When it comes to the most multi-functional shoes in our wardrobes, the styles that first spring to mind have one thing in common: colour. Be it a loafer, a pair of boots or ballet flats, you’ll find that the hardest-working hue amongst any footwear variant is always an inky hue. Yet when it comes to trainers, truly one of the most indispensable styles a person could own is a pair of the best black trainers.
From charcoal tones in low-profile silhouettes to retro-inspired shapes in raven tints, the best black trainers provide a sleek and utilitarian finish to any ensemble, whether that be a casual monochromatic look or something more polished, but seeking a practical touch. In fashion capitals like London, New York and Paris, especially, the best black trainers ensure that you’re not orthopedically supported throughout your travels, but are dressed for wherever the day takes you.
Indeed, these are cities that often err on the side of business, where days can be packed with activity and an energetic buzz that sees you flit across neighbourhoods, boroughs or arrondissements with abandon. As a result, inhabitants of these cultural touchstones need to be dressed with a high-step count in mind.
Whilst there are other trainer shades that can service this need, black trainers offer a more demure and understated way of doing so. Because the beauty of black trainers is the fact that they blend into whatever you’re wearing, rather than standing out.
“We’ve always loved [the colour] black,” explains Liushu Lei and Yutong Jiang, the co-founders and creative designers of Shanghai-based womenswear brand Shushu/Tong. “It gives room for silhouette and textures, and it’s endlessly versatile,” they add. Proving this point exactly is the pair’s recent collaboration with Asics, the Gel-Kinetic™ Fluent Sneakers, which riff on the classic trainer shape and shade with the addition of an ornamental and oversized bow. Speaking to Who What Wear UK about the new launch, they explain that the choice to feature this darker hue arises from their desire “to find a new design language that organically merges our classic symbols with high-function running shoes”.
They’re amongst a wave of designers to recontextualise what can be considered as black trainers. We’re increasingly seeking shoes that can serve several purposes and suit an array of occasions, maligning the sneakers that are exclusively sporty or can’t pull their weight when worn with jeans, skirts or trousers. Renowned for its use of mesh, London-based footwear brand Dear Frances has recently released a pair of black trainers that feature sheer panelling to offset the traditional form of black trainers.
“I felt there was a gap for a more nuanced, refined trainer,” explains the label’s founder, Jane Frances. “The Balla Trainer is every inch the day and evening silhouette, easily transitioned with quiet confidence,” she adds. “It's stylish and comfortable in equal measure, nodding to a sports aesthetic, but it’s also streamlined and grounded. A special addition to a purposeful wardrobe.”
In this way, the best black trainers are those that put a fashion-forward edge on useful wardrobe staples. Providing more than comfort and arch support, these are styles that will enhance even the most mundane ensemble, whilst still offering a street style edge that only sneakers can. So, without further ado, keep scrolling on for the best black trainers for women.
Shop The 12 Best Black Trainers for Women
- The Best Overall Black Trainers: Adidas + Wales Bonner Karintha Leather and Crochet-Trimmed Satin Sneakers, £180
- The Best Laceless Black Trainers: Adidas Taekwondo Mei Leather Sneakers, £100
- The Best Suede Black Trainers: Dries Van Noten Leather-Trimmed Suede Sneakers, £395
- The Best Leather Black Trainers: Puma Speedcat Full Leather Sneakers, £90
- The Best Mesh Black Trainers: Dear Frances Balla Trainer, £360
- The Best Designer Black Trainers: Prada Collapse Re-Nylon and Suede Sneakers, £720
1. Adidas + Wales Bonner Karintha Sneakers
Style Notes: Another season, another covetable collaboration from the hands of Adidas x Wales Bonner. As the incumbent creative director of Hermès menswear, Grace Wales Bonner has delivered not only one of the best black trainers of all time, but one of the best examples of casual craftsmanship. Paying homage to her new role at the Parisian luxuriate and honouring her dual Jamaican-English heritage, the Karintha is a slouchy profile that features contrast stitching and a satin finish. With a raised heel and gathered effect around the ankle, this style elevates the classic three-stripe silhouette and brings an exclusive and polished slant to a traditionally mainstream piece.
Material: Black satin, cream leather and crochet
Sizes: UK 3.5 - UK 8.5
Colours: 2; black and royal blue.
2. Prada Collapse Re-Nylon and Suede Sneakers
Style Notes: Since the 1980s, Prada has been making nylon, a glossy and synthetic material known for its durability and light weight, incredibly covetable. Now, the Milanese maison is redefining textile innovation once more with the incredibly sturdy but also impeccably soft Collapse Re-Nylon and Suede Sneakers. With a track-forward sensibility, this style embraces movement and agility in a silhouette intended for chic city dwellers who lead busy lives. Pair with low-rise jeans or loosely-slung corduroy trousers and a slightly cropped long-sleeved shirt.
Material: Leather, rubber, recycled polyamide and recycled polyester.
Sizes: IT 34.5 - IT 41.4
Colours: 5; black, ivory, peach, palisander and navy.
3. Chloé Kick Suede and Leather Sneakers
Style Notes: Ever since Chemena Kamali took the helm of French maison Chloé, the brand’s distinct approach to bohemian, romantic, feminine silhouettes has been honed to the point where every frilled blouse or lace trim can be easily identified as being inspired by one of their creations. This year, they’ve done the same to black trainers. The first sneaker released under her artistic leadership, Kamali drew inspiration from both boxing and ballet for the supple Kick trainer. With a distinct breezy shape, this is a piece that would suit being styled with ethereal Dôen maxi dresses along with perennially chic bootcut jeans.
Material: Calf leather, suede, rubber.
Sizes: IT 34 - 42.
Colours: 2; black and sage green.
4. Puma Speedcat Sneakers
Style Notes: When Puma reintroduced the Speedcat in 2024, they didn’t just modernise an archival silhouette, but captured the entire zeitgeist with these racer shapes. Inspired by the Grand Prix, this curved style entered the market at a time when the Adidas Samba supremacy was at an all-time high, offering an antidote to the boxier shapes that dominated at the time. A few seasons on, the Speedcats show no signs of slowing down. (A fitting tribute given its motorsports and high-octane origins.) Whilst the suede iteration is certainly the most popular, with the sneakeina and wedge hot on its heels, I’m besotted with this all-leather style. The rounded toe and sleek outline offer a languid take on classic black trainers, making them a refined option to pair under slouchy styles like wide-leg trousers and tracksuit pants.
Material: Cow leather and rubber.
Sizes: UK 3.5 - 10.
Colours: 2; black shadow and feather white
5. Dries Van Noten Leather-Trimmed Suede Sneakers
Style Notes: When a black trainer has earned the affection of Harry Styles, Jacob Elordi, Hailey Bieber and Jennifer Lawrence, you can bet we pay attention. Of course, in the case of the Dries Van Noten leather-trimmed suede trainers, this would’ve piqued our interest in any case. Designed by the Belgian designer for his penultimate menswear collection as creative director of his namesake brand, the style features a streamlined shape that emulates the retro sneakers worn by sprinters in the ‘70s. With contrast leather trims, a suede exterior and scalloped piping around the edge, these look best when worn with other motifs from the era, including knee-high boots and boxy blazers.
Material: Calf leather and suede.
Sizes: IT 35 - 41
Colours: 5; including red, black, tan, lilac and purple.
6. Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66
Style Notes: Perpetually synonymous with Uma Thurman’s role as ‘The Bride’, the Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 is a slim-soled and low-profile silhouette with a signature grid pattern cascading down the side. Beloved by everyone from Kendall Jenner to Kaia Gerber, the Japanese shoe brand’s signature style has joined a canon of iconic sneakers that have come to define the 2020s as a decade. Whilst there are many styles from the brand to contend with, I have to shout out this glittery, gunmetal sneakerina style. With a fluted trim that injects a girlish edge to the functional shape to the dual buckle straps that cross the foot, this pair feels entirely appropriate for streetwear styling thanks to its Harajuku-inspired outlook and dynamic colouring.
Material: Synthetic leather and recycled cow leather.
Sizes: UK 3.5 - 10.
Colours: 2; gunmetal black and cotton candy pink
7. Dear Frances Balla Trainer
Style Notes: “The Balla trainer signifies a quiet confidence as a refined and grounding silhouette,” Frances explains. “Its Italian mesh panelling offers a sense of reliability that is stylish and comfortable in equal measure,” she adds. Of the style’s origins, the designer explains that the piece emerged from a sense of ease and textile exploration. “Our Italian mesh is symbolic of delicate strength; a sense that is central to our Dear Frances woman,” she notes. “As we moved through experimentation with this material, the Balla Trainer evolved with a distinctly Dear Frances aesthetic.” To me, this sheer shape is not only a sharp and pointed contrast against the array of technical styles saturating the market, but fills a gap for those seeking a polished and practical shoe that’s not a Mary Jane or ballet flat.
Material: Mesh upper with leather edging and leather panels, tonal eyelets and cotton laces.
Sizes: EU 35 - 42.
Colours: 2; black and white.
8. Toteme Sport Suede-Trimmed Shell Sneakers
Style Notes: As a patron saint of Scandinavian minimalism, you should expect Toteme to create a refined black trainer worth adding to your rotation. The definition of no-frills fashion, this is a shoe that prioritises fabrics and form over superfluous accents. Entirely understated and completely timeless, this high-top shoe is a tad bulkier than we’re used to, but it’s this quality that makes it a great companion to unfussy wardrobe staples like straight-leg pants and white jeans.
Material: Rubber and suede.
Sizes: IT 35 - 42.
Colours: Black.
9. Jacquemus Tennis Suede-Trimmed Sneakers
Style Notes: Jacquemus has evolved so much from the brand that broke the internet by staging a balmy runway show amid fields of lavender and wheat. Fusing Parisian elegance with Marseille ease, the French fashion brand creates pieces that are narrative-rich and imbued with character. Such is the case for these sneakers. Inspired by archival tennis shoes, the smoothed and elegant shape brings a nostalgic element that softens anything you pair it with. These are the exact shoes you could imagine finding in your parents’ wardrobe as a child: slightly chunky, reminiscent of a past time and rich in texture.
Material: Leather, fabric and rubber.
Sizes: UK 2 - UK 9.
Colours: Black.
10. Nike Air Rift Leather Trainers
Style Notes: Spotted on the darlings of Dalston and the huns of Hackney, the Nike AirRift trainers are an alternative option that’s currently being sported by some of the best dressers. With a split toe, this is a pair that’s more affordable than the beloved Maison Margiela Mary Jane Tabis, and still provides some freedom of movement thanks to the pillowy padding that gives this shape its trademark inflated feel. Truly cushiony, these will look great under a white midi skirt or with a floaty dress come summer.
Material: Rubber and plush foam.
Sizes: UK 2.5 - UK 9.5.
Colours: 7; including black, off-white, silver and white.
11. Balenciaga City Sneakers
Style Notes: Despite its reprieve in the mid-2010s, the Balenciaga City bag has been at the forefront of the zeitgeist for over two decades and sported in the arms of the most prolific dressers. Now, under the guidance of current creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli, the legendary silhouette has been rendered in trainer form. From the iconic crinkled leather to the rigid studs that line the exterior, this slip-on style brings a nostalgic edge and grungy finish to any ensemble.
Material: Calf leather, fabric and rubber.
Sizes: IT 36 - 41
Colours: 3; black, silver and baby pink.
12. Adidas Taekwondo Mei Leather Sneakers
Style Notes: Last, but certainly not least, are Adidas’s Taekwondo Mei leather trainers. If the above styles have demonstrated anything, it’s that any act of exercise and performance can be mined for inspiration, and for this laceless style, the German sports brand has taken cues from Japanese martial arts with this easy-to-wear shape. It’s these subtle elements that set this style apart and make them all the more desirable.
Material: Rubber and calf leather.
Sizes: UK 3.5 - UK 9
Colours: Black.
What to Look Out for When Buying the Best Black Trainers?
When considering purchasing a pair of the best black trainers, there are certain factors you should look out for, including size, comfort and price.
On size, it's important that you try a pair on or carefully read reviews such as ours, as some brands will run slightly smaller and larger compared to your normal size. Also, if you buy from an online store like NET-A-PORTER, the sizing might be listed slightly differently from conventional UK sizing. (For instance, sizing may be itemised in EU or IT and therefore will need to be converted.)
Given that trainers are also the most practical shoe of all, it's important that you consider the comfort level. This is best assessed in person, but fear not, as we've done that legwork for you. However, to be extra diligent, you might want to keep an eye out for reviews that spell out and points that pinch your feet or any styles that make you prone to blisters.
Finally, price. Trainers are relatively expensive, meaning that they're an investment in the same way any other piece of clothing is. (Though they will be considerably based around a bit more compared to your jeans or jackets, for instance.) It's worth considering the fabric of these trainers to gauge if they're machine washable or not, as regular upkeep will prolong their life.
What Brands Make the Best Black Trainers?
You'll find the best black trainers at both designer brands, like Jacquemus, Toteme, Prada and athleisure titans, including Adidas, Nike and Puma.
How We Chose
Who What Wear UK chose the best black trainers after analysing sales data, shopping trends, and insights from industry experts. After appraising a wide range of black trainers, our editors then meticulously reviewed every product on this list, considering price, comfort, silhouette, functionality and material to determine which black trainers were actually worth the investment. What makes our recommendations even more reliable is that many of our endorsements feature in our wardrobes, meaning that these are trainers that we have personally vetted these and invested in them ourselves.
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, fashion is our speciality. Our editors have years of industry experience, from reporting on seasonal fashion trends seen at international fashion weeks to working with some of the most recognisable names in fashion. Every item we recommend is carefully selected based on current trends, quality and real-world wearability.
We regularly try on pieces ourselves—everything from best-selling jeans to designer shoes—and speak to external experts and fashion insiders, staying closely connected to what our readers are searching for. Our advice is grounded in expertise, and each and every buy we feature has to meet our exceptional taste standards—so you can feel confident in every recommendation.