse as a child. Maybe your parents got your first pair (bright red or pink, anyone?) or perhaps you waited until you were a teenager to treat yourself to a cool pair of high tops. Either way, a pair of Converse has almost definitely adorned your feet in the past and if you don’t currently have a pair in your wardrobe, it’s time to change that.

We’re all still huge fans of the standard high top – Few styles are more enduring than Converse’s Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers, but this edition is cooler than ever.

Lightweight and versatile, they blend in with the rest of your wardrobe while quietly fending off compliments from every direction. The canvas nature of the sneakers makes them perfect for warm summer days and the ecru shade means they’re just as comfortable being worn with bright colors or darker shades.

Best for: A blank canvas of a shoe that draws attention in every sense.

Isabel Marant Bekett Wedge Sneaker: Best high top women’s sneakers

Famously worn by Beyoncé in her “Love On Top” music video as well as other A-listers back in the 2010s (think Alicia Keys, Miranda Kerr, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and the likes), the once-ubiquitous iconic wedge sneakers by Isabel Marant are back–and our feet could not be happier.

Combining the casual comfort of a sneaker with the sass of a heel, Isabel Marant’s Bekett sneakers are reliable, yet elegant enough to make it seem like you’ve made an effort.

Marrying leather and suede in understated jet black, they feature a high ankle, adjustable straps, and a concealed heel. Better yet? While the concealed wedge heel isn’t obvious, the leg-lengthening effect certainly is.

We are pretty confident you’ll be reaching for these sneakers more than any other style in your closet. Because who doesn’t love a little uplifting reminder to enjoy elevated (literally and metaphorically) living.

Best for: Leveling up your shoe game in every sense of the word.

Saint Laurent Court Classic: Best women’s dress sneakers

Dress sneakers are your secret to after-hours success: the missing piece in the puzzle when it comes to navigating comfort and style, the answer to your problems when it looks like most of your evening will be spent standing up, the soon-to-be firm favorite that you’ll start to design future outfits around. A pair of dress sneakers that fulfills all of the above is one to be celebrated and appreciated above all, and our dress sneakers of choice come from an equally lauded French Maison.

The Saint Laurent Court Classic leather sneakers come with a level of innate confidence not usually found outside of the high heel aisle. But with these, you’ll wave goodbye to the idea of needing extra inches and instead, embrace the smooth white calf leather and black accents for a new take on traditional evening wear.

Best for: Preparing to never need to wear high heels ever again.

Reebok Club C 85: Best retro sneakers for women

The best vintage sneakers combine all of the best bits of vintage with none of the not-so-glamorous parts. Think: the brightly colored labels, chunky soles, retro style, and appeal with none of the less-stylish scuffs or scents or damage that might come with actual vintage trainers. And, if you’re looking to add a new pair of vintage kicks to your wardrobe, look no further than the tried and tested all-round favorite: Reebok. Once a staple for gym class at school, Reebok’s careful resurgence into the streetwear scene has perpetually held it at the helm in recent years when it comes to fashionable vintage-style shoes.

Reebok’s Club C 85 Vintage Sneakers are reminiscent of the trainers of your youth in the best way possible. Bringing back days of adventures with friends but none of the freezing cold track running of your youth, these vintage trainers are here to stay.

Best for: Bringing back your youth but making it cool.

Nike React Infinity Run Flyknit: Best women’s sneakers for running

The best running sneakers make exercise a breeze. Those personal best 5Ks, spontaneous treadmill sessions at the gym, and Saturday morning meet-ups with your most energetic of friends all suddenly become something to look forward to with the addition of a great pair of running trainers. Nike’s React Flyknit sneakers are the pair to help you achieve just that.

Even if you’re not typically someone who sets an alarm for a 6 am coffee and gym session, you’ll second guess those morning sleep-ins once your new pair of Nike trainers are tempting you with their bounce and breeziness. A lace-free, slip-on design makes getting ready for a run an almost invisibly quick process and a sleek black colorway emerges effortlessly with the rest of your activewear.

Best for: Counteracting those scary 6 am alarms.

On Running Cloud: Best women’s sneakers for walking

Whether you’re running errands or training for a 5K or simply in a committed relationship with your fitness tracker, you’re going to want these On (see what we did there?).

A favorite of runners everywhere, On Running’s Cloud trainers have it right in the name: cloud-like comfort.

Best for: Feeling like you’re walking on clouds.

Golden Goose Superstar: Best women’s fashion sneakers

The Golden Goose Superstar low-top sneakers are the type that you can obviously tell are firm favorites. Both from the amount you’ll wear them but also from the iconic distressing (made by hand may we add) on either trainer, which you’ll inevitably add to the more you pair them with your outfits.

The major advantage of these distressed trainers? The more you wear them, the better they look. And there’s no need to keep them squeaky clean thanks to their detailing, either.

Wear yours with everything from dresses to denim. Pick a glittered pair to make your style shine even brighter.

Best for: Unapologetically getting them dusty – because it’s fashion.

Alexander McQueen: Best chunky sneakers for women

Modern times have come with a resurgence of chunky trainers like never before and Alexander McQueen is perpetually at the helm. If you’re looking for a new chunky sneaker to boost your wardrobe, any of Alexander McQueen’s will add a stylish twist.

Known almost universally for being home to the best white platform sneakers and, within the same box, the best white chunky sneakers, Alexander McQueen trainers are an instant burst of refreshing energy for any sneakerhead.

bring together all of the features we know and love about the traditional white chunky trainers with a stepped-up addition of metallic leather on the heel. These trainers are trainers with personality: a pair that allows you to quite literally bounce into a room with a spring in your step.

Best for: Trying to slip your sneakers into every photo you take.

New Balance 696 V4: Best women’s tennis shoes

You could wear New Balance’s tennis sneakers for a game of tennis with your friends. But you could just as easily wear them for brunch, weekend catch-ups, or commuting on a busy weekday. Everything about these tennis sneakers is designed with comfort and style in mind.

These are the sneakers that feel equally at home running around the tennis court as they do sitting still over a latte in the city center.

Rubber outsole for superior traction and durability? Check. Comfortable soles that’ll make you second guess every other pair of shoes in your wardrobe? Check. Dad-enough so that your very own father might mistake them as his own? Check, check, check.

Staying on top of your (style) game has never been easier.

Best for: Wearing for tennis and ‘forgetting’ to change them afterwards.

Vans: Best casual sneakers for women

Vans are another one of those ubiquitous brands you’ll remember admiring as a teenager and nothing much has changed since. Still super comfortable, still easy enough to wear on any occasion, and still guaranteed good style, it’s almost a sin to consider your shoe closet fully stocked until there’s at least one pair of Vans proudly sitting there. But wave goodbye to the brightly colored Vans of your youth and say hello to the more refined Vans – the pair that promise to keep your toes just as cozy as they did years ago but in a shade that you’ll smugly pull on every morning without wondering if they match or not.

The Vans LX Sneakers will quickly become the OG of your wardrobe, in a neutral shade that adds a dose of vintage to your look without the need for ’90s sweaters and huge logos.

Best for: Pairing with your favorite playlists from your teenage years.

Roger Vivier Viv Run: Most expensive sneakers for women

Luxe sneakers are the new luxe heels…but with far more wearability and opportunity. While there’s nothing stopping you from donning your new designer heels to the corner shop or wearing them for a weekend stroll around the shops, a new pair of luxe sneakers might do the job a little better with added comfort by the end of your trip. So if you’re thinking of branching out with a stylish pair of expensive sneakers, you might as well do it properly. The best option? Roger Vivier’s Viv Run sneakers.

Refined and stylish, these Italian sneakers are instantly recognizable with their neoprene panels and thick, rounded soles. In true Vivier style, they’re the first thing you’ll notice when they enter a room, adding a dash of confidence and a healthy helping of style to even the most casual of outfits.

Best for: Suddenly understanding the sneakerheads who display all their trainers.

Buyers guide to best sneakers for women

Let’s face it: there are thousands if not millions of pairs of sneakers on the market, which makes choosing the right pair something of a mission. So, before you dip your toe into the world of stylish kicks, it’s important to figure out which are best suited to your needs and style.

Different styles

From the chunky sneaker and the dad sneaker right the way through to those designed for running or other exercise, you’ll find sneakers with varying levels of support and comfort. If your new trainers will mostly be used for sports rather than casual occasions, you’ll want sneakers made from breathable fabrics that are lightweight and super comfortable.

Material

The best women’s sneakers are made using sustainable or natural materials that’ll withstand a little wear and tear. Although these might typically be more expensive than artificial materials, they promise to last longer and almost always justify the higher cost.

Toe shape

Less of a problem with sneakers than other shoes but something to consider nonetheless: round toe sneakers offer more room than those with a narrower footbed. Choose round toe options if comfort is key or if you’ll be moving around a lot.

Support

Again, something to consider more strongly if you’re on the hunt for your next workout companion rather than if you’re just looking for a clean white pair for a smart-casual look, comfort levels are important if you’re planning on wearing your new sneakers for more than a few hours. Look for trainers with plenty of support around the ankle to stop feet from overcompensating when you’re on the move.

Frequently asked questions about sneakers for women