I No Longer Want To Wear Bold, Bright Trainers—5 Classic Colours I'm Way More Into
It feels like every summer, heels come back into footwear fashion. Strappy or thong, block heel or kitten, sandals of varying heights and styles become a new go-to for daily wear. But let's be honest—sometimes, comfort has to be prioritised. After all, a day of running around town is not best paired with a heeled sandal (unless you've fully adapted into Carrie Bradshaw.) Thankfully, trainers continue to be not only sartorially appropriate, but also highly stylish, meaning you can turn to these trusty shoes even on the warmest days.
While we're all for backing the best trends, here at Who What Wear we like to focus the spotlight on styles that are true classics. Trainers are one of those pieces where investing in the most versatile, timeless styles will serve you so well. Just look at some of our favourite influencers, who've proven over the past few years that trainers can go with everything from jeans to skirts all year long. The key, I think, is to focus on finding the right colour.
From my extensive scrolling on social media, I think I've distilled down a list of the five truly classic trainer colours that work particularly well in summer, but will see you through the cold months, too. From the go-to white sneaker that will go with every breezy summer dress to the pop of vibrant green that will brighten up your neutral linen styles, these are the colours to look out for this season.
1. White
Style Notes: A crisp white trainer is truly a summer essential. This easy, super versatile flat will go with everything from shorts to patterned summer dresses, so just focus on finding the silhouette that suits you best.
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2. Blue
Style Notes: If you're looking to your footwear to inject a little colour into your daily summer wardrobe, consider opting for a blue style. Electric or navy, a blue trainer is surprisingly versatile, and looks especially good when paired with white or neutral clothing.
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3. Black
Style Notes: Black trainers are tied with white styles as arguably the most refined of the trainer colour options. Paired with tailored linen trousers or dresses, you'll have a look that's understatedly put-together enough to wear out to a nice dinner, but they'll work equally as well paired with shorts and a sweatshirt on a beach walk.
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4. Green
Style Notes: Green has popped up on my feed so much over the past few months, but it really is a classic. If you don't want to go for a full-on green, opt for a white style with green detailing—that style always manages to have an effortless, subtly retro feel that never goes out of style.
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5. Grey
Style Notes: While I love Amaka's head-to-toe grey ensemble, the best thing about grey trainers is the fact they go with pretty much everything. Consider what colour clothing you tend to gravitate towards to figure out out if you want to go for softer hues or darker tones.
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Jess Kelham-Hohler is a freelance writer, editor and content strategist. She has been a contributor for Who What Wear UK since 2023. Currently based in London following six years in Washington D.C. and New York, she was previously the Digital Editor for Soho House & Co, an international group of private members’ clubs for creatives. She has interviewed a range of artists, creators and more, including Alighieri founder Rosh Mahtani, photographer Misan Harriman and fashion editor Lindsay Peoples Wagner. Today, she writes primarily about fashion, travel and culture for various publications, and has worked as a copywriter and content strategist for brands such as Belstaff, Olivela and Equinox.
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