Why Fancy Sneakers Should Be Your Fall Styling Hack
This time of year—late fall, with winter creeping around the corner—is always tricky to dress for. Some days, you just want to bundle up in the most pragmatic of layers to stay warm. The outfits become less about looking trendy, and more about simply staying toasty. But the good news is, there is one hero accessory that can always instantly elevate your outfit, even when dressing for the most frigid of mornings, your top halve ensconced in wools and chunky knits. And it so happens to be a major trend of the season, too: Enter, the fancy sneakers.
Yes, low-tops (or high-tops, if that is your preference) can be dressy, despite their more casual connotations. Case in point: This past Fashion Month, designers went all-in on sneakers with elevated details and sartorial twists, bringing the comfort shoes into more statement-making territory. At Dries Van Noten, they were embellished and covered in sprightly floral prints. At Simone Rocha, sneakers were given a Mary Jane upper with a bejeweled strap. At Valentino and Louis Vuitton, they were beaded in vibrant splashes of color. Sporty and utilitarian these kicks were not: The fanciful sneakers felt elevated, and even—dare we say—formal.
Valentino spring 2026.
Valentino spring 2026. Photo: A.Grillo – C.Scarpato – S.Dragone / Gorunway.com
Louis Vuitton spring 2026.
Louis Vuitton spring 2026. Photo: Gianluca Carraro / Gorunway.com
The bold sneaker movement is the perfect thing to insert into your hum-drum fall wardrobe. Sure, dressing for warmth does not have to mean sacrificing style overall—you can lean on a great power coat or sweater to keep you both chic and snuggly—but there is something about a fabulous shoe that just brings any ensemble, maximalist or minimalist, to the next level. Playing it safe in your best black cashmere turtleneck and dress pants? Bam—an eccentric sneaker instantly injects your look with personality. It is like the sartorial equivalent of taking an espresso shot.
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Plus, there is also a cool nonchalance to sporting a statement sneaker versus, say, a sky-high stiletto. Sporting an open-toe shoe in the frigid fall? Hard pass! So, what are you waiting for? Fancy sneakers may have trended on the spring 2026 runways, but there are some wild and fun kicks available to shop now—just waiting to up the ante of your fall closet. I, for one, have my eye on these brown and black sequined Adidas x Wales Bonner low-tops, and plan to don them with my coziest hoodie and nondescript puffer coat. Because my outfit can be practical—but I refuse for my shoes to be anything else but fun. What ever happened to fun!
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