6 Sneakers to Create the Perfect Spring/Summer Rotation

Here are your Sambas, Speedcats, and Margiela Replicas. Low-top sneakers are a category many of us know well, especially after the resurgence of general release styles that rely more on their ubiquity than luxury branding to become a widespread trend.

Adidas' 75-year-old football sneaker, the Samba, earned a top spot, thanks in part to frequent high-end collaborations (notably with Wales Bonner and Gucci), while the bright yellow Onitsuka Tiger Mexico '66 made a bold statement. In recent months, though, Puma's reissue of the '90s Speedcat, inspired by Formula 1, has been making a push for the crown. Balenciaga recently unveiled a distressed, soft collaboration on the Speedcat, further solidifying its place as a key player in maintaining low-top supremacy.

Easy to wear and striking without being over-the-top, low-top sneakers are the essential first step in building a versatile shoe collection that works for any occasion.

With chunkier soles and a more sporty silhouette, the runner shape of sneaker is where you’ll find styles from New Balance, ASICs, and Nike comfortably dominating the field. The more standout scale and increased sole height don’t just add actual cushioning, but also increase the impact of your footwear choice, making your sneakers more of a focal point in your look, even when opting for a monochrome option.

Best worn with a more relaxed pant shape that can complement the size of your shoe, runner sneakers are perfect for the days when you want more stomp in your step, but without the weight.

Function and form meet in footwear-based harmony. These sneakers are the ones to reach for when you’re hitting the gym, putting the miles beneath your feet, or embarking on a gorpcore-adjacent hike. Think waterproofing courtesy of GORE-TEX fabrics, ultra-comfortable soles that utilize the technology of leading sportswear brands (looking at you, carbon plate Nike running shoes), and breathable uppers made from a performance mesh. After all, why not make your workouts as aesthetically pleasing as the rest of your day?

A shift is underway in men’s fashion, with smaller, slip-on footwear styles becoming increasingly popular. Loafers, mules, and slippers are now regular fixtures on the feet of key tastemakers and on the runways of both emerging and established brands. This slip-on trend is also making its way into the sneaker world. New Balance made a big impact last summer with their loafer-sneaker hybrid, opening the door for other brands to follow suit. Alongside the classic styles popularized by skate brand Vans, 2025’s men’s footwear scene is decidedly unlaced. Slip-on styles are perfect for the height of summer, paired with loose shorts and a shirt with a bit of volume.

Something to always have in your rotation is a pair of shoes that can really make some noise. Bold silhouettes, like that of Balenciaga’s latest output, or loud, contrasting, and bright color choices are all ways to make your footwear the real star of your look. Statement sneakers work best when allowed to be just that, a statement. So keep the rest of your outfit more low-key, and let the sneakers do the talking and the walking.

A shape that stems from the original basketball sneaker — the Converse Chuck Taylor — high-top sneakers are more often than not canvas, lightweight, and better worn in. You only need to look to counter-culture icons like Kurt Cobain to see that your high-tops will benefit from a lack of TLC. In fact, they'll become more comfortable the more you wear them, and they'll imbue your summer looks with a dose of attitude and personality.

There are few more iconic combinations than a pair of light-wash blue jeans, a white t-shirt, and a pair of black Converse Chuck Taylor, but this style looks just as good worn with a loose pair of tailored trousers (ala mfpen’s early collections), or a pair of shorts and a graphic tee on truly scorching days.