I'm convinced I wouldn't have graduated from college without the white sneaker trend. Back in the day, Nike Air Force 1s took me to class, the dining hall, and every off-campus party in between. On April 1, my morning class outfit formula's go-to shoe officially came back—but this time, with Hailey Bieber's designer twist.
Before returning to her L.A. gym, the Rhode founder ditched the hiking sneakers trend she wore on March 30 for a never-before-seen Miu Miu pair. She's consistently styled Miuccia Prada's trainers since 2024, even navy, beige, and burgundy versions of her latest low-profile pair. But these $900 ballet sneakers were crafted from snow white leather, including the curved toe boxes and laces. Their extra-padded heels and tongues boasted Miu Miu's emblem in black. Beneath each toe, the logo blended in with rubber gumsoles. On top, Bieber stacked a heather gray tee beneath a black windbreaker and matching, micro-mini shorts.
My college campus wasn't the only place where the white sneaker trend took hold. Most It-sneakers in mid-2010s street style were white from toe-to-heel, including Adidas Stan Smiths, Vans Old Skools, and Nike Air Force 1s, of course. Bieber, Sofia Richie Grainge, and Kendall Jenner led the Air Force 1 charge, usually in skinny jeans, cropped pants, or leggings. Meanwhile, Stan Smiths were the glue that held 2016's celebrity street style scene together. Everyone from Bieber and Taylor Swift to Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Garner adored Adidas's ability to make something so sleek so recognizable.
These days, it's rare for Bieber—let alone any sneakerhead—to style shoes that are just as colorless. Even her white sneakers from New Balance or Fila add dimension with metallic silver or black laces, soles, or heel tabs. Like me, Bieber left her all-white sneakers back in the 2020s. One of her last sightings came in February that year, when her somehow scuff-less pair popped just as much as her leather green trench coat.
What goes around comes around, especially in the sneaker department. Yes, Bieber is back to her white sneaker-wearing ways, but not with the Nike Air Forces in my college archives. The spotlight is on their younger, sleeker sister pair right now. But you don't need a Miu Miu budget to test the comeback kicks. For proof, shop the curated, under-$300 edit below.
