5 Sneaker Trends to Know for Summer 2024
From football boots and metallic hues to sneaker hybrids and skate shoes.
As the seasons change, so do fashion trends and each time, it can be tricky to keep up with what’s in and what’s out. Where clothing is concerned, it can be a little easier to keep track of thanks to fashion week runways but when it comes to footwear? That’s a whole different ball game, and that’s where we come in. As trend reporters and all-around lovers of fashion and footwear, we’ve been keeping an eager eye on some of the rising trends in the sneaker space right now, from football boots to skate shoes and everything in between.
As a result, we’ve rounded up some of the key trends to keep an eye on this year, so you can ensure your summer sneaker rotation is fresh. Scroll through to find out more about the five biggest trends in sneakers and what you should be looking to buy this season.
Flat Soles, Skate and Court Shoes
Previously, directional dad sneakers and funky soles were all the rage, but off the back of major players like the adidas Samba and Nike’s Dunk Low, flat soles are creeping their way back into the mainstream. Likely born from a rise in the sportswear x fashion crossover and tenniscore trend, the growing affinity for skate and court-style silhouettes emphasizes a rise in sporty subcultures within fashion, something that’s trickled down into footwear, too. For this trend, think silhouettes like the Nike Cortez, FENTY x PUMA Creeper Phatty, Converse x LE FLEUR* collabs and recent ventures from Reebok like its PLEASURES Club C and JJJJound Club C.
Football Boots and Football-Inspired Silhouettes
In a similar vein, slimmer, more streamlined silhouettes are becoming more popular this year, drawing inspiration from classic football boots. Where chunkier styles once reigned supreme, collaborations like the Sporty & Rich x adidas SL72, Bode x Nike Astrograbber and PUMA x Ottolinger are making a case for the slim-toed shoe to be worn on and off the pitch.
Futuristic Hues
Silver has been a pretty big color for footwear as of late, making its way onto Mary Janes, ballet flats and pointed heels and naturally, the trendy hue has transitioned into the sneaker space, too. Alongside molten metals, a range of futuristic hues are making their way into this summer’s sneaker rotation, with collabs like ASICS and Kiko Kostadinov and PaperGirl, plus the new blue-toned Nike Zoom Vomero.
Sneaker Hybrids
Since mules, loafers and slides took over last summer, the sneaker world has been finding ways to cash in on the casual footwear trend. Fusing subtle sneaker-like detailing with classic sartorial silhouettes, there’s been a rise in popularity with releases like the New Balance 8040, Nike Rufus Mule and of course: the New Balance loafers.
Yellow Tones
Finally, a few silhouettes made their trend debut last year that are still going strong. Bright yellow sneakers continue to dominate streetwear fits and community IG pages, with most of the fashion crowd still favoring the likes of GANNI’s New Balance collaboration and Onitsuka Tiger‘s vivid yellow kicks.
