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I’m proud to say that after decades of blisters, Band-Aids, and bunions, the fashion set has finally been liberated from the shackles of uncomfortable footwear. The season’s trend lists read like a podiatrist’s LiketoKnowit, with fashion editors abandoning toe-pinching stilettos for low-impact shoe styles, like loafers, Crocs, kitten heels, and, most especially, sneakers. All signs point to a close-toed summer and beyond.
Most of 2025’s biggest shoe trends come in sneaker form. Narrow silhouettes, metallic styles, and Mary Jane-inspired options have been dominating shopping carts. Even the high-fashion crowd is being represented, with polarizing options, like ballet sneakers, water shoes, and even the reviled toe shoe, climbing in popularity.
This pivot to comfortable footwear has been made possible, in part, by stars like Jennifer Lawrence and Rihanna. The two have been leading the charge, choosing flat sneakers over the ankle-breaking high-heels Hollywood once favored. Lawrence, for example, rarely leaves the house without a pair of slim-fit Adidas sneakers (Tiquando, Tokyo, etc.) and Rihanna hasn’t been seen without her beloved Puma Speedcats in weeks—both of which embody the buzziest of styles.
Ahead, read up on the comfy-cute summer, and dare we say seasonless, sneaker styles that are upstaging even the chicest sandals.
Slim Fit
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For the last few summers, blokecore soccer jerseys were the buzziest item of the season, born from fashion’s newfound obsession with professional sports. This year, however, the style set is embracing a different part of the uniform—their cleats. Aerodynamic styles reminiscent of traditional soccer cleats are the MVP of today’s sneaker scene, led by OG athletic shoemaker Adidas. Miu Miu has likewise made the style their signature, adapting the look in suede, leather, nylon, and with trendy Mary-Jane straps (more on that, ahead).
Puma
Bold Ballerinas
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Simone Rocha, godmother of the balletcore aesthetic, has been working toward this moment for years. And finally, all that effort is paying off. Thanks to her namesake brand, the industry as a whole has adapted ballerina-inspired sneakers, bringing the famously femme aesthetic to fashion’s most masc shoe style. Following in her steps, designers like Puma, JW Pei, Vivaia, and Louis Vuitton have released options with their own brand flare.
JW PEI
Shiny Silvers
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If my own personal sneaker collection is any indication, silver styles are currently leading the pack. I’ve been wearing the same pair of VL Court 3.0 sneakers from Adidas repeatedly for the last three months and have since declared them my sneaker of the year. And the industry’s most respected footwear designers are lining up to back my claim. Bottega Veneta, Dior, Tory Burch, and Versace are all selling similar styles—as well as everyday brands, like Puma, Salomon, and Onitsuka Tiger.
Toms
Candy Colored
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As always, Miu Miu’s influence can be felt across Spring/Summer 2025’s trend space. The label showed brightly-colored tennis shoes in their SS25 collection, making a bright aqua pair the center of the brand’s new shoe line. Even famously avant-garde fashion houses, like Maison Margiela—makers of the polarizing Tabi shoe—have tossed aside their alt aesthetic for vividly-colored sneakers that are more palatable to the masses.
Saucony
Toe Sneakers
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Though the runways haven’t quite caught up to this trickle-up trend, don’t be fooled—they’re about to take over. After Crocs, Tabis, and sneaker heels, fashion insiders have been on the hunt for the next big ugly shoe and, finally, a predecessor has been declared. Instagram baddies are embracing the abominable toe shoes once worn by granola girlies and hiking bros. Unlike Tabis, which feature a single toe pocket, Vibram’s athletic shoes put all ten digits on full display—while still offering full-coverage protection.
Vibram
Mary Janes
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A close sibling of the ballerina sneaker, Mary Jane styles have likewise begun trending among fashion’s most daring. They boast a similarly dainty silhouette, but with a single strap detail—as opposed to the lace-up straps that define the ballet sneaker. Salomon, Miu Miu, Nike, Puma, and more have gone all-in on the trend.
Adidas
Charmed to the Max
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At this point, fashion designers have covered virtually every type of accessory in charms: handbags, bracelets, claw clips—hell, even the chain on my front door has been covered in quirky pendants. Of course, sneakers have been at the forefront of this fad since day one, gaining speed until they reached their current peak. Now, shoppers can buy pre-embellished styles from affordable labels, such as Dolce Vita, Steve Madden, as well as designers like Coach and Louis Vuitton.
Coach
Water Shoes
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It’s a freaky shoe summer and we’re not stopping at toe-forward styles. Similarly strange designs resembling your childhood water shoes are beginning to crop up on store shelves, from brands like athletic brands Salomon and Nike. Even Loeffler Randall—known for their pretty sandals and dainty flats—is cashing in on the aquatic-inspired trend. Happy Cancer season!
Nike
