In every man’s wardrobe, there should be footwear for all occasions.
You need to have dress shoes for formal affairs, be it Oxfords or brogues. Loafers or derbies are great when you’re dressing smart-casual. But then, one step higher in the pecking order as an absolute essential for every day is a pair of trainers, and not just any colour. They need to be white.
As a stylist with years of experience dressing guys for photoshoots and events, white trainers are always something I need on hand. Think about it – nearly every ‘fit works with a pair of fresh white kicks. You can wear them with denim. You can wear them with simple black trousers. You can even wear them with a laid-back suit – just take a look at Brad Pitt’s red carpet looks to see how it’s done.
They work for every event in your calendar. To the office or the pub. For date night or a night out. They deliver serious outfit mileage across a range of formalities meaning they’ll work harder than nearly every other pair of shoes you own. So it makes sense why nearly every footwear label, high street store and luxury fashion house offers their own take.
There are smart classics, ugly-cool dad shoes and limited-edition collaborations. Right now, the trending kicks are retro-inspired – for the last couple of years the Adidas Samba, a reprise of a popular Eighties silhouette, has been #1. If you’re feeling a little over the hype, though, there are countless others which take design cues from the archives too.
A word of warning – not every white trainer works for every scenario, so you might want a few in your rotation. When you’re dressing up, a simple leather lace-up will do. If you’re wearing wide-leg trousers, a chunkier sporty take is best. Or for day-to-day wear, an all-around classic court shoe is my top pick.
Shop the best white trainers available to buy now
Adidas Handball Spezial Shoes
If you’re experiencing a little Samba fatigue after seeing them on every celebrity, influencer and basically every other person on the tube, the Spezials could be the alt that keeps you on the Adidas hype. The black tongue and gum sole take this colourway up a notch.
Buy now £90.00, Adidas
Axel Arigato Clay Sneaker
The newest addition to Axel Arigato’s range of silhouettes, the Clay is a modern take on a classic 80s court shoe. Like the rest of the collection, these look and feel expensive. The hypey Swedish label never disappoints.
Buy now £235.00, Axel Arigato
New Balance 530 trainers in white
It seems chunky ugly-cool shoes are going nowhere, so New Balance’s 530 trainers are still a safe shoe rack investment. Inspired by vintage running shoes, they feature a breathable upper and lightweight sole which will keep you comfy all day long.
Buy now £100.00, Schuh
Clae Haywood Triple White Leather
If you’re after white from top to toe, Clae’s triple-white leather has you covered. In the LA-based label’s signature style, these are crafted using premium fabrics for a luxurious finish – this time, it’s a premium Italian Nappa leather upper paired with a rubber sole.
Buy now £160.00, Clae
Veja V-90 Trainers
For responsibly made footwear, Veja should be your first point-of-call. From the materials used to the supply chain even down to the warehouses, the entire process is considered from a social responsibility point of view – and they look great too.
Named the V-90, these are inspired by the silhouettes of the Nineties and have the Parisian label’s signature V logo in dark green which is complemented by the coordinating heel tab.
Buy now £150.00, Office
Myrqvist Båstad Beige Suede
A collaboration between two big names in Sweden – shoe label Myrqvist and tennis player Bjorn Borg – these shoes are Scandi through and through. An upgraded take on classic tennis shoes, the soft leather lining and pebble grain leather and suede outer make these more appropriate for use off the court.
Buy now £179.00, Myrqvist
Sebago Hurricane Trainer
Though Sebago is better known for yachting shoes and penny loafers, its sneaker collection is not to be missed. Staying true to the brand’s nautical roots, these are giving retro sailing appeal – from the blue and white colourway to the USA flag stamp.
Buy now £130.00, John Lewis
Asics Tiger Runner II
Better known for its collection of running shoes, it’s no wonder Japanese label Asics is looking to the sport for inspo for its lifestyle range. Taking cues from the rise of jogging culture in the 80s, these take elements from the brand’s archive Ohaio and X-Caliber running silhouettes but reimagine them for day-to-day wear.
Buy now £79.99, Footlocker
Oliver Cabell Vegan 581 Ocean
Oliver Cabell is a luxury footwear label which prides itself on its fair pricing structure. Though they’re not the cheapest, every style is expertly crafted using high-end textiles which the brand doesn’t unreasonably mark up. These vegan-friendly shoes, for example, are hand stitched and lasted in Italy using entirely natural or recycled materials. Though they’re based in the US, if you spend over $240 you can make the most of free shipping to the UK – the perfect excuse to buy two pairs.
Buy now £130.00, Oliver Cabell
Reebok Classic Leather
You can’t go wrong with Reebok classics. As the name suggests, they’re classic through and through, from the simple sporty silhouette to the gum sole and the brand’s signature logo. All for less than £70.
Buy now £69.99, Schuh
