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White Sneakers Are in a Cool New Era: 6 Fresh Takes on the Classic Kicks

By

Kelsey Stewart

Published on June 07, 2025 08:00AM

Feet wearing elegant white sneakers with ribbon ties, standing on a tiled floor — @vivaia_official / Instagram

Key Takeaways

White sneakers have been a footwear staple for over a century, and they’ve gotten a makeover as of late with ballet sneakers, retro-inspired silhouettes, and tabis among trending styles.
From office-appropriate pairings to cool-girl ensembles, these kicks truly work for almost any situation—especially in their modern iterations, which we’ve rounded up below.

Footwear trends may consistently be in flux, but there is one look that will never fizzle out of the fashion zeitgeist: White sneakers. Though there’s always a time and place for fun, statement-making kicks, these classic, neutral shoes are the epitome of timeless. A wardrobe staple for over a century (more on that below), white sneakers have infinite styling potential, whether meeting friends at the park on a Saturday afternoon or hitting your local bar for a much-needed happy hour. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention all the fresh, unexpected silhouettes infiltrating the market right now. To put it simply, the kicks have officially entered a cool new era. On the note, scroll ahead to learn all about why white sneakers are still the coolest kicks on the block, including modern styling tips and the latest silhouettes to shop.

Why White Sneakers Are So Iconic

Keds became one of the first brands to introduce white sneakers upon the release of its Champion style in 1916. The following year, Converse began producing its now-famous Chuck Taylor sneakers, dubbed the All Star shoe. First on basketball players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Julius Irving, the high-tops later became a go-to for rock stars, including Kurt Cobain and Elvis Presley, while also making cameos in films like The Outsiders and Trainspotting, building upon their cool reputation.

In 1963, Adidas launched its iconic green and white Robert Haillet sneakers, named after the tennis player. When Haillet retired, the brand renamed the style the Stan Smith, honoring the then-emerging tennis star. The shoe soon cultivated a fan club of non-athletes like David Bowie and the Beastie Boys (much like Converse’s aforementioned kicks).

Tyra Banks wears a red striped cropped shirt, jeans, silver shoulder bag, white sneakers, and black backwards baseball cap — Getty Images

Legendary ‘90s supermodels like Tyra Banks, Christy Turlington, and Cindy Crawford gave their off-duty looks a sporty touch by way of white sneakers. At the beginning of the 21st century, white sneakers began their reign as the It-shoe in fashion. Forever style muse Chloë Sevigny flocked to Nike’s Air Force 1, which launched in 1982, for Hollywood parties, while Ciara made chunky, platform white sneakers a fixture in her early aughts performance outfits.

The White Sneaker Trend in 2025

In recent seasons, designers and contemporary brands have breathed new life into the humble white sneaker, offering a silhouette for virtually every taste. If your style leans fanciful and feminine, look no further than ballet sneakers, which are exactly how they sound: a hybrid of the two silhouettes. The look began picking up speed in 2021 and has now hit its stride—thanks, in part, to Bella Hadid, who in March made waves in a white pair of Vivaia’s fan-favorite ballet kicks. Likewise, Mary Jane sneakers have taken a sweet center-stage spot: Brands like Vivaia, Loeffler Randall, and Wales Bonner have capitalized on the trend in recent months.

Bella Hadid wears a leather jacket, capri leggings, white lace-up ballet sneakers, scrunchie, sunglasses, and wired headphones while walking on sidewalk — @vivaia_official / Instagram

If those two silhouettes don’t sound like you, perhaps the retro-inspired sneaker trend will pique your interest. Lately, footwear brands have turned to the archives, releasing fresh versions of slim, old-school kicks—an antithesis of the chunky silhouette that once ruled the fashion scene. Luxury houses like Miu Miu, Loewe, and Proenza Schouler have co-signed the vintage-inspired styles, solidifying this front-running look.

In a similar vein, labels are doubling down on suede sneakers. Puma arguably put the style back on the map when it reintroduced the Speedcat, which first launched in 1999, last June. From there, the likes of Vince, Larroudé, and Veronica Beard offered their own takes on the polished shoes.

How to Style White Sneakers

White sneakers are perhaps the easiest shoe to style, no matter the season—and best of all, there’s no wrong way to wear the footwear. However, we do have a few style tips, should you be looking for pointers. With warm weather finally here, we’d suggest marrying your white kicks with a breezy mini or midi sundress—any color or pattern will do. If the temperature drops, simply toss on a denim jacket, another staple that’s received an array of trend-forward upgrades as of late.

Emily Ratajkowski wears a red one=shoulder minidress, white sneakers, statement sunglasses, and shoulder bag while walking in city — Getty Images

Since office dress codes are often more relaxed in the summer, there’s a chance that white sneakers could feel right at home as part of your summer office outfit. Give the footwear an elevated yet cool-girl spin by way of a slouchy suit, or tap into the office siren trend with a semi-sheer top and pencil skirt.

The Best Modern White Sneakers to Shop

Now that you’ve received a rundown on the evolution of white sneakers, it’s time to get to picking out your new favorite pair. Below, we’ve rounded up an edit of our favorite styles of the moment.

Vivaia Square-Toe Sneakerina