It's Official: These 5 Sneaker Trends Are "In" for Summer

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Just put down the sandals for a second. I know it's tempting to wear them 24/7 in this heat, but the wave of interesting sneakers buzzing around right now is worth the screen time. Sneaker trends can come and go spontaneously, which means the styles and names trending in January are subject to change halfway through the year, and they have indeed. Whereas classic white sneakers reigned last season, the current vibe is all about ultra-sporty silhouettes dripped in color and statement details. The recent adoration of Asics by fashion people, in general, is perhaps the biggest example of the shift. Maybe the era of the white sneaker is done for? It seems that way—well at least for right now.

But it's not just Asics getting all of the shine. Other sneaker trends have emerged this summer, and I'm delving into each and every one. Keep scrolling to see the full lineup of the styles defining the moment as well as the pairs to shop.

1. Pastel Hues

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(Image credit: @idabroen)

If you're going to embrace color at some point in the year, you might as well do it during the summer. The best place to start is with the influx of pastel-hued kicks. From Creamsicle orange to sky blue, vibrant color is making a comeback on the sneaker front. Nike's recent lineup of Air Jordans and Dunks with colorful trims are specifically on my wish list.

Shop the trend:

2. Monochromatic Nudes

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(Image credit: @annawinck)

While everyone seems to be taking a collective pause on white sneakers, the monochromatic neutral is on the rise. This style diverges from typical nude sneakers, in that mostly everything—from the laces to the sole—are completely nude.

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3. Asics

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If there is one brand that's defining the moment, it's without a doubt Asics. Its popularity has seemingly skyrocketed out of nowhere, but looking at the projection of sneaker trends until now, the shift toward extremely utilitarian and outdoorsy styles has been happening for a bit. The good thing about this trend is that they're relatively easy to find, and you won't have to scramble to resellers to scoop up a cool pair.

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4. Soccer-Inspired Silhouettes

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(Image credit: @aude_julie)

Retro-inspired trends always make a comeback within the sneaker space, and this season is no different. With a pared-down shape, a rounded toe, and a thinner sole, soccer sneakers are experiencing a revival. Adidas's Samba sneakers are an obvious choice, but I'd also recommend some underrated brands like Onitsuka Tiger and Gola.

Shop the trend:

5. Hyper-Sporty

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(Image credit: @emilisindlev)

There's no gym membership required to get in on this trend, but it might make you want to run around the track a bit.

Shop the trend:

Up next: Glass Heels Are Bound to Be Summer's Hottest Shoe Trend—31 Pairs to Shop Now

Fashion Market Editor

Indya Brown is a fashion editor, stylist, and writer living in Los Angeles. While going to school at Columbia University in New York City, she got her feet wet in the fashion industry interning at Elle magazine, Harper's Bazaar, and New York magazine's The Cut. After graduating in 2016, she joined The Cut as a fashion assistant, eventually working her way up to fashion editor. There, she worked on a multitude of projects, including styling inbook feature stories for New York magazine's print issue, writing and pitching market stories for The Cut, and serving as fashion lead for The Cut's branded content. While New York has been her home for over 10 years, she moved to Los Angeles in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 for a new chapter. Now she is a fashion market editor for Who What Wear, focusing on emerging designers, rising trends on and off the internet, interior design, and BIPOC creatives and brands. Aside from her duties as a fashion market editor, Brown is also a freelance stylist and writer, working on national print and video commercial campaigns for Sephora, The Independent, and Cadillac. Her bylines also include Harper's Bazaar, Vox, and The New York Times. But once the computer goes down and the emails turn off, she's likely eating her way through Koreatown, hunting down vintage furniture, scoping out new outrageous nail designs to try, or taking a hot cycling class.