Bright and early on June 17, WNBA fans could tell Caitlin Clark had something up her sleeves. First, she changed her Instagram handle to @Caitlin1, then her profile pic to Nike's logo. Turns out, that zoomed-in silver Swoosh belonged to Clark's first-ever Nike sneaker, named the Caitlin 1.

Two years after Clark signed an eight year, $28 million contract with Nike (the highest value contract ever floated to a WNBA player at the time), they made their partnership official with court-to-street sneakers. Over a decade of basketball experience set a high standard for the Caitlin 1s. She's also dreamt of having her own shoe "for as long as I can remember," according to a press release. So, she gave Nike a checklist. The sneakers had to support "speed, range, and unpredictability," and look cool while in action, of course.

Clark and Nike formed "a true partnership" while designing the rippled exterior, springy foam midsoles, and low-profile treads. Athletes will agree with the point guard: They "crushed it." Clark wanted her signature shoes to match the "fast, confident, and ready to let it fly" energy she's always had on the court. "They listened to every detail, and the innovation is designed for my game," she said. "Seeing the finished product for the first time will forever be a core memory."

To tackle the "unpredictability" challenge, Nike and Clark created Nike Opticast, which aims to "reduce drag and enhance movement efficiency." This new performance technology isn't hidden deep inside the sneaker's silhouette. See all of those itty-bitty bumps atop the toe boxes, sidewalls, and supportive ankles? That's what makes the Opticast the Opticast. Hundreds of C-shaped nodes add texture to 90-percent of the shoes, while each monogrammed tongue, ombré blue-to-mauve sole, and silver Swoosh remains untouched.

It's unclear why Clark chose such a rich shade of royal blue. Indiana Fever's team colors are strawberry red and white, plus navy blue and lemon yellow on occasion. She also wore black and gold while playing for Iowa University. Regardless, they're still an on-brand shade for the athlete. In fact, she's always selected Nike sneakers that help her stand out on the court.

Before the Caitlin 1s were born, Clark made the Kobe 5 and 6 Proto model her signature shoe. The night before the news broke, she defeated the Toronto Tempo in a custom pink, yellow, and green gradient Kobe 6 sneakers. Turns out, they were inspired by Taylor Swift's Eras Tour.

"Obviously, you guys know I'm a big fan of Taylor and the Eras Tour," Clark revealed in the post-game conference room. "The Eras Tour was the best concert of all time, so that's why I like the thought behind these." They felt reminiscent of Swift's pastel Roberto Cavalli skirt sets during the 1989 section of her shows.

Maybe the Caitlin 2s will channel another era in Swift's discography. Clark's favorite Taylor Swift song is "Enchanted," so she could have her sights set on a Speak Now-purple sneaker.

The current class of WNBA all-stars is behind some of Nike's best-selling trainers. In May 2025, A'ja Wilson debuted her first Nike sneaker, the A'One, which sold out in under five minutes. One year later, the Las Vegas Aces MVP's A'Twos flew off the shelves just as quickly. New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu has three Nike sneakers so far, each beloved for their supportive soles and stabilizing shanks.

The Caitlin 1 sneaker officially releases on October 1 for $140. In addition to the Clark-approved pair, Nike will drop an 18-piece apparel collection, complete with practice gear and streetwear. If this launch is anything like Wilson's, Clark and Nike will keep delivering style slam dunks for years to come.

Every time I spot a fashion girl in white sneakers, I think, "Wow, she must really have her life together." It shoes this pristine aren't for the weak or the spill prone. I'm not surprised Hailey Bieber has what it takes. She just endorsed the white sneaker trend revival again, with a designer collaboration worth facing my "What if I stain them?" fears.

Bieber started summer 2026 in slim sneakers from her husband's streetwear brand, Skylrk. Their 3-D-printed sidewalls were nowhere to be found during her coffee run on June 9, though. The Rhode founder looked fresh from a workout class in a black long-sleeve, matching biker shorts, and a bright green scrunchie. If it wasn't for her white socks-and-sneakers set, Bieber might've blended in with the Beverly Hills crowd while ordering her coffee. Both the sneakers' blinding shade and trend-defying silhouette made her unmissable.

Bieber's take on the chunky sneaker trend shined so bright, it was difficult to ID. Her pair seems to be from Fall 2023's Nike x Comme des Garçons collab, the latest chapter in a partnership beginning back in 1999. Named the Homme Plus x Nike Air Pegasus 2005, these specific sneakers hit shelves in all-white or all-black.

Mesh uppers, leather Swoosh-topped sidewalls, and textured rubber soles made them the sportiest style in Bieber's white sneaker collection. The $900 sneakerinas she debuted last April looked more like ballet slippers, except with high vamps and Miu Miu branding.

Yes, Bieber's Miu Mius worked for everyday errands or Pilates classes. But what about her more intense athleisure looks? The Nike x Commes de Garçons sneakers could support her from start to finish during a Spincycle session.

I haven't seen Bieber wear the Nike x Comme des Garçons sneakers out and about before. Judging by their cool-dad charm, I would've expected her to be first in line during the 2023 launch. Instead, she's been building up to the Pegasus 2005 trainers with similar anti-slim styles. Best-selling models from Asics and New Balance stood just as stout as her newest pair. None of them—not even the New Balance 740s—were completely colorless, though. Metallic trim or colorful logos always made the final cut.

By April 2026, Bieber dipped her toe into white sneaker styling with ballet sneakers, a low-profile shoe trend she trusted. I suspected her white sneaker marathon would continue from there. Reviving 2025's pro-chunky stance was certainly a surprise, though.

Fellow A-list sneakerheads haven't followed Bieber's colorless lead just yet. But bulking up their summer 2026 shoes? Now that they can do. Dakota Johnson and Jennifer Lawrence proved as much last year.

Shop Chunky White Sneakers Inspired by Hailey Bieber

Tennis tournaments haven't been the same without Serena Williams. It's been four long years since she announced her retirement, after years of racking up Grand Slam wins. You wouldn't know it, though. At the HSBC Championships on June 9, Williams looked like no time has passed in a peony pink Nike tennis outfit. Better yet, she marked her grand return with a win.

Clearly, the GOAT couldn't wait to get back in the swing of things. It's only been two weeks since news of her comeback spread. Williams teamed up with Canada's Victoria Mboko for their first doubles match at The Queen's Club in London. The private members' club is significantly smaller than Wimbledon, but when Williams arrived, the crowd's cheers shook the stands just the same.

The star athlete wore Nike from headband-to-toe, continuing her 23-year tradition and ambassadorship. Tennis whites traded places with peony pink, a chic color trend blossoming in Bella Hadid, Jennifer Lawrence, and Olivia Rodrigo's closets.

Williams's warm-up windbreaker—in cool-toned baby pink—wasn't too far from white on the color wheel. Such a light color shined a spotlight on the zip-up's high collar and elasticized, bomber-style hem. To the style trained eye, she clearly used her tennis hiatus to become a full-fledged fashion girl. Now, Williams is as familiar with rising runway shades as she is the sport's complicated rulebook.

Before her first serve, Williams unzipped the early-summer jacket trend, revealing a white tank top underneath. She tucked her first Nike-branded piece into a pleated mini skirt (her go-to tennis bottoms for decades). Every feature—from the high-rise waistband to its thigh-grazing hem—picked up where her peony-tinted outerwear left off.

Never one to turn down a monochrome outfit, Williams kept the pink picks going with Nike Air Zoom Vapor X sneakers. Each oversize tongue, curved toe box, and low-profile sole turned a few tints darker than her skirt set. Perhaps her custom NikeCourt Flare sneakers (which Williams helped design, and wore nonstop pre-retirement) weren't available in such a fresh-from-the-garden shade of raspberry.

To finish, she earned extra points for picking a Wilsons racket with a hot pink handle.

Pink has played a major part in Williams's stylish tennis run. She's won many matches while wearing pink, including the 2014 US Open. That season, she and her leopard-print dress, two-tone sneakers, and matching headband all advanced to the finals. Each style's bright fuchsia shade made her unmissable—and potentially distracting—to her opponent. Before stepping away in 2022, she warmed up for her final US Open match in a neon pink pleated skirt.

The further Williams advanced in Australian Opens, French Opens, and even Italian Opens, the more she committed to pink color stories. Maybe she'll keep the tradition alive at the HSBC Championships' quarter final on June 11.

I'll be watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup from my couch instead of New Jersey's MetLife stadium. But I still plan on dressing the part in the sports jersey trend. Catch me at my local World Cup watch party recreating Rihanna's June 7 sports jersey outfit.

Rihanna could've worn A$AP Rocky's merch to his 2026 Governors Ball Music Festival concert. Instead, she kept me on my toes by wearing a chocolate brown version of Peyton Manning's #18 Colts jersey. The fresh-from-the-locker-room find was just oversize enough while keeping the structure of its V-shaped neckline and short sleeves. That's the work of British-based, 2021 LVMH Prize finalist, Conner Ives.

Rihanna didn't need to tuck her signed Colts jersey into her black, knee-length skirt. Ives attached the two, "creating a unique silhouette that is oversized on the upper and fitted on the legs," his notes revealed.

Intricate, stretchy shirring decorated everything in between the pencil skirt's elastic waistband and scalloped hemline. That texture is exactly what made the Grammy winner's jersey look so glossy. Had the VIP-beloved designer linked the shirt with a smooth jeans trend, it wouldn't have felt nearly as on-brand for the singer. (She loves experimenting with matte and shiny styles, after all.)

If the two-piece-turned-dress feels as cozy as it looks, Ives reconstructed it with jerseys from the New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, and more.

She doubled down on interesting finishes with the cult-collected Nike x Jacquemus Moon Shoe sneaker. She owns the circa-March 2025 ballet sneakers in off-white and cinnamon brown. This time, she chose the latter, which sharpened the nylon, crinkle-effect uppers and Nike's ivory Swoosh. I suspect this It-shoe collaboration will dominate World Cup stadiums from here to Canada and Mexico this summer.

Here's where my Rihanna recreation might get a little tricky. The fashion girl carried one of her most extravagant Louis Vuitton bags: the Speedy P9 25. At first glance, it might seem like a classic Speedy, complete with a monogrammed duffle and nude top-handle straps. Zoom in, and you'll see the entire zip-top body is sculpted from croc-embossed leather, raising its price tag to $48,500.

While I never pegged her for an Indianapolis Colts fan, Rihanna has been pro-sports jersey as streetwear for years. Two years ago, she attended the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix in Chicago Bulls jersey, alongside a black cargo skirt and Gucci horsebit bag. Months later, a royal blue Scott Racing Team jersey widened her horizons into mountain biking territory.

That said, it's only a matter of time before World Cup-branded pieces join Rihanna's summer rotation. FIFA collaborations with Puma and Nike (two of her favorite sneaker labels) promise she has plenty of options to choose from.

Shop the Sports Jersey Trend Inspired by Rihanna

Plot twist: Rihanna vouched for a new It sneaker without Fenty x Puma tags. She's the latest VIP backing the Nike x Jacquemus Moon Shoe alongside Dua Lipa and Jacob Elordi: first by debuting a pair two weeks ago, then styling the retro ballet sneakers in a second shade with her trench coat outfit on May 31.

Rihanna and her two-month-old trainers spent Sunday in New York City, where Nike x Jacquemus sneakers currently reign supreme. She sourced the French atelier's fourth collection with Nike for the newest (and most nostalgic) Moon Shoes. Then, the "Stay" singer stacked them beneath straight-leg jeans, a white button-down, a classic camel trench coat, and a Miu Miu baseball cap.

Everything celebrities know and love about the cult-classics returned on Rihanna's Spring 2026 model, including ruched, crinkle-effect nylon uppers, Nike's cream-colored ivory Swoosh, Jacquemus-branded tongues, and waffle-cleated soles sculpted from recycled Nike Grind rubber. The brand's "torpedo" silhouette—which captured the low-profile charm of sneakerinas—traded the last launch's butter yellow and tomato red tints for a rich cinnamon brown. In March, the Grammy winner's exact color sold for $180, but now, prepare to spend $450 or higher.

In a matter of weeks, Rihanna went from having just a few Jacquemus looks under her belt, to sporting two shades from the brand's best-selling collaboration. On May 16, she coupled the same Miu Miu baseball cap with new, ecru Nike x Jacquemus Moon Shoes. The monochrome Swoop, shoelaces, and nylon sidewalls made them a touch more understated than her brown pair. Zoom in, and you'll still see Jacquemus's emblem and Nike's arrow clear as day.

Rihanna's burgundy everyday bag added one more designer to the mix: Dior. She chose the quilted, circa-Spring 2026 Crunchy Bag she's worn on repeat since late April. Much like her Moon Shoes, she owns the part-shoulder-style, part-oversize-clutch in burgundy and emerald green.

Nike and Jacquemus have been on a roll since their initial summer 2022 collaboration. At the time, designer Simon Jacquemus "wanted to create a collection that reinterprets athletic women's sportswear in a minimal way," according to a press release. The first line drew inspiration from '90s Nike campaigns, anchored by re-imaginings of the Nike Air Humara sneaker. One year later, the Air Force 1 and Nike ACG Terra sneakers became the stars of the labels' reunion.

The Moon Shoe collaboration landing didn't occur until Sept. 2025. Almost 55 years after Bill Bowerman hand-built the sneaker for 1972's U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, Jacquemus saw an opportunity "to write a new story and reinterpret it in our own way." Drawn to the shoe's ability to be "timeless yet modern in its simplicity and execution," the designer reintroduced its retro look in red, peony pink, yellow, black, cobalt blue, and more.

Dua Lipa and Blackpink's Lisa were quick to sample the butter, almost white shade; Jacob Elordi hasn't stopped styling them in bright red; and now, RiRi put a brand-new Moon Shoe on fashion's ballet sneaker radar. Talk about a Hollywood-wide takeover.

Shop the Nike x Jacquemus Moon Shoe Inspired by Rihanna

Having embraced '90s minimalism following her turn as Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy in Love Story, Sarah Pidgeon is keeping it casual in athleisure. During a break from filming in Brisbane, Australia, Pidgeon was spotted pairing Hailey Bieber's Nike sneakers with Balenciaga's latest It bag.

In late 2025, the Rhode founder was spotted wearing a pair of Nike sneakers, which were extremely reminiscent of the brand's P-6000 style, as well as gorpcore brand Salomon.

Stepping out in Brisbane, Pidgeon appeared to take style notes from Bieber by wearing black and silver Nike P-6000 sneakers paired with ALO's Airbrush High-Waist Bootcut Leggings and an oversize gray zip hoodie.

Notably, the actress also carried Balenciaga's Rodeo Bag, which is already a firm favorite with It girls everywhere. The slouchy leather bag is ideal for carrying a laptop to the office or for running errands on a day off.

It's clear that whether she's channeling Bessette-Kennedy or embracing 2026's burgeoning trends, Pidgeon is carving out her own distinctive aesthetic.

Shop Outfits Inspired by Sarah Pidgeon

I haven't pliéd behind a ballet barre since college, but I think about Capezio slippers almost every day. Today's biggest shoe trends all channel the whimsy of twirling to Tchaikovsky, from high-vamp flats to dainty Mary Janes. But the most stage-worthy of them all is the ballet sneaker trend, according to my favorite It girls.

This time last year, the ballet sneaker trend—featuring rounded toe boxes and almost-invisible soles—declared itself the Misty Copeland of must-have shoes. Even during a season where chunky dad-core trainers reigned supreme, they made a spellbinding debut on Dua Lipa, Bella Hadid, and Hailey Bieber's shoe racks. To no surprise, the sneakerinas assemblé-d into my closet faster than you could say Swan Lake.

The same thing happened to my go-to VIPs for styling inspiration. Bieber, a former ballerina herself, belongs to Miu Miu's ballet sneaker company—and has since October. Just last month, she endorsed the white sneaker revival in a $900 pirouette-proof pair. Weeks later, Billie Eilish took Celine's $900 version center stage at the red carpet premiere of her tour documentary, Hit Me Hard and Soft. Meanwhile, Anne Hathaway and Olivia Rodrigo have yet to dance with ballet sneakers over $100, thanks to Adidas.

Timothée Chalamet might disagree, but if an art form is still actively influencing fashion trends, there's no fighting to "keep this thing alive." A-listers and I even have the strength of spring fashion shows behind us. Ballet sneaker outfits dominated Dries Van Noten, Versace, Prada, and Fendi's runways.

The best part about this It shoe? Experience in ballet isn't required to pull off a ballet sneaker outfit. So, make sure to stretch, slip on your metaphorical tutu, and take cues from the six center stage-worthy outfits ahead.

Olivia Rodrigo's Ballet Sneaker Trend Outfit

Adidas Tokyos were originally created for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, but you'd think a ballerina had them sculpted just for her, pointe shoe-style. Jennifer Lawrence initially put their slipper-adjacent silhouette on my radar last spring. Then, by the time my white-and-red sneakers arrived, Olivia Rodrigo styled cobalt blue Tokyos beneath the cigarette jeans trend and a white tank top.

Giving up her gumsole treads for blink-and-you'll-miss-them bottoms was huge for the longtime Adidas Samba supporter. Naturally, I was convinced to try a pair, too.

Hailey Bieber's Ballet Sneaker Trend Outfit

Hailey Bieber has been a Miu Miu girl for years. So, when Miuccia Prada presented her sneakerinas in April 2025, Bieber was first in line. She walked away with the Plume Suede Sneakers in navy blue, featuring branded gumsoles and stark white shoelaces.

The Rhode founder even went a little method the last two times she wore them. For each outfit, she took ballet sneakers for a spin alongside oversize outerwear and biker shorts fresh from a dancer's post-rehearsal duffle.

Rihanna's Ballet Sneaker Trend Outfit

Months before Prada's sneakerinas starred in Harry Styles's "Aperture" music video, Rihanna looked posh in the $1,050 peony pink pair. It's like the Italian label crafted them just for the girl mom—in fact, they were the first shoes she publicly wore after welcoming her first daughter, Rocki Irish Mayers, into the world. Because of her, I shade-matched my pink sneakerinas to the satin hair scarf trend.

Vittoria Ceretti's Ballet Sneaker Trend Outfit

My off-duty spring outfits didn't look that different from model Vittoria Ceretti's this season. Sure, her trench coat is Chanel, she carried a four-figure Hermès Kelly Pochette, and Prada designed her chocolate brown sneakers. But I, too, adore channeling a post-rehearsal dancer in baggy sweatpants and sneakerinas. I'll just complete my homage with under-$200 trainers from Reformation, while saving up for her $1,120 Prada pair, of course.

Anne Hathaway's Ballet Sneaker Trend Outfit

Reuniting with Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada 2 really brought out Anne Hathaway's maximalist side last month. She also influenced me to mix ballet sneakers and the animal-print trend into one hybrid It shoe. Better yet, she did just that with $100 zebra-striped sneakerinas from Adidas. They shared the same slim silhouette as Rodrigo and Jennifer Lawrence's Tokyos. Two-tone color combinations traded places with a pony-hair print and metallic silver stripes, though.

Billie Eilish's Ballet Sneaker Trend Outfit

My fellow dancers can't deny the French-girl charm that ballet sneakers emit. It seems that's exactly what won Billie Eilish over in late April 2026. She chose Celine's $900 Flat Sneaker, complete with black grosgrain sidewalls, and ivory-trimmed, leather toe boxes. If I lived in Paris, I'd be running errands, taking adult dance classes, and grabbing dinner in these beauties.

Naomi Osaka blessed fans with not one, but two trophy-worthy outfit reveals this month. Her first sartorial grand slam came at the 2026 Met Gala, where the tennis legend shed a white Robert Wun coat for a blood-red mermaid dress. On May 26, she somehow outdid herself with two walk-on looks at the 2026 French Open.

On day three of the two-week tournament, Osaka played her first round match against Laura Siegemund of Germany. Hours before she defeated Siegemund, Osaka secured her first win in the fashion department. Stylist Marty Harper (the same creative behind her Met Gala moment), collaborated with Swiss designer Germanier on an "upcycled look" for Osaka.

She initially graced the Stade Roland-Garros court in a sleeveless, all-black corset, plus a matching pleated maxi skirt. Cascading crystals and sequins added an iridescent shine to the shadowy backdrop. According to Kevin Germanier, the design was supposed to be "earth-toned," almost the same shade as the Parisian court. "We decided to go fully black to create an element of surprise on the court," the designer revealed on Instagram. "It was nerve-racking, but in the end, I honestly think it turned out even better than what we had originally planned."

Once Osaka's tennis bag was prepped, she ditched the corset vest to pose for photographers. That way, her semi-sheer skirt's intricate, tennis-inspired pleats got their moment in the sun. The shirt swap also introduced Osaka's base layer to the mix: a taupe tennis dress stitched from upcycled Nike garments.

She stayed true to her maximalist self by flaunting gold sequin strands atop a Nike-branded bodysuit. The skirt's top two tiers—and the asymmetrical pailettes that decorated each ruffle—were stacked over her black maxi's waistband. Osaka waited until the moment before her match began to reveal the rest.

One last thigh-grazing ruffle emerged once Osaka threw her Germanier skirt toward the sidelines. Each layer gave Osaka's mini skirt the eye-catching volume she, as well as Venus and Serena Williams, require from match-ready tennis dresses.

The sequins, however, might make this mini her most personalized yet. On the off chance she does wear embellishments, Osaka typically chooses monochrome rhinestones, as to not outshine the color underneath. (See her red tennis dress at the 2026 US Open.) Perhaps her Met Gala gown taught her to be even more bold on the court.

To finish, the Nike brand ambassador stayed true to tradition with her GP Challenge 1 "Naomi Osaka" sneakers in an unreleased coral tint. If they're anything like her US Open trainers, they'll hit shelves any day now.

Luckily for fans (and fashion girls), Osaka advanced to the second round match on May 28 against Croatia's Donna Vekić. Knowing her, she and Harper are already putting the finishing touches on her next French Open outfit.

It’s the perfect image to market a new running sneaker: Sha’Carri Richardson, a two-time Olympian and one of the world’s fastest women, holding a one-handed runner’s lunge and wearing Melitta Baumeister x Nike’s neon orange Vomero Premiums.

But an athlete of Richardson’s caliber wasn’t who Baumeister initially had in mind when conceptualizing her collaboration with Nike Running. The German-born, New York-based fashion designer was thinking about women like herself: rookie runners who enjoy the endorphin rush but aren’t hung up on shaving off seconds or perfecting their form. Who run simply as a way to celebrate that they’re able to—that they're alive.

Titled “Run Like No One is Watching” and launching on April 1, Baumeister’s team-up with Nike centers around the idea of running as an extension of self-expression. “It’s a message about rediscovering the joy of movement: moving for yourself, not for perfection or the approval of others,” Baumeister says over email. In that respect, Richardson, as well known for her record-breaking 100m sprint as she is for her intricate, bedazzled manicures, is the perfect person for the partnership.

Baumeister’s team-up with Nike includes two original interpretations of the Vomero Premium and Pegasus Premium, two running sneakers that feel like natural inclusions in her namesake experimental line. Both are set on cushy platform soles, slightly bloated silhouettes that align well with the CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund winner’s penchant for distortion and sculpture. Each sneaker is painted by hand: the traffic-cone orange Vomero boasts illustrations of Baumeister’s eyes on the outsole; the Pegasus, offered in neon green, features "Run Like No One is Watching" on its sole as a pick-me-up for those trailing the wearer. You will find Nike’s signature swoosh on each pair, but it’s layered under Baumeister’s logo and hand-brushed, black smudges.

These are not the mass-produced, neutral running sneakers you’d find in a big-box store; they’re avant-garde and atypical, with a clear fashion slant yet without compromising on the technical performance needed to pound the pavement. Melitta Baumeister x Nike is distinct, expressive, and meant to mirror the unique path each wearer walks—or runs.

Ahead of the sneaker’s launch date, Marie Claire sat down with the acclaimed fashion designer to discuss the details about her latest team-up with Nike. Keep scrolling to read our full conversation, covering everything from her childhood in Germany and why she doesn’t quite fit into “run club culture.”

I’d love to hear about your experiences with running and how they influenced your design approach for this collaboration.

Movement has always been an essential part of my daily life and creative work. I’m an avid biker, and the opportunity to work on the Vomero Premium and Pegasus Premium inspired me to start running. However, finding the time and motivation while managing an expanding business was challenging. There was also the added challenge of the awkwardness that comes with starting something new, especially because I didn’t connect with the rise of “run club culture”. I think that knowing that this is the reality for most of my clients was a good starting point for the story I’m telling through this collaboration.

What I love about running and my own running journey is how running changes how I perceive time and space. It's like exploring familiar places from a new perspective. Places connect to thoughts, which become memories, and rhythm resides in the body, not a stopwatch. Running is a powerful tool for creativity. Every run is unique, just like everyone’s journey. And, every runner is unique, just like each pair of shoes.

This is not your first time working with Nike; the athletic brand sponsored your first New York Fashion Week show in September 2024, and you just redesigned the Nike Air Max Muse for your Fall 2026 collection. What do you enjoy most about working with Nike?

My partnership with Nike began in Spring 2025, during NYFW, with my first runway show. I’m very selective about the brands I work with, but I was inspired by the way they approached the partnership as more than a sponsorship. From the beginning, it was an opportunity to build a world together. I was drawn to Nike’s pursuit of excellence, something that’s a key part of my own practice as a designer. They embrace my avant-garde approach to design and challenge me to recontextualize sport and performance in ways the brand has never done before. Through this partnership, we consistently push each other to create something truly special that shapes the boundaries of fashion and sport.

How did you approach making the Nike Running silhouettes your own?

When Nike asked me to come up with new color variations for the Vomero Premium and Pegasus Premium, my first thought was to approach it as more than just swapping colors. The functionality of both silhouettes provided new inspiration. I wanted to incorporate movement and something unexpected. That meant shifting from the intimidating perfection of a brand-new sneaker to a sneaker that attracts people in multifaceted, surprising ways.

My team and I took the idea of "design for movement" seriously, and instead of staying holed up in front of a computer, I worked with my hands, touching the actual materials just as I do when creating sculptural dresses. I uncovered the story I wanted to tell—to embrace imperfection in the pursuit of practice. I developed two hand-painted sneakers, each pair subtly different. The first thing viewers notice when they see my Vomero Premium and Pegasus Premium is the layers of graphics and details that appear when viewed up close. I like how it creates room for the viewer to explore and experience by engaging with the work from various distances and angles.

How did you differentiate this collaboration from the previous one?

Nike and I unveiled our first partnership in 2025. I worked with the brand to produce my own reinterpretation of the Air Max Muse for our Fall '26 lookbook. The design was an exaggeration and distortion of the shoe’s already distinct design lines, furthered by a gritty yet foamy appliqué that extends far from the midsole around the foot, as well as gaps in the paneling at the toes. The idea was to let the sole bubble up and expand through the gaps in the upper, resulting in a new sculptural silhouette altered and conceived through a distinctly physical process.

My bespoke Air Max Muse was an exploratory exercise to show what the world of Melitta Baumeister and Nike looks like. The Vomero Premium and Pegasus Premium take it a step further by creating a piece of our world that can be owned and experienced by our combined audiences. The co-creation process was much more collaborative; I worked closely with Nike’s design team to understand how to translate my ideas into the production process for a performance product. When reinterpreting a performance product, there are limitations to what you can alter so as not to change the functionality of the shoe, unlike when I created the bespoke Air Max Muses. I was also able to introduce aspects of my craft to their factories—for example, the process of painting the shoes.

The “Run Like No One Is Watching” tagline is so clever. What’s your message to people who are struggling with wanting to start running but feel intimidated?

I wanted to create an intimate and honest design that delves into the inner worlds of people who don't identify as runners but who are aware of its transformative power. The message created by the juxtaposition of the tagline “Run Like No One is Watching” with the visuals of my eye on the shoes is that we want our results to be seen, but we do not want to be judged during the process.

This same philosophy—subtle differences, layered colors, and the traces of the maker's touch—is embodied in every sneaker. This perspective reflects my own experimental methods and production process, which are constantly evolving. This collaboration is my showcase of how imperfection, realism, and playfulness can be the most powerful design tools.

For a long time, performance sneakers and fashion sneakers have been separate categories. But the lines are blurring now. Was merging performance with expressive design codes part of your thinking when designing these sneakers?

I knew I wanted to tell a story with my design. My work speaks to women who are expressive and bold in such an intimate way, and this project was no different. So much of my work is about creating shape, but with the Vomero Premium and Pegasus Premium, the shape was already created, so I leaned into other parts of my craft to create my design. Mixing sport performance with processes like hand-painting and intentional graphic design is very much aligned with what fashion means to me, combining the functional with the emotional.

Anything else to add about the collaboration?

I grew up in a small city in Germany with very little fashion. Since I was a child, I've felt that clothes influence our lives and emotions. I was drawn to people who not only expressed their individuality through clothing but also established their identity through it. That's the root of my love for fashion. My mother introduced me to a visiting fashion designer, and her words, "I'm changing people's lives by dressing them," really resonated with me.

As I grew older, I came to understand what she meant. The idea of affecting someone’s identity and helping them be courageous on their path to defining who they are has been both fascinating and rewarding. Through this collaboration, I hope that people can find the sublime in running and see it as another lens through which they create their identity.

Melitta Baumeister x Nike will be released on April 1, 2026, on melittabaumeister.com, and on April 8, 2026, on nike.com. Available in unisex sizing, the Vomero Premium retails for at $260, and the Pegasus Premium is $220.

Dakota Johnson is known for many things, including her impressive collection of sneakers. Regularly photographed leaving workout sessions, the Materialists star has been spotted wearing everything from Adidas Samba OGs to chunky "dadcore" sneakers. But when it comes to Johnson's most-worn sneaker styles, Nike's V2Ks continue to secure the coveted role.

Having made it clear she's still attached to her Nike V2Ks—which she owns in multiple shades—in 2026, Johnson was photographed on March 27 leaving a class wearing the celeb-beloved footwear. Jennifer Lawrence is another known fan of the V2K style, and Kaia Gerber also owns a pair of the affordable sneakers.

For this particular outing, Johnson opted for Nike V2Ks in the Summit White/Metallic Silver shade, which retail for $125.

Along with her metallic sneakers, the Madame Web star wore a bright red Lululemon Wunder Train Strappy Racer Bra with a pair of high-waisted black leggings. The actress accessorized her outfit with Adidas Originals Trefoil Crew Socks and L.G.R Marrakech Sunglasses in a blue gradient.

Johnson elevated her workout style even further with a $1,070 Cartier Love Single Hoop Earring and Yvonne Léon's Paire De Créoles Diamantées PM or Jaune Earrings.

As usual, the actress's workout clothing has provided fans with a ton of inspiration for upgrading their own closets.

Shop Outfits Inspired by Dakota Johnson

On February 24, Milan Fashion Week officially welcomed two of the industry's current Core Four models: Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid. Jenner and Hadid didn't share a flight, nor the same airport outfit formula. Jenner took the high-vamp flats trend international, while Hadid kept up L.A. cool-girl dressing in chunky Nike sneakers.

Like Jenner, Hadid's Fashion Month schedule remains on a need-to-know basis, but with it being her first Milan Fashion Week since September 2022, she likely has a few surprises up her sleeve. I wasn't shocked to see her six-year-old Nike Shox TL sneakers tagged along, though. She pulled the black, circa-2003 replicas out of retirement less than a week ago, after all.

Always on board for a matching set at the airport, Hadid put comfort first in a beige cardigan and flowy sweatpants. A black, knee-length trench coat elevated the pajama-y two-piece underneath. Hadid's patent leather Prada bag pushed the limits on personal item rules. The jury's still out on whether it fit under the seat.

Hadid bookended her travel look with black accessories, the key to maintaining a low, pre-fashion week profile. The slightly oversize coat matched one-color Nike sneakers to a T. Breathable mesh uppers made the $180 Shox TLs feel weightless as she rushed through her terminal. What's more, springy foam columns atop rubber soles added some pumped-up pep to Hadid's step.

Hadid's Nike Shox TLs are a new addition to her Milan Fashion Week survival kit, but they're not entirely Fashion Month strangers. She rarely took off the same Nike sneakers in between modeling gigs for Miu Miu, Lacoste, and Balenciaga at Paris Fashion Week six years ago. On March 2, 2020, each toebox's glossy black grid emerged from beneath flared trousers. A leather Balenciaga jacket, the Le City Bag, and a zip-up fleece from Cos embraced the Shox shoes' grunge side.

Nike Shox TL sneakers have evolved right alongside Hadid, from her menswear-inspired, Y2K aesthetic in 2020, to her urban cowgirl closet right now. It's rare for a shoe to stay relevant for this long, especially one with such concentrated early-aughts roots. Clearly, Hadid is trying to tell us Nike Shox sneakers are worth investing in.

Shop Nike Shox TL Sneakers Inspired by Bella Hadid

Everyone wants to know if Simone Biles will compete at the 2028 Olympics: "We'll see," she told The Today Show on February 18. But in worrying about the next Summer Games, fans risk icing out her spectator style at the 2026 Winter Olympics. That same day, the Olympian carried a Hermès Kelly around Milan, and simultaneously championed a Nike-led 2026 sneaker trend.

Biles and her husband, Jonathan Owens, have been in Milan since Feb. 13. Their appearances have been limited to the figure skating stands so far, but the couple finally played tourists on day five of their trip. Biles, for one, looked every bit an off-duty athlete in black leggings and a matching oversize turtleneck. Even her sneakers—the Nike Zoom Vomero 5 model—could've been plucked from a current competitor's locker. Though her brand ambassadorship reportedly ended before the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, she can't deny Nike's street style potential.

The $170 Zoom Vomero 5s—featuring chunky two-tone soles, plastic cage-like sidewalls, and ventilated heels—date back to 2010. However, Biles's light gray "Photon Dust" color debuted as recently as Feb. 2024. Nike's signature Swoosh comes in metallic silver, which stands out against the gray uppers and black-and-white soles.

Biles's last major Nike styling moment arrived at her April 2023 wedding, when she had white Air Force Ones bedazzled with pearls and gold rhinestones. Her Hermès Kelly, on the other hand, is as much a frequent flyer as she is. Last month, the top-handle Kelly 25—in black with palladium hardware—was spotted beneath her seat at a Chicago Bulls basketball game.

The gymnast's husband stayed home, meaning the five-figure find won "most recognizable bag in the stands" by a landslide. (Similar styles sell secondhand for upwards of $28,000.) Meanwhile in Milan, Owens wore a rare Goyard messenger bag. Its top-flap, coated canvas exterior boasted the label's signature white and brown chevrons. Former Vice President Kamala Harris styled the same print on a Goyard Saint Louis tote on Feb. 17.

The Milan Cortina Olympics will be over before you know it (Feb. 22 marks the final competitions). Since Hermès doesn't exactly offer gym-ready duffles, Kelly-carrying athletes may be harder to come by. So, stock up on the sneaker inspiration while you still can and shop Marie Claire's curated edit of Biles-inspired trainers below.

Shop Nike Sneakers Inspired by Simone Biles

Of all the sneakers on my shoe rack, Nikes are my longest-lasting. My circa-2015 Nike Cortezs still get as much street time as my fresh-from-the-box Nike V2Ks. Turns out, Bella Hadid treats her Nikes the same way. On February 17, the supermodel pulled six-year-old Nike Shox TL sneakers out of retirement, and made her bid for a new 2026 sneaker trend.

Hadid's athleisure matching set doubled as a dog walking outfit around L.A. She opted for almost all-black selects, including a scoop-neck tank top, skintight leggings, and a knee-grazing windbreaker. Even her chunky Nike Shox TL sneakers got the noir memo, apart from crimson red stitching on each tongue.

Like the Salomon sneakers Hadid wore last month, these Nikes come with pumped-up dimensions. Contrary to her brand-new Salomons, however, her Nikes are an almost-exact replica of 2003's debut Shox TLs, down to the breathable mesh uppers. Foam, spring-like columns added extra height to the rubber soles, just like the original basketball-proof Shox TLs. Early-aughts commercials emphasized the key platform feature with "boing" sound effects.

Before Salomons snuck back into her rotation, Hadid stood firmly in her pro-sneakerina stance. She styled Vivaia ballet sneakers to It-shoe status last summer in response to Dakota Johnson, Hailey Bieber, and Jennifer Lawrence's chunky pairs. Now, it seems she's making up for lost time—not by shopping new, but from her own closet.

During the early 2020s, Nike Shox sneakers experienced a comeback at the hands of Dua Lipa, Bieber, Rosalía, and Hadid. In July 2022, Hadid's black Shox TLs got a younger sister: brown suede Shox NZs, featuring similar springy soles. That same week, she debuted white-and-blue Shox Classic IIs.

Before the month's end, white Nike Shox TLs with red swoops popped up on Hailey Bieber's feet. They were inseperable, traveling from New York City to London and beyond. By May 2023, she added an ombré yellow version to her sneaker collection. Each heightened sole made Bieber's Magda Butrym trench, Martine Rose jeans, and Éterne tank top feel surprisingly sporty.

Slowly but surely, Nike Shox TLs are reclaiming their stance as a sneakerhead staple. Girls' Generation singer Taeyeon and Italian influencer Chiara Ferragni styled them as recently as June and Sept. 2025, respectively. Bieber's exact Nike Shox sneakers sold out years ago, but luckily for you, Hadid chose one of the brand's core colors. Shop hers—and every tint imaginable—via Marie Claire's curated edit of Nike Shox TLs below.

Shop Nike Sneakers Inspired by Bella Hadid

The turtleneck is less a trend and more a personality type. And if it’s good enough for Diane Keaton, Nancy Meyers, and the entire canon of women who dress like they read hardcovers and own excellent cookware, it's certainly good enough for me.

I’ve always had a soft spot for a cashmere turtleneck—the kind that feels like a warm, elegant hug—but recently, I’ve fallen hard for Toteme's high-neck sweaters in particular. They strike that elusive balance between polish and ease: they're tailored without being stiff, minimal without feeling boring. This is not a sweater that asks questions or demands styling theatrics. It simply shows up and does the work.

On days when inspiration is running low and my closet feels inexplicably hostile, this turtleneck is my quiet hero. I throw it on, and suddenly the outfit makes sense. Jeans look intentional. Trousers look chic. Even my posture improves slightly—placebo effect, perhaps, but I’ll take it. It’s the kind of wardrobe staple that elevates everything around it, lending an air of calm competence, as if I have somewhere important to be (even when I don’t). In short, this is the turtleneck that makes me feel like my life is marginally more together than it actually is—and honestly, that’s the highest praise I can give a sweater.

Outfit 1

From day to night, I’ll throw off my loafers and put on a pair of leopard heels to formalize the look.

Outfit 2

It layers so well with utility jackets, blazers, and even faux fur.

Outfit 3

I literally wear this from the gym sometimes.

Similar Turtlenecks

I have a confession to make: I think I hate my jeans. After years of accumulating a rotation of must-have denim, I'm feeling a little bored. My signature jeans-sweater-boots outfit formula can only take me so far. So, in 2026, I'm breaking up with denim and exploring what else the world of "fun pants" has to offer.

Turns out there are a lot of non-denim bottom options I haven't yet explored. Take, for instance, track pants: They're the backbone of my airport outfits, and now I feel confident enough to wear them off the plane, too. It Girls are also proving cargo pants, and capris—two styles that have been relegated to the back of my closet since the early aughts—are worth a second glance this winter.

My closet is about to get way more diverse in 2026. Keep scrolling for all the winter pants options I'm eyeing.

Track Pants

The sporty fashion renaissance has continued with quarter-zips, fleece jackets, track jackets, and now, track pants. They're comfortable, casual, and feel '90s-inspired without going overboard.

Leather Pants

Leather pants are basically denim's cooler older sister. They're a night-out staple, but I believe they can (and should!) be worn in the daytime. You can dress them down with a button-down or a tee, or go full leather-on-leather with a matching moto jacket.

Cargo Pants

Late last year, a late-night scrolling session landed me on a pair of olive green cargo balloon pants. I bought them on impulse, and haven't worn them since—but I've recently come around to the idea of these cargo pants being an essential part of my winter wardrobe. After seeing enough styling inspiration, I pulled them out of my closet for outfit testing. Whether I personally end up including them as a must-have in the future is yet to be determined, but one thing is true: Cargos are cool again.

Skirt Trousers

Hear me out: Start styling your skirts over your pants again. No, it won't end up looking like you're on the red carpet for the Hannah Montana premiere in 2006. If you don't want to mix-and-match your perfect combination, brands like Simonett and Helsa both offer chic sets for one-and-done styling.

Soft Trousers

If, in the not-too-distant future, you find yourself yearning for a pair of pants that look like trousers and feel like sweats, remember to thank me. I bought the Gale Pants from Reformation over the holiday break, and have worn them nearly every day since. My collection is on the verge of tripling.

Capri Pants

I hate being wrong, but I'm big enough to admit I was incorrect about the longevity of last summer's capri pants trend. They've bubbled up onto my newsfeed again courtesy of Bella Hadid's recent street style, and I feel like they'll be everywhere on the streets of Copenhagen Fashion Week. Get ahead of their return and shop one of the options I have my eye on.

I think I may be allergic to wearing color. I blame my New York City upbringing for this—as well as my parents, who wore the chicest all-black outfits when I was growing up. After years of fighting it, I have simply decided to embrace it in my 30s. And thank goodness, because I now get to scroll through my favorite retailers' and brands' websites for hours, pulling together my favorite finds guilt-free. It's a task I take very seriously: My monochromatic shopping list for winter 2026 has taken me weeks to build. But I'm finally ready to share.

Right now, I'm looking to replace pieces I've worn to death (like my favorite Longchamp laptop bag and black jeans from Agolde), as well as sprinkle in newness from Zara, H&M, Nordstrom, and more. Keep scrolling for the all-black fashion picks on the market worth checking out right now, straight from the brain of a shopping editor who has spent pretty much her whole life crafting the perfect all-black wardrobe.

Epic tunnel entrances aren't reserved for athletes in the WNBA or NFL. Tennis stars like Naomi Osaka can turn center court walk-ups into fashion moments, too. On January 20, Osaka arrived at the 2026 Australian Open like the GOAT she is in custom Robert Wun.

Even before beating Croatian player Antonia Ružić in a first-round match, Osaka made her intentions clear with runway-worthy accessories. Instead of your average racket bag and water bottle, the athlete strutted into Melbourne Park wearing a wide-brimmed hat, lined with a sheer tulle veil. A Robert Wun umbrella—the couturier's signature Fall 2024 motif—amplified Osaka's "jellyfish" blueprint for the look.

According to an interview with Vogue, she was reading to her two-year-old daughter, Shai, when the creature's "fluidity" caught her eye. Osaka and longtime collaborator Marty Harper "were both instantly drawn to [Robert Wun's] shapes, his textures, the way his work moves,” she said. “It all lived in the same world we were imagining.”

So in addition to the veiled hat and parasol, Osaka layered a pleated Robert Wun mini skirt over flowy pants. The overall effect resembled an undulating sea creature, thriving on land.

"As a fan, I already understood her as an athlete, but being able to share this creative moment has been incredibly special," Wun told Vogue. He decorated Osaka's hat's curved crown with a 3D butterfly—a house code fresh from the Fall 2024 Couture line. Osaka hasn't worn Wun's butterflies until now, but unbeknownst to her, she's been his muse for years.

"One of the looks from my Fall 2024 collection was inspired by her moment at court, when a butterfly landed on her face mid-match," Wun said, referencing her viral encounter during the 2021 Australian Open. “I wanted to revisit that story and weave it into this design and collaboration.”

Jellyfish also inspired Osaka's on-court tennis outfit, created by Nike. (The sports brand began designing her match looks in 2019, when she signed on as an official ambassador.) A track jacket, racerback tank, and matching mini skirt boasted a turquoise, tie-dye print, which looked like Osaka was underwater.

Mint green ruffles along the jacket's sleeves, the tank's bust, and the skirt's hem made each swing even more cinematic. "It translated beautifully into the movement and fluidity of the sheer layers on the dress and the jacket," Osaka said. "When I saw it during the fitting, I remember thinking, ‘this is beautiful.'"

Osaka's signature tennis shoes—the Nike GP Challenge 1 "Naomi Osaka" sneakers—returned to center court in a custom turquoise shade. The two-tone rubber soles matched her Nike visor and sweat wrist bands.

For years, Osaka has pushed the boundaries of Nike tennis outfits by collaborating with runway designers. She first tapped AMBUSH creative Yoon Ahn in August 2024 during the US Open. The Nike x AMBUSH tutu tennis dress (and bow-embellished windbreaker) made quite an impression on the court: More than 47,000 TikTok users "like" her recap video highlighting the look.

The next day, Osaka's bow streak continued with a black-and-white set from the same brands. However, "I wouldn’t automatically associate myself with being girlish when I’m on the court," Osaka told The New York Times. “But I tend to gravitate toward really beautiful and cute things."

Most recently, at the 2025 US Open, Nike, Ahn, and Osaka teamed up again on a custom bubble-hem dress. Its crystalized Swarovski neckline was only outshined by a coordinating, bedazzled Labubu doll.

On January 22, Osaka will take on Romanian player Sorana Cîrstea in the second-round match. Fingers crossed she makes it to the grand final on Jan. 31. Her winning streak, sartorial and otherwise, can't possibly end here.

For the second day in a row, Dakota Johnson demonstrated her devotion to Nike V2K sneakers in L.A.

On January 15, she was once again photographed leaving her go-to Tracy Anderson studio looking energized and accomplished. (That she was met with a parking ticket on her car's windshield—and paparazzi to capture the whole thing—was an unfortunate turn of events.) She was, of course, athleisure-clad for her cardio class in a white sports bra, black Lululemon leggings, and an oversize T-shirt (wrapped bolero-style around her shoulders).

Her outfit wouldn't be complete without one of her trusty pairs of Nike V2K. This time, she swapped out her black ones for the sold-out Psychic Blue colorway, which is made of cerulean mesh, metallic silver swoops, and heightened ivory soles.

Judging by Johnson's end-of-year looks, it seems she reserves her chunkiest sneakers for Tracy Anderson classes, considering they have a "comfortable running shoe" footwear requirement. For street style strolls, she prefers slim Adidas Samba-like shoes—see her cool-toned green pair on Dec. 23, 2025. Don't worry, her Nike V2Ks still get plenty of spotlight.

Further proof that she's a creature of habit: She's wearing the same Khaite x Oliver People sunglasses she's often spotted in.

Shop the actor's under-$200 pairs—plus ones probably on her wish list—via the curated edit below.

Shop Nike V2K Sneakers Inspired by Dakota Johnson

Leave it to Kim Kardashian to turn an unassuming Wednesday into a news day by dropping a major NikeSKIMS announcement. On January 14, the brand—a partnership between Nike and Skims—revealed it was launching its first-ever shoe. If you were paying attention to Kardashian, though, you might've picked up on it last night, when she stepped out in Calabasas wearing the style.

The Skims founder figured what better way to introduce the NikeSKIMS Rift than by styling it herself—no studio, no photoshoot, no additional models necessary. She was spotted at The Commons shopping center in an all-black look, beginning with a leather bandeau and bomber jacket, both from Balenciaga. Her layered joggers-over-leggings were NikeSKIMS. (Zoom in to see the Kardashian-ified swoosh atop the waistband.)

Still, her fresh-from-the-box Rifts stood out. They feature a split toe box, inspired by the trademarked 1996 Nike Air Rift, which was re-released in 2015. Kardashian did call the Tabi-style shoes "a ballet flat" in the press release, but we'd liken it to a Mary Jane. The Skims-ified style—which will retail for $150—launches on January 26, and will come in shades of cinnamon, brown, and black.

"Together with Nike, we focused on creating a version that feels minimalist, sleek, and flattering," Kardashian said, in a statement.

Fashion fans started wondering whether a Nike Air Rift revival was nigh last month, when Jennifer Lawrence styled the sneakers in black-and-white. Similar to the NikeSKIMS Rift, hers featured velcro Mary Jane-like straps in lieu laces. Lawrence's also featured a chunky sole. We can't help but wonder if the actor—a close friend of the Kardashian-Jenners—could've had the inside scoop.

If the Rift launch is anything like the initial NikeSKIMS debut, Marie Claire recommends selecting your preferred shade (and a backup, just in case), setting an alarm, and entering your card information in advance. The brand's launches are no joke—collections continuously sell out in minutes.

When Dakota Johnson puts her mind to something—say, wearing a Nike sneaker all the way to It-shoe status—there's no stopping her. See: her devotion to her Nike V2Ks in 2025. It looks like that's not changing in the new year, as she's already worn her favorite sneakers to four workout classes in 2026.

On January 13, Johnson was welcomed back to Tracy Anderson's L.A. studio, her go-to. She arrived in her signature athleisure set: black Lululemon leggings, a matching sports bra, and Nike V2Ks. (This time, a hot pink tank top brightened up her workout outfit.) She usually rotates between three different colors of the sneaker—white and silver, blue, and black. All of them fit Anderson's "comfortable running shoe" footwear requirement with ease, but Tuesday's class called for her Dark Grey Burgundy Crush V2Ks (translation: black with charcoal accents).

Since debuting her first pair in April 2025, Johnson's black $135 Nikes have earned the most street time of the three shades. Perhaps that's because they help the A-lister go incognito, while cerulean blue soles are impossible for paparazzi to miss. Either way, Johnson is loyal to the Nike V2K's chunky midsole and extra-cushioned heel. The actor's influence could declare them the ultimate Tracy Anderson shoe by February.

Johnson is holding down the Nike V2K fort this year; fellow sneakerhead Jennifer Lawrence hasn't publicly styled her pair since Oct. 2025, when she wore it with an anti-athleisure Almada Label coat, Loewe trousers, and a suede Gimaguas tote. Similar to the Materialists actor, Lawrence's shoe rack boasts white and black pairs, though the latter features metallic silver swoops.

Surprisingly, Johnson's Nike V2Ks didn't make the cut on Marie Claire's best-selling sneakers of 2025 report; Taekwondos, Sambas, Tokyos, and more Adidas shoes filled the top spots. At this rate, however, Johnson (and her loyal fans) could secure top billing for the Nike V2Ks come Dec. 2026. Shop the curated edit below to do your part.

Shop Athleisure Inspired by Dakota Johnson

We started seeing a big shift in sneakers in 2025: It Girls began to break away from the quiet luxury trend that had a stronghold on fashion, swapping more minimal footwear for chunky running shoes, animal-printed styles, and more expressive kicks. It set the stage for this push towards individualism in personal style to grow stronger over the last few months, as evidenced by 2026's biggest sneaker trends.

As a new batch of spring sneaker trends rolls around, newer iterations of 2025's ballet sneakers that lean into femininity with satin and silk fabrications have continued to grow in popularity, as has the controversial sneaker heel, which has found a legion of new fans online. More traditional styles also got technical upgrades—like the rise of the approach shoe trend—that seamlessly meld style and support; this points to a broader interest in functionality, according to Lucila Saldana, the Footwear and Accessories Strategist at forecasting platform WGSN, who says it will become a full-blown "non-negotiable" in the category over the next few months.

While Adidas has maintained a years-long dominance in the category, some other big players are coming for its crown in 2026. As Julia Lebossé, creator of the popular Instagram account Sneakers by Women, argues: “The brands that will stand out will be the ones that create a shoe people genuinely want to wear every day, something that feels current, easy to style, and naturally fits into real wardrobes." She calls out Puma and its viral Speedcat silhouette as an example of a rising It shoe. Linda Cui Zhang, Fashion Director at Nordstrom, also has eyes on the brand, highlighting its neon-hued H-Street style as one to watch.

Don’t count out the sneakers you invested in last year, though: Ultra-slender styles are back for more, serving as the sole holdout from the retro craze. In 2026, they're closer to a jazz shoe than an actual sneaker, blurring the lines between categories in a way that feels fresh. Plus, metallic accents have been swapped for silver sneakers that look like they've been dipped in liquid metal.

Keep scrolling to see the five trends that I have my eye on for 2026, and hear from experts in the space about their favorites.

Close-Fitting Kicks

Slender styles are the strongest tie to last year's biggest sneaker trends. In 2026, they're even more delicate than ever before. Lebossé notes that what makes them so distinctive is "how wearable these shoes are."

"They feel considered without being overdone, and it’s exciting to see women’s sneakers designed in a way that feels modern, versatile, and intentional," she says.

While classic styles like the Adidas Tokyo are still going strong (you can't get rid of the label that easily), it's time to expand your horizons. "Each brand is approaching the slimmed-down direction differently, which keeps the trend feeling fresh rather than repetitive," Leobossé says. Look to Gola, Reformation, and Everlane for styles that look more like slippers than sneakers. Or, try the Adidas Paris silhouette is a fresh way to stick to the brand that you love.

Modern Balletcore

Get ready to be even more obsessed with the ballet sneaker trend in 2026, with new fabrications that make it even sweeter. You can choose one in ballet pink, cool blue, or pick one up in a preppy navy blue, perfect for wearing into the office. Adorn yours with ribbon laces and ruffled socks to play on the ballerina feel.

Puma As *the* Brand to Watch

I'm a longtime Puma fan, so I was excited when Zhang mentioned that she had her eye on the brand for the year ahead.

"The H-Street launch is exciting, taking that minimalist low-profile silhouette and reimagining it in brights and neons," she says.

Puma has a solid record of reimagining trending styles, from gorpcore-inspired Mary Janes to cheetah Speedcats that make a strong case for adding another animal-print sneaker to your collection.

Functionality First

Fashion girls are embracing comfort more than ever before, opting for stylish sneakers with handy lace-free designs, super-supportive soles, and other hyper-functional details.

"Easy-access fastenings, hands-free entry, modular components, and weather-adaptive materials respond directly to consumer needs for comfort, practicality, and all-conditions wear," says WGSN's Saldana.

Aesthetically, these sneakers adopt the hiking-adjacent look popularized by brands like Salomon and Teva for everyday wear. "Details like weatherproofing, cord laces, and extended outsoles bring that outdoors lifestyle into trend," says Zhang.

Sneaker Heels

It's 2016 all over again. I was very aware of the sneaker heel in its 2010s heyday: Unable to afford the Isabel Marant style that made the look famous, I borderline begged my parents for a version from Urban Outfitters. I wish I had kept them, because they're back in 2026—though far more diversified than in the past.

Silver Sneakers

Silver sneakers are the maximalist-coded style slowly taking over the fashion world this spring. If you treat them as you would a pair of silver earrings, they can go with just about anything in your wardrobe. Style them with workwear essentials and they're perfectly elevated for the office. Or, they an easily be dressed down for days off.

Dakota Johnson doesn't subscribe to the "new year, new me" motto, not even for her Nike V2K sneaker collection. Johnson's 2026 street style debut on Jan. 5 looked straight out of summer 2025, starring her go-to shoe.

Tracy Anderson's internet-famous workout served as the backdrop for her first athleisure look of the year. The Materialists actor exercised in a black scoop-neck bra and matching high-rise leggings, both from Lululemon. The familiarities continued on the footwear front.

Per the studio's website, the Tracy Anderson Method's "impact cardio" requires a "comfortable running shoe" during each class. Johnson narrowed down her preferred pick in April 2025: the Nike V2K sneaker, in black, white, or blue. This time, the latter color made the cut, featuring a cerulean mesh foundation, metallic silver swooshes, and heightened off-white soles.

Blue Nike V2Ks joined Johnson's shoe rack last June, when she initially coupled them with an oversize crewneck, in a similar shade of cool-toned blue. Now, she lets the chunky sneakers shine with neutrals.

As recent as Dec. 27, 2025, Johnson styled the same exercise gear for another Tracy Anderson class, down to the Nike V2Ks. Black padding atop the treads and ankles complemented her understated Lululemon set. (Look familiar?) Even her beloved Khaite x Oliver Peoples sunglasses returned to the mix come January.

Clearly, Johnson has her Tracy Anderson attire down to a science. She's not the only one: Fellow Nike V2K enthusiasts, including Jennifer Lawrence and Kaia Gerber, follow similar streetwear formulas.

J.Law, for one, rewears the $125 sneakers (in black or white) with the baggiest bottoms in her closet. Usually, fans have to zoom in to spot their reflective trim or chunky soles. April 2026 will mark two years since Gerber wore her Summit White/Metallic Silver pair. She's since pledged loyalty to On Cloud sneakers—but back in 2024, the model religiously coupled the Nikes with Alo Yoga leggings and a four-figure The Row coat.

In Hollywood, it's rare for a sneaker this striking to be so widely shared by celebrities. Kendall Jenner's Asics might need to watch out: the Nike V2Ks are primed for top billing in 2026, once again.

Shop Nike V2K Sneakers Inspired by Dakota Johnson

In a 2024 game of "I Spy," Adidas Sambas would have been the easiest pair of sneakers to spot. But by 2025, rarer models stepped up in the rankings.

All year, celebrity sneakerheads traded best-sellers for pairs only recognized by eagle-eyed enthusiasts (or Google Image Search). "Styles like Adidas Sambas or Onitsuka Tiger’s Mexico 66 may be fan favorites, but they are also everywhere," StockX's Brendan Dunne, senior director of customer community and engagement, tells me over email. "That ubiquity pushed consumers to seek out new releases that have yet to see widespread adoption, or exclusive styles that feel more unique."

So in 2025, A-listers' biggest flex wasn't simply finding a sneaker that coordinated with their five-figure designer bag or off-the-runway outfit. It was tracking down a new or retro sneaker that hardly anyone else had.

In early September, Rihanna got her hands on circa-1998 Spike Turf Sneakers from Puma's collaboration with Jil Sander. The white trainers stood out for their cleat-like soles, contrary to the Puma Speedcats and Avantis already on Rihanna's shoe rack.

It seems Rihanna—the brand's most loyal ambassador—debuted the cleat sneakers to tease the March 2026 return of Puma x Jil Sander. The labels announced their second collaboration just weeks after Rihanna took her archival pair for a walk.

A month prior, Rihanna pulled another sneaker out of retirement: Puma x Ottolinger Mostro sneakers, to match the yellow underlay of her vintage Issey Miyake Spring 2001. With neon-green soles, these are some of the more vibrant Pumas in her collection (right next to her blue Speedcat and Mostro Ecstasy sneakers, anyway). Rihanna first styled the metallic silver shoes in July 2024, four months after they hit shelves. The red-and-silver shade joined her closet shortly after.

Rihanna's rare Puma collection is something of a work requirement: As a fashion designer, she often releases pieces under the Fenty x Puma umbrella. But not every celebrity needed an official contract to trot out a rare collaboration. Take Jennifer Lawrence, who got her hands on a limited-edition pair of New Balance's 1906Rs designed with Aimé Leon Dore.

Lawrence wore her green and bronze pair on repeat during her second pregnancy. The Dore's preppy streetwear blended seamlessly with New Balance's best-selling silhouette; now, pairs from the collab fetch up to $325 on the resale market.

This isn't the last New Balance collab to enter the A-list arena. "Since then, the silhouette has continued to evolve through additional partnerships with Kith, Jack Harlow, Comme des Garçons, and Salehe Bembury, solidifying the 1906R as one of the brand’s most ubiquitous styles," Dunne of StockX adds.

Some celebrities, like Dua Lipa, tapped a close designer friend to build out their sneaker collection. In mid-November, she ended her five-year Nike hiatus with headline-making Moon Shoes—from a collaboration with her close friend, Simone Porte Jacquemus.

Dunne called the retro slip-ons "a Jacquemus-stamped answer to the recent slim sneaker trend." The original design, however, is 53 years old. The Moon Shoes have remained otherwise unmanufactured since Nike's co-founder Bill Bowerman presented them at the U.S. Olympics Trials in 1972. By the time Jacquemus and Nike were joining forces for a partnership nearly 50 years later, the French designer decided it was time to bring the archival style back.

It was a savvy move. The reworked sneaker "landed at a middle ground between sneaker nerds and fashion enthusiasts," Dunne explained. And, it sold out in minutes after two restocks.

Still, Lipa was able to secure the Moon Shoes in the Alabaster colorway. The once-$180 shoes are currently shoppable on StockX for $345.

In the midst of the Moon Shoe's takeover, Jennifer Lopez brought a seven-year-old Nike collaboration back into the conversation. This year, the circa-2018 Nike x Off-White Air Presto sneakers became her signature dance studio footwear.

Each shoe's block-letter Helvetica script, mesh monochromatic uppers, and red plastic zip-ties set them apart from the market's constant stream of white sneakers. Creative director Virgil Abloh deconstructed the Air Prestos in true Off-White form, 18 years after the model's original release.

Sure, she was six years late to the Nike x Off-White party. But Lopez made up for it in spades, having worn them over 15 times since April 2025.

The reign of the non-obvious sneaker is hardly nearing its end. Toward the end of the year, StockX noticed "impressive sales growth" in smaller, "more niche" brands like Saucony, Mizuno, and Brooks. It seems 2026's celebrity sneaker scene is on track to continue last year's streak. "This speaks to consumers’ desire to be early adopters of new brands and diversify their closets," Dunne said.

By this time next year, a sidewalk sneaker tally might even be Sambas-free.

Zoë Kravitz and Harry Styles haven't strolled through Rome hand-in-hand since December 1. When the celebrity couple finally emerged from hibernation in Berlin on Dec. 16, Kravitz's eight-year-old Nike Cortez sneakers tagged along, too.

German DJ Ben Klock and a few more friends met Styles and Kravitz outside Berghain | Panorama Bar, one of the Grammy winner's favorite Berlin hotspots. Later, the group photo ended up on Instagram, marking the end of both stars' social media hiatuses. Both A-listers bundled-up in winter-wear galore, but stark white Swooshes atop Kravitz's Nikes were the true focal point.

The Caught Stealing actor paired her wide-leg trousers and puffer jacket with the Cortez sneakers in navy blue. You may recognize their circa-1972 rounded toe boxes, monochrome uppers and laces, and herringbone outsoles from Dakota Johnson, Olivia Rodrigo, and Katie Holmes's closets. (Johnson wore the brown Cortezs constantly on the Materialists set.) Kravitz, on the other hand, chose the navy blue-and-white color combination, which complemented her neutral-centric set in spades.

The same day, Kravitz's exact sneakers popped up on ShopBop for 20 percent off. For a limited time, her fans can shop the navy-and-white trainers for $76, instead of the usual $90. ShopBop must be feeling generous this holiday season: Olivia Rodrigo's red-and-white Cortezs are 50 percent down from $90, making them $45.

Unlike celebrity sneakerheads Jennifer Lawrence and Kaia Gerber, Kravitz invests in a "goes with anything" pair and rewears them for years. Such was the case for her Nike Cortez sneakers, which joined her shoe rack in August 2017. A Canadian tuxedo-clad Kravitz debuted the navy suede shoes during a New York City walk with then-boyfriend Karl Glusman.

Since then, Kravitz rarely graces the street style scene in the Nike Cortez. Perhaps they're her special-occasion sneakers, while Adidas Sambas, The Row loafers, and Vans finish her daily outfits.

Take it from Kravitz: The Nike Cortez is the sort of on-sale impulse buy you can keep in rotation for years.

Shop Nike Cortez Sneakers Inspired by Zoë Kravitz

Fashion girls everywhere felt closet FOMO as time ran out on Cyber Monday. But on December 2, one final Black Friday sale came back to life: Nike marked down Dakota Johnson's favorite V2K sneakers in sync with her latest workout.

Last week, with Black Friday still days away, Nike's sneaker sale was one of the first to catch Marie Claire's eye. Both Johnson's V2Ks in black and Jennifer Lawrence's in white were 25 percent off the original prices—a gift we assumed would disappear once Cyber Monday became Time to Wince at Your Bank Account Tuesday. Even so, Nike gave belated shoppers another chance to shop a sneakerhead staple.

Johnson's $135 V2K Runs are still $101 with the code "Cyber." On Dec. 2, the Materialists actor took them out of storage, reminding those who missed out last weekend to score a pair now. The chunky dad-core sneakers revealed her identity to the paparazzi outside Tracy Anderson's gym in L.A. After testing them in class, Johnson took the treads from studio-to-street, their extra-cushioned soles and monochrome sidewalls on full display. She's owned the all-black colorway since April, and yet, the V2Ks looked good as new.

Johnson re-styled the Nike V2Ks like she usually does: with Lululemon leggings, an oversize hoodie, and a neutral sports bra. Lawrence, on the other hand, isn't afraid to dress them up.

In October, she elevated the equally-versatile white-and-black V2Ks with Loewe's take on the track pants trend, a four-figure wool coat from Almada Label, and a suede Gimaguas tote bag. Luckily for you, the Oscar winner's colorway is also still on sale. With the same "Cyber" code, you can shop her early-aughts-inspired shoes for $94.

Since Nike wants every sneakerhead to find Johnson's V2Ks under the Christmas tree this year, it extended the Cyber Monday sale to end on Dec. 2. So, you only have a few hours to purchase the best-sellers before they return to their $135 price tag. Hurry: some Nike V2Ks offer stackable discount codes.

Shop Nike V2K Sneakers Inspired by Dakota Johnson

It’s the time of year where there just seems to be more than 101 events you have to go to: a catch up with old friends who are in town for the weekend, last-minute dinner parties, holiday movie marathons. I find myself putting pressure on myself to be dressed for each and every one. I suspect you might feel the same way.

So, in the interest of spreading the holiday outfit inspiration, I styled five looks for extremely specific occasions—you might not have these exact events on your calendar, and you don't have to dress exactly like me, but I hope these get the fashion wheels turning and empower you to look at your closet a little differently. And, for goodness sake, WEAR YOUR FANCY CLOTHES. A random Tuesday is a great day for sequin pants. Just saying.

For tobogganing, movie marathons, or any activity I’d file under “Cool Aunt/Uncle”

You're hanging out with the small people in your life! Definitely not the time for a fussy outfit, but you always want the kids to know how cool you are. (Just me?) Outfit requirements here: comfort, warmth, fun.

I think a great coat is always a must in the Northern Hemisphere—how else do we make it from November to April? (Mine's from Sittingsuits.) Personally, I scour eBay for quilted pants because they feel like a very silly updated version of sweats. You could do knit or French terry pants. Then, grab your coziest sweater for maximum snuggles and easy shoes for running around.

For being a plus-one

This is for those "I need to look presentable but I don’t know how dressed up people will be at this thing” events. I feel a suit with a shirt untucked, fun but sensible shoes, and a conversation starting-tie (mine’s a silk vintage Tamagotchi find!) mean you won’t fade completely to the background. Additionally, you can let your date shine!

This would work for dinner with extended family you haven’t met, a friend needing a date to work thing, or just a last-minute invite that requires dressing up. Variations of this look are a nice pant and a great sweater, or a go-to medium fancy-ish dress.

For seeing old friends—or when you need to look both cool and hot

You know the text: “I’m in town for a couple days—lets get a drink!” You want to look great, obviously, but you don’t want it to look like you were trying extra hard. Maybe this is a me problem? I get in my head when I haven’t seen folks for a long time. Perhaps it’s because I work in fashion, I feel there's an expectation for me to turn up in a look, but I don’t want to stunt too hard at brunch.

Pick up that dress that’s a little flirty, pair it with a cool, casual jacket and flat boots, and you're set. I’d also wear a design-forward button-down (think Nena Hansen and the like) with great barrel or loose-fit jeans to this outing.

For when you know you'll be eating a big-ass meal

Depending on your role, this might be the outfit you show up in to Friendsgiving or a holiday dinner, since you already made the cranberry sauce last night. Or maybe it’s what you swap into once you know the turkey is just about ready. You need to think about comfort again, but you also want to look cute and take pictures. Who doesn’t love holiday photos where you ate great food, had great company, and felt gorgeous?

No hard pants! Nothing too precious! Yes to layers for watching a Hallmark movie after dinner (or having a music video watch party). This one I’ll leave up to you to interpret, but what I focused on was: pretty, comfortable, easy but visually exciting. Shout-out to early '90s-inspired lace dresses and adjustable belts—oh, and a bag big enough to tote some leftovers.

For general fancy revelry

Maybe my favorite of the bunch: an outfit for when you just want to get dressed up. We all have varied definitions of what that might be—maybe it’s wearing a shirt that actually has a collar, maybe it’s a full gown, maybe it’s a faux-fur jacket and some sparkly pants. Whatever you pick up here, the point is to have a MF-ing good time. (BTW, my dress is from Elsom.)

Every November, once Black Friday rears its persuasive head, I make note of my closet's holes before shopping sales. (It's mostly to rein in my "treat yourself" mentality.) This year, Nike's celebrity-beloved V2K sneakers are at the top of my list.

On November 24, five days pre-Black Friday, I awoke to the most beautiful sight for a fashion girl: Nike marked down Jennifer Lawrence's exact sneakers below $100. The early-2000s-inspired V2K Runs debuted in July 2023, before winning over celebrities in early 2024. Lawrence and Kaia Gerber were the firsts to endorse the extra-cushioned shoes—in the Summit White/Metallic Silver, to be specific.

For over a year, J.Law has worn the $125 trainers on repeat, alongside rare handbags and The Row outerwear. They're instantly recognizable, mainly for metallic silver toeboxes, cream-colored soles, and sheer plastic sidewalls. Most recently, on October 28, the Die, My Love actor re-wore the V2Ks with a $1,150 Almada Label coat, Loewe track pants, and a studded suede bag from Gimaguas. A month later, the exact colorway appeared on Zappos for just $94 (a full 25 percent off the original price tag).

Before securing Lawrence's Nikes, I figured it wouldn't hurt to check if Johnson's preferred pair were on sale, too. On Nov. 12, she added Lawrence's shade to her collection, but in the months prior, the Materialists star was loyal to the all-black V2Ks. This summer, the $135 sneakers were her signature gym shoe—she wore them from Malibu to New York City and beyond.

Now, her Anthracite/Black colorway is marked down to $101, if you use the code "BFRIDAY" at checkout. Once they arrive, take them for a spin at your next workout class. Johnson regularly styles the monochrome shoes with an oversize crewneck, Lululemon's Align 28 leggings, and Gucci sunglasses. Rumor has it, pairing Gucci and Nike helps you lift twice your bodyweight.

Turns out, various Nike V2Ks are discounted for Black Friday, including the black-and-white, beige, silver, and fuchsia versions. What's more, pale pink V2Ks reached $55—that's 63 percent off the usual $120 listing. And it's not even Nov. 28 yet. Treat yourself to the Lawrence and Johnson-approved picks below, before other fashion girls beat you to it.

Shop Nike Sneakers Inspired by Jennifer Lawrence and Dakota Johnson

Dozens of sneaker collaborations cross Marie Claire editors' desks any given week. But when associate social media editor Ashlyn Delaney dropped the Aritzia x Nike sneaker collaboration into the team's fashion Slack ahead of its October 29 release, every style expert on the team knew they were seeing something special and shop-worthy.

Within a second of their arrival in the Marie Claire group chat, the Aritzia x Nike sneaker collaboration had several people typing (and dropping heart-eye emojis) at once. First impression? This reimagining of the Nike LD-1000 'Edition A' sneaker could be styled in distinctly un-sneaker like ways. In other words, it has the potential to replace every other ballet flat, loafer, and mule in an everyday lineup. Today, it's finally available for anyone to shop.

The $165 Aritzia x Nike sneaker has all the DNA of a 2025 It shoe. Its rounded toe and sleek, slipper-like silhouette channel the ballet sneaker trend that's remained center stage all year. It's crafted from a delicious chocolate brown suede—which every style insider wants second servings of this season. Two tiny charms dangle from the laces, in a subtle nod to the tricked-out personalization dotting accessories from cosmetic cases to Jane Birkin-esque bags. And then there's the switch-up of the Nike logo: shrunken down and daintily relocated to the toe, in another ballerina-approved move.

Naturally, this pair has all the ingredients to resonate with fashion experts who are ready to lace up an It sneaker—like Marie Claire fashion features editor Emma Childs. "I missed out on Wales Bonner x Adidas (couldn’t find a Samba in my size) and the Miu Miu and New Balance’s collab (couldn’t find $1,200 to spare). But I refuse to sit on the sidelines for Aritzia and Nike’s team-up," she says.

In this case, the appeal is in the styling potential. "I can already imagine them with a pop-of-color ankle socks, my favorite pleated midi skirt, and a trench."

The more photos Aritzia and Nike shared of their sneaker link-up, the more unexpected fall outfit formulas they generated. Pairs stacked neutral faux fur coats and sweatsuits feel fit for Hailey Bieber or Kendall Jenner en route to Pilates in Los Angeles, but they'll translate just as neatly to New York City It girls on an errand run. Layered with a midi skirt and fleece jacket, the sneakers channel the Scandi-chic practicality of a typical Copenhagen Fashion Week attendee; added to a slouchy, oversize gray suit, they bring a jolt of Parisian energy even a ballet flat can't compete with. Another look teams the sneakers with a cubicle-friendly gray pencil skirt and a slouchy coat fit for a winter morning commute. Of course, any company's resident fashion expert would wear these sneakers all day instead of changing into desk heels—they're that elevated (and comfortable, with their padded insoles).

The shape is ultimately what convinced Ashlyn Delaney, the first Marie Claire editor to spot the collab, to join the wait-list. "I’m obsessed with how sleek the silhouette is, and I’m usually not an Air Max girl," she explains, "so this is one drop I refuse to miss."

This isn't the first time Aritzia has stopped fashion editors in their tracks with a surprise shoe collaboration. Back-to-back reimaginings of Sperry boat shoes—in several leather finishes and tweaked silhouettes—immediately sold out, twice. No wonder Marie Claire editors are already counting down until their pairs arrive.

You'll have to wait a few more days for a complete review of the Aritzia x Nike sneaker collaboration. (Pairs are en route to the Marie Claire office at press time.) But judging by first impressions, this sneaker is coming for all the outfits editors could possibly style.

The Aritzia x Nike sneaker collaboration is available on the Aritzia app now. It arrives in stores October 30.

A sneak peek at my Instagram timeline would reveal I don't usually follow men for outfit inspiration. Why would I, when Zendaya, Kaia Gerber, and Dakota Johnson are right there? But when Jacob Elordi graces the internet with his presence, all of my principles go out the window.

My sartorial hall pass was photographed on October 20, during the New York leg of his press tour for Frankenstein. Elordi was impossible to miss once again, but not just because he's 6'5". His bright red sneakers gave him away. The fashion girl (well, guy) styled month-old sneakers from Nike's collaboration with Jacquemus.

Meet the Moon Shoes: circa-1972 trainers with that slim, vintage charm you know and love. Elordi chose the popular University Red colorway, featuring spiked gum-sole treads. The structured top line typically seen on Nike V2Ks was nowhere to be found. Instead, ruched openings "blended its track-racer origins with a modern, ballet aesthetic," according to the Nike site. So, technically, Elordi endorsed the ballet sneaker trend.

Nike's co-founder Bill Bowerman presented the Moon Shoes at the 1972 U.S. Olympics Trials. However, they've remained unmanufactured—until now. Simon Porte Jacquemus' fourth collection with Nike brought the $180 collector's item to life. To no surprise, they sold out in minutes. The only way to track down the Elordi's Moon Shoes? Through the resale market, for upwards of $230. (Judging by their previous collaborations, a restock is in the works.)

Now, a moment for the rest of Elordi's off-duty outfit. He kept up the Americana color story with a blue crewneck, layered over a white tank top. A L.A. Dodgers baseball cap was a perfect shade match to his sweatshirt. Light-wash jeans—in a rising straight-leg silhouette—filled the space between his pullover and sneakers.

It wouldn't be a proper Elordi look without a man purse, a trend he's pioneered in spades. This time, he carried a woven bag from Bottega Veneta. It appears to be the new Large Campana model, which would set you back $6,200. The entire tote, from the singular built-in strap to the curved gusset, was made of chocolate Intrecciato leather.

Whether he's traveling, shopping, or posing with fans, Elordi will always style four-figure designer bags with enviable shoes. As a brand ambassador, he's loyal to Bottega Veneta bags and sneakers. But Valentino clutches with Converse Chuck Taylors won him over, too. If I didn't already adore Elordi for his acting chops and suave disposition, his closet would certainly make me a fan.

Shop Sneakers and Totes Inspired by Jacob Elordi

Nike President Amy Montagne kept a page of quotes from leading women athletes close by in the lead-up to NikeSKIMS’ launch on September 22. Zooming from her office the week before, a miniature of the famed Hellenistic statue depicting Nike, Goddess of Victory, just behind her, Montagne picks one to read to me. “Dina Asher-Smith said, ‘Every day I'm forced to choose between being feminine or feeling strong, but I want both without compromise,’” she recites.

That line might be the NikeSKIMS thesis statement. “It's a reminder as we're going into the launch how excited we are to keep them”—meaning, athletes like Asher-Smith, as well as Sha’Carri Richardson, Jordan Chiles, and Serena Williams, who tested NikeSKIMS in its first campaign—“at the center.”

NikeSKIMS was first announced in February with a cryptic press release and a joint logo combining the two brands. All these months later, it’s finally arriving in select stores and online on September 26, in a neutrally-toned, body-hugging drop of 58 silhouettes in sizes XXS–4XL. The palette of black, burgundy, chocolate brown, and eggplant purple feels like it was directly pasted from SKIMS’ co-founder Kim Kardashian’s closet. The fine print on the textiles—a "Shine" collection with quick-trying fabric, an "Airy" collection of breathable mesh knits—feels Nike-driven.

Bras combine the sportswear brand's DriFit (aka, sweat-proof) fabric with SKIMS’ soft molded cups, in cuts from a triangle reminiscent of SKIMS’ famed “Fits Everybody” bra to a more Pilates Princess-forward double scoop silhouette. There are micro-mini shorts and leggings in three lengths; a sub-collection of “third layer” jerseys and button-up sweatpants to mix, match, and layer on the way to a training session; and one spacious gym duffle.

Combining Nike’s expertise in activewear engineering with SKIMS’ billion-dollar shapewear business was just over a year in the making, Montagne says. But it’s not for the short-term, like SKIMS’ Lake Como link-up with Dolce & Gabbana or Nike’s outings with designers from Martine Rose to Jacquemus.

“Both brands do a lot of collaborations, but this was a whole new partnership of us coming together to create something new,” Montagne says. Several times during our conversation, she refers to the standalone brand as a "new industry standard." NikeSKIMS will be sold on both companies’ sites and in select stores over several seasons; a long-term, not-just-one-drop situation. (Exactly how long, she couldn’t share.)

At a top-secret preview last week—no phones allowed—I walked through collections sorted by their fabrication and fit. As may be expected for a launch involving SKIMS shapewear, “snatched” was the word most often used to describe the fit of shorts and leggings with more compression and visible seams resembling SKIMS underwear. There were a lot of surprising features that balanced looking good with feeling good, too. Some adjustable bras come with padded straps that adjust on the front—no more awkwardly twisting for the right fit. A pair of footie leggings features grippy soles, to solve for leaving Pilates reformer-friendly socks at home. The bras also replace removable padding and digging-in seams with seamless, molded cups. Everything is as breathable and flexible as a typical Nike matching set, but there’s more of a sheen. (Footwear, teased in the initial announcement, wasn’t on display.)

As Montagne sums up the first drop, “We’re redefining this activewear space, a space that really needs it right now.”

She’s not wrong. NikeSKIMS arrives at a moment where the business of outfitting athletes—of the pro and everyday varieties—is in flux. Tight-tight leggings are reportedly “over” for younger generations; big, baggy workout pants are in. Challenger brands (Hoka, On, and so on) are releasing collaborations and recruiting celebrity ambassadors to tiptoe onto the dominant brands’ turf.

Montagne admits there are “a lot of active brands”; this is the only one with rigorous testing by the most discerning athletes. NikeSKIMS hopes to win over closet-share with its blend of photo-friendly aesthetics and top-tier engineering: the same compromise-proof balance from Dina Asher-Smith’s quote. Already, other Nike athletes are sold.

Pro-volleyball player Madisen Skinner says the brand fits her body “perfectly”—a major confidence boost when she’s at practice. “It’s soft and comfortable, helping me perform at my best.”

“To dominate my sport, I need to feel strong and comfortable,” adds Judo World Champion Romane Dicko. She says she finds both in the products she’s tested.

Even more women at the forefront of sport starred in the first NikeSKIMS campaign—over 50, including UCLA and USC athletes—and gave feedback on the lineups they tried. The performance-to-style ratio on display in the ad is “one of the top things we hear in working with athletes,” Montagne says. “Not only do they want to perform great, they want to look great. Fit is something we’re obsessed with, and athletes all have such different bodies from Serena to Sha’Carri.” Casting so many women, from so many sports, is NikeSKIMS’ way of saying it can dress them all.

As NikeSKIMS continues serving new collections, Montagne’s collection of athlete-approved quotes will probably continue to grow. As for everyday athletes (and online fashion commentators) outside the Olympic circuit? All the pieces are in place for scoring more points.

NikeSKIMS will arrive in select Nike and SKIMS stores, and on both brands' websites, on Friday, September 26.

Katie Holmes is currently filming her new movie, Happy Hours, in New York City opposite her former Dawson's Creek co-star Joshua Jackson. On a rare day off, Holmes was spotted wearing a pair of Nike sneakers beloved by celebrities like Dakota Johnson and Olivia Rodrigo. She paired her chic footwear with balletcore sweats from another celebrity-approved brand, and completed the outfit with a bucket hat.

For a solo outing in the city, Holmes wore a pair of white Nike Women's Cortez Leather Sneakers, which feature a red logo on the side and a blue stripe on the sole. The retro sneakers retail for just $90 and are available to shop in a variety of colors, making Holmes's outfit easy to replicate.

Ensuring her sporty outfit was exceedingly snug, Holmes opted for a gray Alo Yoga Crew Neck Pullover, retailing for $138. The sweatshirt's baggy fit makes it the perfect item to wear on a lazy day, and is available in a huge selection of colors. Celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner have previously shown their love for the Alo Yoga brand.

The Pieces of April star appeared to style her gray Alo Yoga sweatshirt with a pair of the brand's sweatpants in a light shade of teal.

A brown bucket hat and a black handbag finished Holmes's casual outfit. The actress regularly leans into different sneaker trends, and appears to have quite the collection of sporty footwear. She also recently surprised fans with a pair of raspberry red Mary Janes.

Shop Katie Holmes's Nike Cortez Sneakers

The best WNBA players traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana, this week for the annual All-Star Weekend 2025. As well as hitting the orange carpet to showcase their style, Nike partnered three players with celebrated WNBA stylists—Brittany Hampton, Golden, and Courtney Mays—to create outfits specifically for the All-Star game tunnel.

Both heels and sneakers dominated All-Star Weekend, with a plethora of celeb-beloved styles accessorizing stand-out looks. Nike's Air Max Muse and Air Superfly took centerstage in the sneaker department, while pointed-toe pumps and strappy sandals also proved popular with the top women in sport. Here, we round up some of the best style moments from 2025's WNBA All-Star Weekend.

Angel Reese (Chicago Sky)

Angel Reese arrived at 2025's WNBA All-Star Weekend wearing an exquisite leopard-print coat, which she accessorized with black strappy sandals and a black leather clutch.

 Sonia Citron (Washington Mystics) 

Washington Mystics star Sonia Citron poses in the All-Star game tunnel in head to toe Nike, including a pair of the brand's Air Max Muse sneakers.

Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream)

Allisha Gray wears a pair of Nike Air Max Muse sneakers with pleated white trousers, accentuated by red and blue side detailing and strings of pearls.

Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty)

New York Liberty player Sabrina Ionescu wears a tan Nike jacket, matching pleated skirt, and a pair of cream Nike Air Superfly sneakers.

Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle Storm)

Seattle Storm player Nneka Ogwumike wore a pink and green WUNMI Mermaid Maxi Infinity Dress from ÖFUURË, which she accessorized with gold pointed-toe pumps and a beaded clutch bag.

Skylar Diggins (Seattle Storm)

Seattle Storm player Skylar Diggins wore a long-sleeve black mini dress featuring a long sheer train and tassels. The WNBA player accessorized the outfit with black pointed-toe slingback heels and black sunglasses featuring red lenses.

Kayla Thornton (Golden State Valkyries)

Kayla Thornton of the Golden State Valkyries wore a black cut-out jumpsuit to kick off WNBA All-Star Weekend. She completed her look with strappy sandals and a small Louis Vuitton vanity satchel.

Lexie Hull (Indiana Fever)

Indiana Fever's Lexie Hull stepped on to the orange carpet wearing a black Saudade "Soho" bralette and matching skirt. She carried a silver clutch bag, and wore a pair of metallic heeled peep-toe slides.

Sonia Citron (Washington Mystics)

Sonia Citron arrived on the orange carpet wearing a pinstriped suit jacket and matching mini skirt, with chunky black ankle boots, black sunglasses, and a small black bag.

Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty)

Sabrina Ionescu wore a fitted black suit jacket as a mini dress, which she cinched at the waist with an oversize belt. Sheer tights featuring the Nike logo, and black pointed-toe pumps completed the outfit.

Alyssa Thomas (Phoenix Mercury)

Phoenix Mercury's Alyssa Thomas accessorized her taupe suit, which she wore without a shirt, with a pair of sneakers, and black sunglasses featuring red lenses.

Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever)

Indiana Fever star Kelsey Mitchell paired a black mini skirt with a white button-down shirt. A gold chain belt and black loafers completed her outfit.

Brionna Jones (Atlanta Dream)

Atlanta Dream player Brionna Jones wore a black knee-length skirt with a sheer V-neck top. She carried a red box clutch, and for footwear, wore a pair of black knee-high PVC pointed-toe boots.

After months of raving about my favorite slim sneakers, I’ve started to change my tune. Summer 2025’s biggest sneaker trends include chunky, comfortable styles, and fashion’s favorite It-girls—namely Dakota Johnson, Kaia Gerber, Hailey Bieber, and Bella Hadid—are to blame.

It all began when Jennifer Lawrence was seen wearing a pair of Nike V2K Run sneakers in early April. The style caught my eye because it stood out from her usual sneaker lineup with its more eye-catching silhouette. So long, Adidas Tokyo—there was a new silhouette in town.

I wouldn't have thought much of it if Johnson hadn't stepped out in the same pair a few weeks later—and then kept wearing them repeatedly. Before long, they became a staple in her sneaker collection, perfectly complementing her casual athleisure outfits. While her Materialists wardrobe was all about luxury designer basics, Johnson’s everyday wardrobe was quite the opposite.

The sudden fixation on a single pair of Nike sneakers was just the next step in moving away from the ultra-close-fitting kicks of seasons past. Styles from French hiking brand Salomon, for example, have quietly made their way into the closets of stars like Bella Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski, and Kendall Jenner—and have remained there for years.

Sticking with the "sporty sneaker to fashion girl favorite" pipeline, On’s running sneakers have found fans in Zendaya and, more recently, Gerber, who just wore them this week. Even New Balance has gotten in on the resurgence, earning a recent co-sign from Hailey Bieber in New York City. These styles have always been around, but they've been bubbling away under the surface, waiting for their moment in the sun.

So, if three is a trend, then four is something bigger and more definitive. Consider this my official decree that retro sneakers have a new look as we head into the second half of 2025, and I’m here for it. Ahead, shop other similar styles from fashion’s favorite brands across the price spectrum.

Shop More Chunky Sneakers

Is the Crown Princess of Cannes, Bella Hadid, already tired of the festival's restrictive head-to-toe dress code? Her quick flight to London, and quick-change into Nike sneakers, says yes.

Hadid had an excuse for leaving the French Riviera a full week before the Cannes conclusion (aside from avoiding the chatter around her Saint Laurent dresses, Chopard diamonds, and their potential compliance with the festival's sartorial mandates). Her fragrance brand, Ôrebella, is launching in the U.K., and she needed to personally oversee her gemstone-inspired perfume bottles' debut in a new market. And the minute she made it across the English channel for the May 14 occasion, she stepped out of her Cannes-mandated heels and into a pair of retro Nike Air Max sneakers.

Heading to a London studio, the model layered her anti-trend sneakers beneath a ruffled polka dot skirt and leather jacket, plus her trusty Saint Laurent Sac De Jour tote bag. The combination blended the whimsy of Copenhagen—where skirts and sneakers are practically the uniform—with the edge of London's typical street style. Her exact pair tying the whole look together are the Nike Air Max 95, confirmed to Marie Claire by a rep for the brand. (You're welcome!)

These days, the celebrity sneaker market is dominated by two related trends. Retro runners like the Adidas Tokyo and Puma Speedcat dominate one end; ballet sneakers with ribbon-like laces rule the other. Hadid herself spent early spring devoted to the latter category, making several appearances in pairs of Vivaia's pointe shoe-inspired kicks.

Chunkier sneakers like a variation of Nike Air Maxes are a step in a new direction. While Kaia Gerber, Dakota Johnson, and Jennifer Lawrence have been devoted to the Nike V2K Max for the past year or so, Hadid hasn't chosen a similarly amped-up style. (That is, in the public eye.) Between the bouncy, supportive soles and the minimalist, goes-with-everything design, her newfound Nike appreciation is easy to unpack.

Some red carpet watchers might have hoped for a streak of outfits to rival last year's marathon showing, where Hadid stacked vintage Versace, runway Saint Laurent, and as-yet-unreleased Jacquemus in rapid succession. But actually, Hadid gave her followers something even better: a fresh Nike sneaker and another outfit template anyone can emulate.

Shop Nike Air Max Sneakers Inspired by Bella Hadid

Whether you’re into shoe trends or not, you’ve noticed that sneaker designers are on a vintage kick. They aren't recycling the pre-loved pairs in a thrift store’s shoe aisle, though; today’s best retro sneakers are made in 2026 but use throwback references for a full-on sprint down memory lane.

Adidas is reissuing its old-school Olympic gear; its Taekwondo and Tokyo sneakers, initially designed for competitive athletes decades ago, are now constants in Paris Fashion Week street style and Jennifer Lawrence’s sneaker collection. '90s-era "Sk8er Boi" sneakers are having a renaissance; celebrities like Zoë Kravitz and Kristen Stewart are showing Vans' iconic slip-on shoe lots of love, while Gen Z darling Jenna Ortega is partial to its '80s-inspired Super Lowpros.

Then there's Rihanna, a proud Puma partner who alternates between the Speedcat sneakers, a ‘90s motorsport-inspired design, and the Monstro sneakers, a cleat-inspired shoe from the early aughts. Meanwhile, Hailey Bieber and Kaia Gerber kick around Los Angeles in Onitsuka Tiger’s Mexico 66, Japanese slim-striped shoes that debuted back in 1966 and made an unforgettable appearance in Quentin Tarantino’s 2003 Kill Bill: Volume 1 in bright school-bus yellow.

High fashion has also willingly embraced the takeover of throwback trainers. On the Spring 2026 runways, Jacquemus sent out soft suede tennis shoes with a vintage spirit, while Dries Van Noten and Louis Vuitton's slim sneakers in punhcy prints and colors harkened back to the ‘70s. Looking ahead to Fall 2026, the runways foretell that the sneaker nostalgia won't quit; Miu Miu's show revived its bubble-sole sneaker from '99, while Coach's rough-and-ready skater sneakers looked like they'd been around the half-pipe a few times.

Outside of the runway and celebrity bubble, the same appreciation for retro styles extends to Team Marie Claire. Walk into our Manhattan office on any workday, and you’ll spot one editor speed-walking to a meeting in Loewe’s Ballet Runners (likely editor-in-chief Nikki Ogunnaike, who declared ballet sneakers her favorite spring shoe trend in a recent Self-Checkout), while another rushes to an appointment in Reebok’s Club C 85 Vintage Shoes.

So, if the near-constant celebrity endorsements and runway appearances weren’t enough, take MC’s co-sign as a testament: trendy sneakers that look like they came out of a time machine are here to stay. For more information and recommendations to guide your shopping, keep scrolling to shop our team’s vetted picks for the best retro sneakers of 2026 that are vintage-inspired but without the wear and tear.

2026's Best Retro Sneakers, Vetted By Team MC

• The Leather Sneaker: Nike Astrograbber Leather Women's Shoes
• The It-Girl Shoe: Adidas Tokyo Sneaker
• The Celebrity Staple: Puma Speedcat Og Women's Sneakers
• The Dad Sneaker: New Balance 530 Sneakers
• The Maximalist Style: Gola Stadium '86 Sneakers
• The Neo-Cult Classic: Vans Super Lowpro Sneakers
• The Minimal White: Reebok Club C 85 Vintage Shoes
• The Editor Favorite: Larroudé Stella Sneaker in Seaweed Suede and Ivory Leather

Nike Astrograbber Sneakers

First up is the personal favorite of Nikki Ogunnaike, editor-in-chief of Marie Claire. "I have the Nike x Bode Astrograbber sneakers in white and slime green, and I'm this close to getting them in black, too. I love that they're cut in a slim silhouette but aren't too narrow on my feet and can be styled with everything from skirts and trousers to my trusty Levi's jeans. I most recently wore them while traveling to Geneva, and they even supported me through two mad dashes to connecting gates at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris."

While the coveted Vode collaboration has long sold out, Nike's standard Astrograbbers are just as worthwhile.

Adidas Tokyo Shoes

Halie LeSavage, senior fashion news editor, is now a proud member of the Adidas Tokyo sneaker fan club.

"The rise of slim sneakers has been great for me, a ballet flat collector and devotee of Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66's before Kaia and Kendall made them A Thing. But after wearing my favorite pair to pieces, I've been on the lookout for a new, similarly ballet-flat-adjacent sneaker. I'll admit that JLaw wore these first, and I was swayed to buy them after writing about her outfits. A few weeks later, the Tokyos are my favorite with wide-leg trousers for work and midi dresses on the weekend. I used to bristle at buying things 'everyone else' has, but the hive mind is right on this one."

Puma Speedcat OG Sneakers

If fashion e-commerce editor Julia Marzovilla tells you to buy something, you buy it—at least, that's my rule of thumb. “I blame Rihanna for finally getting me to buy a pair of Puma Speedcats. She wore them in the lavender colorway, so I nabbed them in pale pink. A touch feminine, a touch sporty, the Puma Speedcat deserves its viral status. After wearing them for a few hours, I understand why they’re almost constantly sold out online. They’re comfortable (and rank amongst my list of the most comfortable sneakers) and go with all of my neutral pieces.”

New Balance 530 Sneakers

Next is Kelsey Stiegman, contributing fashion writer, with her favorite. "I'm an androgynous girlie through and through, so I love New Balance's 530 sneakers, also a Hailery Bieber go-to. They're the ultimate dorky dad shoe and, thus, give every outfit an unexpected, eclectic vibe. Aesthetics aside, they also just so happen to be the most comfortable shoes I own. I covered mine in bows and charms for a little personalized flair—highly recommend!"

Gola Stadium '86 Sneakers

The silver sneaker trend caught the eye of beauty editor Siena Gagliano, and Gola's Stadium '86 made her high-shine dream a reality. "Silver is usually more of a statement color, but what I love about these Golas is that they actually go with everything. I wear them all week long—seriously, at least once per day. I am also obsessed with the fold-over tongue; it’s an extra detail that makes these vintage-inspired sneakers stand out from the other popular styles on the market right now. In terms of comfort, these far exceeded my expectations. The cushion-y sole required no break-in period whatsoever."

Vans Super Lowpro Sneakers

Marzovilla shouts out another one of her favorites. “The Vans Super Low Pro Sneakers are inspired by an '80s-era range of athletic sneakers from the California-based skate label, so it doesn’t get much more 'vintage' than them. I own them in two colors (red and pink) and simply put, I love them. They’re comfortable beyond compare, a fact I’ve come to expect from Vans sneakers, but they also give me an excuse to test-drive a new color this summer.”

Reebok Club C 85 Vintage Shoes

Here's Bianca Rodriguez, Future's audience development manager, weighing in: "This Reebok style and I stumbled onto each other by accident when the brand gifted me a pair about three-ish years ago, and it was a happy accident indeed! They're a safe haven for my wide feet during any long walking stint, and they also look cool. I like how there's the slightest hint of a platform, but I can still keep up with today's flat shoe trend. I've worn this pair so much that I eventually bought another colorway—this time in black and cream, giving any outfit I wear an instant varsity-style look."

Larroudé Stella Sneaker

It's me, Emma Childs, Marie Claire's fashion features editor, chiming in to wax poetic about my favorite pair, Larroudé's Stella sneakers. "Larroudé is your favorite fashion editor's favorite shoe brand. Why? Because the footwear brand intuitively understands which shoe trends are meant to last and which are doomed to the abyss of quick-hit, now-nothing fads. So, I took their Stella sneaker, a slim-fitting, '70s-reminiscent suede style (and their first-ever sneaker), as a sign that the retro sneaker trend has legs. I picked up the Stella in seaweed green (the new neutral!), and I've already been complimented on the supple sneaker after just one wear (from my deli cashier, a very charming dogwalker, and a friendly commuter on the D train).

However, one note of caution: I'd advise sizing up a half size, as they tend to run a bit tight, which is always a risk with slim-fitting shoes."

More Retro Sneakers to Shop

Full disclosure: Our editors haven't tested the vintage-esque sneakers below as thoroughly as the ones above. However, based on my extensive research (I monitor shoe trends and shop for a living, after all), I can attest they're investments with sound, substantial hype. Ahead, find options ranging from the all-time best Adidas sneakers (looking at you, the Samba) to affordable options under $100 that look quadruple the price.

Why Trust Us

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion, and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

Leave it to Jennifer Lawrence to unknowingly start a major sneaker trend in 2025 without even trying. The star recently expanded her sneaker collection by test-driving a pair of Nike V2K Run sneakers: a metallic gray and black pair with a pumped-up sole. Now, fellow A-lister Dakota Johnson has given the same sneakers her stamp of fashion approval.

Johnson may have been styling her Nike V2Ks on the West Coast, but she followed some very New Yorker-approved fashion rules. She teamed her black chunky sneakers with an all-black ensemble comprised of sleek high-waisted black leggings, a cropped long-sleeve T-shirt, and a baseball cap repping the New York City Ballet. Black sunglasses and a black hoodie completed the look. Of all the pieces in her Erewhon-run outfit, her all-black Nike sneakers were the only thing I, Marie Claire's dedicated footwear expert, cared about.

Johnson's take was much more athletic than the Nike V2K's street style debut. The week before, Jennifer Lawrence unveiled her new affordable Nike sneakers with an outfit that could stand up to the frigid temperatures pummeling city dwellers on the East Coast. She swapped leggings for trendy wide-leg jeans and a chocolate brown overcoat. A baseball cap was swapped for a knit beanie, she added a chunky scarf, and voila! Lawrence landed on an unconventional spring outfit that I, for one, will be copying when I leave the house later today.

Lawrence opting the V2k Run sneakers was a huge change-up for the longtime footwear devotee. She has an affinity for slender sneakers, and her favorites normally include picks like the Adidas Tokyo, the Puma Speedcat, or the even closer-hugging Taekwondo style. I'm here for her change of heart, though. Maybe Johnson and Lawrence will go on another style date the next time they're in the same city. Lawrence did just step out with Emma Stone in matching The Row picks, after all. A fashion-minded girl can dream.

Dressing like a celebrity has never been easier than it is right now. A-listers have been eschewing the fancier things in life (such as their favorite designer sneakers) in favor of affordable, trendy brands that offer options for $150 or less. As a frugal, sneaker-obsessed shopper, my interest has been piqued.

Whether it's Jennifer Lawrence sporting her favorite Adidas Tokyos for seemingly the hundredth time this month or Rihanna stepping out in her new lavender Puma Speedcats, you needn't look far for sneaker-shopping inspiration. Scroll through Instagram for just a second, and you'll see at least one pair to add to your cart guilt-free.

Even though my trendy sneaker collection is ever-growing, there's always room for a new pair of Vans or chunky Nike kicks like the ones Lawrence recently endorsed. She's just the latest to wear the pair, though: Kendall Jenner copied Kaia Gerber's Nike sneaker-centric workout outfit a few months ago. What they say is true: three does make a trend.

In any case, keep scrolling to see the rest of the affordable sneaker brands everyone in Hollywood is wearing right now. You can't go wrong, no matter what you choose.

The Adidas Tokyo

The $100 Adidas Tokyo sneaker has become Jennifer Lawrence's obsession. The Silver Linings Playbook star has worn them weekly over the past month, demonstrating their must-have status in the process. Whether she styles them with a midi skirt and a butter-yellow spring jacket or with casual jeans and a trench coat, they are her most-worn pair right now.

The Adidas Samba

Jenner deserves credit for the Adidas Samba sneaker trend that refuses to fade. Not only are they my personal favorite Adidas sneakers, but the eldest Jenner sister loves them as well. She has worn this style on and off since 2022, and if they aren't in your collection by now, they should be.

The Puma Speedcat

Only Rihanna can make a matching gray sweatsuit look cool and sophisticated. I attribute this to her lavender Puma Speedcat sneakers and her rare Louis Vuitton bag. The singer is just the latest celebrity seen in the sleek Puma style—Dua Lipa and Emily Ratajkowski are also fans—and I currently have a pair waiting in my online shopping cart.

Vans Old Skool

Speaking of Emily Ratajkowski, the actress and model has long admired the Vans Old Skool sneaker. Once limited to the skate park, this classic pair has become a favorite among fashion insiders. Furthermore, with the recent release of the Old Skool Premium Music Collection, the line is only becoming trendier.

Nike V2K Sneakers

Nike V2K Run sneakers may be experiencing a surge in popularity thanks to Jennifer Lawrence, but they have long been a favorite of Kaia Gerber. The model adores the $120 pair for their off-duty style and has incorporated them into her athleisure wardrobe since summer 2024.

Adidas Gazelles

Hadid has single-handedly created a trend with her red suede Adidas Gazelles. This bold choice has become her go-to for days off, ideal for pairing with jorts on a hot summer afternoon or with leggings during a mid-week grocery run. Her specific pair is difficult to find (blame the Hadid influence effect), but there are several other similar colors available that you can choose to emulate her style.

While the biggest sneaker trends of 2024 emphasized minimal branding and understated silhouettes, this year has taken a bold turn in the opposite direction. 2025's sneaker trends are less about blending in and more about showcasing unique personal style.

The shift lets sneaker lovers stretch out of their comfort zones with louder iterations of their go-to silhouettes and forgotten favorites. The ever-popular Adidas Samba is reimagined with design adjustments (spoiler alert: elongated tongues have become a popular feature) and in wild animal prints. Retro sneakers from four-plus decades ago that have built dedicated followings among top tastemakers, such as the Adidas Tokyo and Taekwondo, are also staging successful comebacks. (Rarely will Jennifer Lawrence leave the house without one of her many Adidas Tokyos laced on her feet.)

However, the ballet sneaker trend is, without question, the most ubiquitous of 2025. Blending a feminine flat with tech-y design touches, "[ballet sneakers] are the best of both worlds," says Julia Lebossé, founder of the popular Instagram account, Sneakers by Women. Puma's Speedcat Ballet Sneakers are a hero in this category; fashion search engine Lyst named the brand's pirouette-ready style one of the top shoes of the year in its Q1 Index report.

That said, a more understated, quiet luxury influence is still present. Jamie Lee, a shoe buyer at the luxury retailer Moda Operandi, notes that "minimal designer sneakers from brands like Prada and The Row remain a key trend," while more affordable sneaker brands, like Nike and Puma, introduce slight tweaks to timeless silhouettes—think swapping smooth leather for textured suede and opting for brown over the typical black or white. These changes are subtle, but they show you know, that you read the shoe trend reports and can keep up with the fashion girls.

Read on for expert insights into the top sneaker trends to wear for the rest of 2025 and shop our curated picks for each one. Insider tip: These styles are so popular and ubiquitous, they'll stay the course as 2026's shoe trends, too.

2025's Biggest Sneaker Trends at a Glance:

• Shop Ballet Sneakers
• Shop Mary Jane Sneakers
• Shop Slender Sneakers
• Shop Long-Tongue Sneakers
• Shop Boxing Sneakers
• Shop Pink Sneakers
• Shop Running Sneakers
• Shop Suede Sneakers
• Shop Silver Sneakers
• Shop Brown Sneakers
• Shop Printed Sneakers

Ballet Sneakers

Anush Mirbegian, Director of Accessories at Fashion Snoops, notes she has been observing the rise of hybrid footwear for several seasons, highlighting ballet-inspired Mary Jane silhouettes with ties or Velcro straps. While viral favorites include Simone Rocha's $1,000 ribbon-lace trainers (pictured above and available to shop below), more budget-friendly options from Bella Hadid-approved brand Vivaia are also gaining significant attention. Marie Claire's editor-in-chief, Nikki Ogunnaike, has also called the so-called "sneakerina" a shoe trend to watch, so this dance-inspired style is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

Mary Jane Sneakers

Similar but different: Alongside ballet-inspired styles, Mary Jane sneakers are more evidence that sneakers are "for the girls' now." Boosted by viral silhouettes like Miu Miu's and A-list endorsements (namely Jennifer Lawrence, who wore Wales Bonner's black Mary Janes for three months straight last spring), feminine designs have taken over the market. And the strapped, sporty shoe is a clever hybrid that provides the comfort of a sneaker but the refinement of a more put-together shoe.

Metallic Sneakers

Metallic sneakers are the latest maximalist trend to win over the fashion crowd. Whether you choose gold or silver, these kicks are guaranteed to stand out. Chrome-style silver options from Tory Burch and Gola give a futuristic vibe, while bright gold pairs accentuate your wear-everyday chain necklaces and dainty hoops.

Brown Sneakers

Brown sneakers have taken over white or black as the go-to neutral shoe for 2025. Especially as we move into winter, the earthy color adds a warm touch that aligns with a cozy season. This sneaker trend earned a huge boost from Miu Miu and New Balance's team-up, the sneakerhead and It girl collab of the year that catapulted the chocolate brown 530 L silhouette to the top of fashion's leaderboards.

Animal Print Sneakers

Animal prints have dominated every fashion category this year, and sneakers are no exception. Zebra, cheetah, and cow prints have gained popularity over the past few months, stepping up to become one of the foremost sneaker trends of 2025.

Super Slender Sneakers

The slender sneaker trend is reaching new heights. According to Lee, "It sneakers are going even sleeker with very thin soles, tapping into the ballet flat’s market share." Case in point: Prada’s Collapse sneaker, which Lee especially loves. Meanwhile, Adidas is offering its delicate laceless Taekwondo (another celebrity favorite) at an accessible $100 price point.

Long-Tongue Sneakers

Elongated shoe tongues add a bold and playful twist to classic silhouettes. First seen in collaborations like the Adidas x Wales Bonner sneakers—popularized by Gigi Hadid’s effortlessly chic pairing last summer—this exaggerated design detail is quickly establishing itself as a signature look across all sneaker brands.

Pink Sneakers

Red sneakers were a major trend last year, but the top trending color in 2025 is much softer. Pink sneakers blend sportiness and femininity for an easygoing, feminine addition to your everyday wardrobe.

Running Sneakers

Fashion is clearly in its active era, and running sneakers have gained popularity in 2025. Whether it's your Dad's favorite Asics Gel Kayano 14 or the Jennifer Lawrence and Dakota-Johnson-approved Nike V2K (Kendall Jenner and Kaia Gerber are also fans), fashion is choosing comfortable, movement-friendly sneakers over what's traditionally deemed "stylish". However, that doesn't mean these running-ready options are hard to style: A tech-y, Strava-approved sneaker adds a cool, gorpcore factor that works with the simplest jeans-and-a-tee outfit.

Suede Sneakers

Fashion insiders are loving suede sneakers in 2025. Miu Miu's versions were the first to truly capture the trend a few seasons ago, and the style has been a must-have ever since. Those in mocha mousse stay popular, but other brands offer versions in a range of brighter, more expressive shades.

Boxing Sneakers

Remember when everyone rocked a pair of Converse high tops? They’re making a comeback in 2025—but with a twist. This time, sporty boxing sneakers have taken the place of the classic high-top silhouette, giving the vertical look a one-two punch of personality. The one-two-punch shoe has even earned the red carpet co-sign: At The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 premiere, Lola Tung wore off-the-runway boxing sneakers by Ann Demeulemeester (you'll find a similar pair to shop below).