The Standout Sneaker Releases of 2023

These were the trending styles of the year.

A guest wears royal blue suede sneakers from Adidas , outside Helmstedt, during the Copenhagen Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2023 on February 02, 2023 in Copenhagen, Denmark
(Image credit: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

We're nearly through the year, and the sneaker trends of 2023 have been nothing shy of intriguing. While some of the colors we're seeing are similar to those of the trendiest sneakers of 2022, this year is all about honing in on the specific pairs of sneakers that will elevate any look—ones that come in enough colors to satisfy any sneakerhead. 

I turned to Charlotte Browning, a sneakers strategist at trend forecasting platform WSGN, and Kendall Becker, the fashion and beauty trends editor at Trendalytics, to make my search a little easier. It turns out that six major sneaker trends and colors have emerged over the past few months.

  • It Girl-approved sneakers are those shoes that seem to pop up in every street style photo, regardless of the season.
  • Slender, close-to-the-foot-styles like the Adidas Samba have remained popular.
  • Ultra-sporty, technical styles that would look equally good on the hiking trail as they would on the streets of New York or Los Angeles are everywhere this season, especially in more playful or unexpected colorways. 
  • Wear-everywhere sneakers that come in clean colorways like cream, white, and green are taking center stage as we move away from in-your-face chunky sneakers
  • Orange has cemented itself as one of summer 2023’s trending colors, and now it’s coming for your sneaker collection.
  • Silver has become the go-to color of the season thanks to collaborations between Wales Boner and Adidas, among others. 
  • Tan and oatmeal-colored sneakers are popping up as a way to add some versatility to your everyday routine—especially if you're looking for work sneakers.
  • Blue is one of the top colors for the Fall season, so it makes sense that blue sneakers are everywhere.

It-Girl Approved Sneakers

A guest wears glasses, a white pearls earrings, a pale multicolored print pattern braided wool long scarf, a gold chain pendant necklace, a white shoulder-off top, a pale gray oversized blazer jacket, a black shiny leather shoulder bag, blue faded denim ripped long skirt, white socks, gray suede sneakers from New Balance , outside New York Men's Day, during New York Fashion Week, on February 10, 2023 in New York City.

(Image credit: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

"It-girl approved" sneakers lean minimalistic in terms of silhouette and color palette, but that certainly doesn't have to mean all-white," says Becker. She notes that some designer sneaker options, like the Chloe Nama sneaker, are outfitted with elevated details like a textured surface in different color combinations to suit your style. 

"Creamy shades, in addition to unlikely color combos, are the key if you're looking to make a statement," Becker explains. Plus, the sneaker has gotten the Midas touch recently thanks to collaborations with brands like Stussy and Aime Leon Dore. 

Case in point: If you're looking to emulate the same It-girl style in 2024, look for pale or white sneakers with slight tweaks in their design—subtle color-blocking, an array of textures, or a modern silhouette. 

Keep it Close

Emili Sindlev wearing a blue with embroidered white words New York denim cap, a pale blue with white stripes shirt, a tie with yellow, orange, green, brown flower pattern, a black with small white striped print pattern oversized blazer, a yellow short skirt, a green shiny leather Hermes handbag, white socks, white and green sneakers from Adidas outside OperaSport during the Copenhagen Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2023 on February 01, 2023 in Copenhagen, Denmark

(Image credit: Raimonda Kulikasukiene/Getty Images)

Fashion insiders have long been pulling their sneaker collection inspiration from decades past. Think about the rise of boldly-colored '80s-inspired high-top sneakers. That sensibility shows no signs of stopping in 2023 with the resurgence of 90s-inspired, minimalist options. "The chunky sneaker continues to decline as we see consumer demand shift to alternative styles, including platform sneaker styles," says Browning.  

Almost every celebrity has been spotted in this sneaker style, from Harry Styles's "Satellite Stomper" Adidas Gazelles to Kendall Jenner's favorite Samba above sneakers. Shoes from Onitsuka Tiger have also risen in popularity recently and have been spotted on Hailey Bieber and Kaia Gerber. Plus, the Nike Cortez is a longtime favorite. 

Corpcore Reloaded

JANUARY 30: Fashion Week guest wearing Balenciaga track sneaker and a green dress before Lala Berlin on January 30, 2020 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

(Image credit: Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images)

As slimmer sneakers become more popular, so are futuristic, hyper-sporty options. Rihanna wore a pair of red-and-pink sneakers from Gorpcore-favorite brand from Maison Margiela's collaboration with Salomon. "More outdoor-focused trail styles are driving aesthetics in this space; they've evolved from previous seasons and are updated with a soft, feminine color palette and trim detail," says Browning.

To this point, Salomon recently collaborated on a pair of pastel pink sneakers with Sandy Liang, which sold out instantly and have been a favorite of the fashion set ever since. Black sneakers are popular in this category, too, as long as they have a colorful or metallic accent. 

When shopping the ongoing Gorpcore trend for 2023, Salomon, spotted on Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski, are essential brands. Asics sneakers are also popular, as are sneakers from New Balance. 

So Fresh, So Clean

A guest wears black sunglasses from Versace, a white latte blazer jacket, matching white latte suit pants, a pale pink wool long coat, black socks, white leather sneakers , outside Hermes, during Paris Fashion Week - Womenswear Fall Winter 2023 2024, on March 04, 2023 in Paris, France.

(Image credit: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

"Major players in the sportswear industry are putting longevity top of mind," says Browning about the rise of simplistic, often logo-less sneakers. 2023's take on the timeless sneakers takes cues from fashion-forward, preppy sports like tennis and golf. "Consumers are looking for seasonless investment items that can be worn year over year," Browning continues. With this in mind, look for sneakers that come in timeless colors like white or green. 

As far as brands, look for brands with a history of expertly combining sporty aesthetics with wearability, such as Rothy's and Superga. For a sneaker that fits the trend and can be used for working out, turn to brands like ON and P448. 

Orange You Glad?

Jennifer Casimiro seen wearing Zara olive beige linen pants, by Aylin Koenig white shirt, the Frankie Shop beige brown blazer, Adidas orange sneaker, yellow Longchamp bag, Fendi shades on May 08, 2023 in Hamburg, Germany.

(Image credit: Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images)

Consider an orange sneaker if you want to step out of your color comfort zone this summer (begone, essential black sneakers!). The shade is one of Browning’s top picks for the season ahead. The hue is used “as a monochromatic palette and also paired well with more mellow vintage shades,” she says. 

Sporty brands like APL and HOKA have produced full-on neon orange running sneakers for summer, while other brands, like Reebok or Birdies, have opted for orange finishes on their sneakers. 

Silver Medal

A guest is seen wearing black sunglasses, a black shiny suit with big attached bags and zippers on the blazer combined with black Botter shirt with white B on the top, lots of silver rings and silver earrings and silver shiny Adidas x Wales Bonner sneaker outside Botter show during the Menswear Spring/Summer 2024 as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 21, 2023 in Paris, France.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

There's no second place when you rep silver sneakers for fall 2023. Silver shoes have been trending for the season, and picking up a pair of sneakers in the hue is the most excellent way to make it work in your wardrobe. Key collaborations to shop include Wales Bonner, Adidas, Cecilie Bahnsen, and ASICS. However, brands like Sam Edelman and ALLSAINTS have also thrown their hats in the ring with under-$200 styles that offer a similar vibe. 

The New Neutrals

A guest wears a blue and pale blue print pattern shirt neck / long sleeves / buttoned shirt, a matching blue and pale blue print pattern pleated / accordion midi skirt, a blue mesh / fishnet handbag, white leather sneaker, outside Marimekko, during the Copenhagen Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2024 on August 09, 2023 in Copenhagen, Denmark

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Not all simple shoes need to come in shades like black or white—there is an entire spectrum of tan, oatmeal, and brown shades for you to shop this season. From blockbuster collabs like the ones between Staud and KEDS and Reformation and Veja, respectively, to low-key options from Vans and Veronica Beard, trying the shade for yourself has never been easier.

Baby Blues

A guest wears black large squared sunglasses, a beige scarf as a headband, a dark purple felt wool jacket, a black shiny leather shoulder bag, a black long dress, black tights, blue and black sneakers , outside Marimekko, during the Copenhagen Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2024 on August 09, 2023 in Copenhagen, Denmark

(Image credit: Getty Images)

It seems 2023 is the year of the colorful shoe. Blue sneakers specifically popped up at Off-White and Heron Preston for Fall/Winter 2023, with the shade appearing in other ways (bags! Dresses! Jackets!) at brands like Fendi and Jil Sander. Ahead, shop blue sneakers from brands like Zara, New Balance, and Cariuma.

Meet The Experts

Kendall Becker wears black sunglasses, gold earrings, gold large chain necklaces, a white pearls necklace, a white cropped t-shirt, a white latte oversized blazer jacket, gold rings, high waist brown large wide legs suit pants, gold rings, outside PatBo , during New York Fashion Week, on February 12, 2022 in New York City.
Kendall Becker

Experienced in luxury editorial, trend forecasting, and strategic consulting, Kendall is currently the Fashion & Beauty Trends Editor at Trendalytics as well as a freelance writer for Refinery29, The Zoe Report, LuisaViaRoma, WhoWhatWear, and Coveteur. Prior, she was the Assistant Fashion Director for Women’s RTW at Bloomingdale’s and contributed to global trend forecasting agencies. Plus, she’s a fashion media personality and expert that’s been featured in ABC, Cheddar News, Harper’s BAZAAR, GQ, Bustle, Sourcing Journal, Brides, and Vice.

Charlotte Browning
Charlotte Bowning

Working at the intersection of sport, design, and culture, Charlotte brings over 10 years of industry experience to WGSN from professional sport, marketing, and product creation. Her multidisciplinary background provides a valuable, bespoke lens as an active trend forecaster and strategist. 


As a professional athlete, Charlotte worked with several sportswear brands, including New Balance and Hoka One One. Before joining WGSN, Charlotte worked in colour design and material development at Arc’teryx Equipment. 
Passionate and curious, Charlotte’s participation in sport and the design industry extends outside of work, inspiring and informing her trend intelligence content. 

Fashion E-Commerce Editor

Julia Marzovilla is the Fashion E-Commerce Editor at Marie Claire, where she covers everything from the latest beauty and fashion launches and sales to celebrity outfits and news. She also creates shopping guides that span every vertical on the site. Prior to joining the Marie Claire team, she contributed similar shopping stories to sites such as Bustle, InStyle, The Zoe Report, Who What Wear, and STYLECASTER. In her spare time, Julia can be found creating shopping guides for all of her friends, spending too much money on yet another pair of black boots, and cooking in her far-too-small kitchen.