These Are The 3 Trainer Styles Everyone Will Be Wearing In 2026

From princess-y to practical, there's something for every sneakerhead.

Published: December 31, 2025

These Are The 3 Trainer Styles Everyone Will Be Wearing In 2026 — Dries Van Noten. Photo: Courtesy of Launchmetrics Spotlight

A sneaker lives up to part of its name, shape-shifting every season to such an extent that you're never quite sure where you stand. Should you be seeking out a trainer that's comfortingly bulky, giving a cloud-like sensation to your sole, or streamlined to elongate your foot into elegant proportions? Should it be made of retro-flavoured suede or practical GORE-TEX? And what about its shade—black, white, beige or something colour-blocked to create an eye-popping upper?

The truth is that while it's hard to keep up, there are a few distinct trainer trends for SS26—and the even better news is that, although they might be on-point enough to earn you cool points from sneakerheads, they're pleasingly easy to wear.

At BOSS, minimal leather blazers and liquid-like slips were teamed with black sneakers, leather hi-tops to be specific. It's a shade—not to mention style—that hasn't got as much attention in recent seasons, perhaps because of the swing towards heritage styles like Adidas' Tokyo, Puma's Speedcat or Nike's Cortez, which have appealed to a new generation precisely because of their eye-catching hues. For this spring, however, a return to a monochrome sneaker feels like the grown-up option, one that you can wear to work but also at the weekend paired with indigo denim or biscuit corduroy. (Dior menswear is also set to popularise the hi-top, FYI, with many of the looks styled with versions that came with pastel uppers and undone laces.)

Lanvin's proposition was decidedly less neutral. Its turquoise runner came without laces, giving the shoe a sculptural element undiluted by anything criss-crossing its surface. Firstly, the colour was saturated not vintage in aesthetic, a trend that was also seen at Fendi, with peacock sneakers that were edged with primary yellow. It's the laceless element that was really special, however, making it easier than ever to slip on your sneakers and go, no-muss, no-fuss.

At the opposite end of the scale was the continuation of a trend that's been abounding for a few seasons: pretty sneakers. At Prada, they were rendered in princess-y satin; the perfect foil for oversized tunic dresses worn over taffeta skirts. On the catwalk of Dries Van Noten, meanwhile, which has become the ultimate purveyor of 'fashion' trainers, they were intricately beaded, creating an entirely new category: evening sneakers.

Haven't yet decided on your sneaker personality for spring? We've done the leg work for three of next year's biggest trends—laceless trainers, princess trainers and black trainers—to help you meet your match. And by the way, what all of these have in common is that you don't need to overthink the rest of your outfit. A tailored black coat, plus a simple pair of jeans, should do it. There's nothing sneaky about spending two minutes getting dressed, is there?