All the It Girls and Celebs Are Shelving White Sneakers for These 6 Colors

Having come of age in the Sex and the City era of pointed-toe Manolos and stiletto-heeled Jimmy Choo strappy sandals, I have a special place in my heart for shoe trends that are actually practical. I'm only half-kidding when I say that I consider it my duty (cue patriotic music!) as a stylist and fashion editor to champion comfortable shoes. May the next generation stride comfortably and confidently where we too often teetered and even fell.

The industry's embrace of sneakers over the past decade has been a delight to behold, and a fresh white pair remains an easy wardrobe basic. But over the last year or so, we've seen the fashion crowd leaning more and more into colorful styles, often with a retro flair. Case in point: the rise of Adidas's SL 72s in quirky color combos over the (still-relevant but no-longer-ubiquitous) classic white Sambas.

Between a rainbow of fun tones and more elegant hues, there's a colorful pair of sneakers out there to tempt you away from your average white pair, and whichever color you opt for, the fashion-person trick is to simply continue to wear it like a neutral. Don't overthink your color combos; just let your go-to sneakers be your go-to sneakers, no matter what else you're wearing. It might get a bit weird, but no one cares, David! Great outfits come from letting go a little, and I guarantee some accidentally great results.

For summer 2025, these are the six sneaker color trends that have my attention.

Grassy Green

There was bright kelly green, and then there was slimy Brat green, and we do still love a martini-olive green. This spring, however, we're settling into a place that feels fresh but chill, and if all this color is way outside your comfort zone, start with something a little mossier and more low-key.

Milky Brown

It's not all about rainbow hues! The suede trend has meant that deep espresso brown has had loads of attention, but I'm also noticing a turn toward lighter latte-colored sneakers. Contrasting laces are optional.

Punchy Red

The way the "pop of red" trend has defied the timeline of a typical trend cycle is really something, and I love that for us. Puma's viral Speedcats have ensured I have zero qualms about reinvesting in this ultra-flattering hue that pairs so well with all the brown and burgundy pieces we're carrying over from fall and winter, plus the powdery pink we're scooping up for spring.

Light Blue

From softer pastels to bright sky blue, this is one of spring's biggest color trends. Light blue feels fun and fresh without screaming too loud, making it ideal for perking up an otherwise neutral look without ringing any alarms.

Happy Yellow

Retro yellow sneakers have been trending on and off for about 20 years thanks to Uma Thurman's iconic look in Kill Bill Volume 1. If you can't be bothered to hunt down a pair of perpetually-sold-out Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66s in your size, this slew of happy yellow options will do the trick (and then some).

Chill Black

Finally, I'm here to make the case for the highly underrated black sneakers—just as versatile as a classic white pair but a bit more intentional. Swap out white laces for black if you want to up the elegance just a little.

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