5 ‘dated’ trainer trends our editors won’t buy in 2024

While there has always been a place for sneakers in my shoe collection, I have to admit that has never been the case That from a style perspective. While I’ve always understood the appeal (comfort is one of the main benefits of such shoes), I’d never found a pair that really appealed to my aesthetic. I’m quite a classicist, so the sneakers I aimed for were always canvas Supergas – timeless sneakers that never go out of style and don’t attract any attention.

That was until the trainer market became what it is today, as I type this, in 2024. My interest in them started to pique around the time the New Balance 550s burst onto the scene a few years ago, seeing success on social media and its infiltration into the closets of chic dressers I follow has sparked something in me. Was it finally time for me to embrace trainers?

Since then we’ve seen New Balance 327s and 330s, Asics Nimbus sneakers and of course Adidas sambas (which have become as hard to get your hands on as gold dust) rise above the rest and become stylish sneaker icons, their look also defining how the rest of the trainer space looks like. This makes some trainers feel more trendy, while others – sneaker trends that were once everywhere – we see much, much less of. Interested in this shift, I asked our sneaker-loving editors which pairs they think had their day in the sun and which sneaker styles they think are most relevant for 2024 given the current climate. Check out what they said below.

The trainers our editors love this year (and the ones they don’t love)

Pause: Block pastel

Wearing: Black with white accents

“For a while, pastel sneakers were very popular. I bought a pair myself as an easy way to add some subtle color to my outfits. Although I still wear them and will never say they are ‘out’, in terms of style “I definitely did a 360 with my latest investment. Influenced by Instagram and TikTok, I bought an all-black pair of sneakers (save for three white stripes) and honestly, they look so chic,” says Florrie Alexander, Acting Affiliate Editor.

Buy the trend:

Pause: neon light

Wearing: complementary tricolor

“Neon is common on trainers, as these colors feel sporty in themselves. However, lately I’ve been looking for more retro-style, multi-coloured options. After seeing Monikh Dale’s rare, tri-coloured New Balance shoes, I have been looking for a lookalike of myself. Now the market is full of them, which cannot be a coincidence,” says Remy Farrell, fashion editor.

Buy the trend:

Pause: wedge sole

Wearing: high tops

“Is it just me or are wedge sneakers just out of date? Not that I’m complaining, I personally was never that into them anyway. But I’ve noticed that fashion, instead of adding weight to the bottom, people are embracing high-top kicks again. Converse never feels old-fashioned, but they certainly seem to be enjoying a spike in popularity right now,” says Maxine Eggenberger, deputy editor.

Buy the trend:

Pause: futuristic

Wearing: Retro

“We’re seeing so many retro, sporty sneakers at the moment that even me – someone who has never worn trainers outside the gym – wants a pair. What I don’t see so much lately is super futuristic designs,” says Hannah Almassi, editor-in-chief.

Buy the trend:

Pause: gold

Wearing: silver details

“In metallics, we’ve seen silver have a renaissance in the fashion world, and sneakers are not exempt. Instead of gold tones that dominated the market for a while, it’s now all about flashes of reflective silver, which are especially found on white and gray sneakers,” says Rebecca Rhys-Evans, brand content editor.

Buy the trend: