There’s no denying that retro sneakers are a bonafide thing. Each year, there seems to be a rebirth of some classic sneaker style, gaining mass traction and becoming the It-shoe of the year. Generally, these sneaker trends seem to be driven by a certain group of supermodels, when spotted wearing in their daily lives, create an instant sensation overnight. Over the past few years, the adidas Samba sneakers (heralding from the 1970s), popped up on every major foot (think—Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and Emily Ratajkowski) and still remain a hot commodity today, consistently selling out, drop after drop. In 2023, Bella Hadid sported Onintsuka Tiger’s Mexico 66 (a style originally from the 1960s), causing another frenzy of waitlists, and only time will tell what this year’s hot sneaker will be. We certainly will be keeping tabs as the upcoming women’s Fashion Week shows approach.
Vogue’s Guide to Must-Have Retro Runners:
As much as we love these OG throwback styles, we couldn’t help but notice that retro sneakers are very present within all of our favorite luxury designers’ shoe collections, as well. Toteme’s color-blocked, The Sport style, is taking off with its in-the-know brand loyalists, after much success with its first sneaker—a sleek, minimalist design in off-white leather with a gum sole. Loewe’s Ballet Runner has also reached cult status, inspired by sporty styles from the ’70s, now available in a plethora of colorways, while Miu Miu and The Row’s suede trainers have a similar, vintage feel that is so easy to wear.
The extreme wearability of these styles is the true selling point. Simple designs offer endless styling potential—whether that be with your favorite suiting during the work week, jeans and T-shirts on the weekend, or even a mini skirt for a night out. Go ahead, shop the 16 best retro sneakers that you are sure to live in all year.