The 8 Pairs of Trainers I Wear on the Regular
And how I style them all.
I spent my late teens and 20s wearing shoes that had absolutely no support. Sure, they looked cute, but I hate to think what those nights out wearing heels and days in flimsy pairs of flats have done to my arches. Fast forward to my 30s and I finally came around to a great pair of trainers - and I haven’t looked back since. They’re comfortable! They keep my feet warm! I can walk around all day in them and not have achy feet! Plus, they look bloody good.
Now a great pair of trainers is the first piece of footwear I turn to when getting dressed. I miss wearing them in summer when it’s too hot for anything but a breathable sandal. I can wear them with anything from smart tailoring to my casual, oversized pieces. And I’m one of the first to set a reminder whenever the latest adidas Originals x Wales Bonner collab drops.
There are eight pairs that I wear on a regular basis (scruffy walking/hiking trainers not included). Some of these have been a big part of my shoe collection for years and some are new arrivals that have also become fast favourites.
New Balance RC30
A contemporary take on 1970s heritage designs, the New Balance RC30 has a blend of retro and modern minimalism, which is just the thing when you want to add a touch of simple design to a look. These trainers are light and fresh, so I tend to gravitate towards them in summer or early autumn when I don’t want to wear anything too heavy. But I’ve been drawn to them this winter too, wearing them as a contrast to my black straight-leg trousers and black jumper, or with dark caramel-coloured trousers, like here.
adidas x Wales Bonner Sambas
When I said earlier that I set a reminder to shop the adidas x Wales Bonner collabs the second they launch, I wasn’t kidding. Each season, the London-based designer brings a completely fresh perspective to the sports brand, delving through archives and drawing on wider cultural and artistic movements within the African diaspora, such as dancehall music of 1980s Jamaica.
This pair of Sambas is from the AW23 collection, which was very much inspired by the 1990s. As someone who was born in 1990, I can strongly remember the amount of adidas Sambas that graced the tarmac of my school playground at lunchtime - so synonymous are they with football. But they work just as well without having to kick anything and I’ve loved pairing the rich shade of these trainers with my darker winter clothes.
Axel Arigato Pumps
I bought these Axel Arigato trainers a couple of years ago and I live in them in spring/summer. They’re light canvas, with blue and red leather strips livening up the white body, and come with rubber soles. They’re not great for navigating the sludge, slush and sleet of winter but in the warmer months, they’re an excellent trainer for casual, everyday use.
They have a simple design, which makes them easy to wear with most things, while the blue and red strips give them a slightly retro feel. They must have been a short-lived release as I haven’t seen this style since I bought them but Novesta has some good similar options.
adidas x Wales Bonner SL 72s
When I bought these trainers, I wasn’t sure if I’d made a mistake. As much as I loved them, that shade of green is quite possibly the boldest colour I have in my wardrobe. As someone who sits firmly on the minimalist end of the scale, it felt like a risk; would I wear them or would they sit, pristinely, at the back of the cupboard?
Anyway, I’m a believer that if you love something, you’ll wear it — even if it does feel outside your comfort zone. I soon eased in and fell in love with the difference the bright green knitted design with orange stripes made to my outfits. I can wear them with a relatively simple look like the one above — an off-white tee, black straight-leg trousers and a light trench coat — and it completely transforms the outfit, adding a flash of the unexpected.
adidas x Wales Bonner Japan
This was my first pair of adidas x Wales Bonner trainers: the ‘Japan’ from the AW21 collection. They have a dark beige body with leather burgundy stripes and a cross at the back. They have a really slim shape which I love for balancing out loose trousers, like above, or pairing with slim-leg trousers for a sleek-all-over silhouette. There’s something about the colours in these trainers that makes them really easy to wear with most things in my wardrobe — from black to navy, and white to dark green, these trainers go with it all.
New Balance 327s
A couple of years ago, the 327s soon became a ubiquitous shoe. Post-lockdown when we could actually leave the house, I’m pretty sure I saw at least one of my neighbours sporting a pair in every colourway going — and I was one of them, so I can hardly blame them. Inspired by a ‘70s design, with a bold ‘N’ and coming in a whole host of colours, these trainers are one of those great stand-out pairs. Plus that thick sole makes them ridiculously comfortable — so much so, that every time I wear them I feel as though I’m walking on clouds. These trainers may be popular but with very good reason.
Studio Nicholson Byrd
These Studio Nicholson trainers are a new addition to my footwear collection - and a very welcome one. As much as I love a colourful pair of trainers, I didn’t actually have any completely plain styles that could be worn with anything and everything. The ‘Byrd’ is produced by one of the last remaining autoclave vulcanised shoe manufacturers in the EU; a process that transforms natural rubber into a more durable state.
It makes these shoes super hardy, even though the rest is made of canvas and the silhouette is pretty sleek. I’ve been wearing these when I want a ‘neater’ pair of trainers that won’t make too much of a statement — a bit like here, with a suit and jumper.
New Balance 237s
Another pair of New Balance I wear a lot. They’re starting to look less than fresh but hey, that’s a sign of a good pair of shoes. Every time I wear these I get asked about them — they’re 237s and were a sale buy a couple of years ago and unfortunately I haven’t been able to find this particular colourway anywhere since. I love the mix of green, yellow and orange - they instantly lift whatever outfit I have on and have a classic low silhouette that works really well with cropped trousers and underneath longer ones.
Any items marked with * have been kindly gifted by brands. All thoughts, picks and reviews are my own.
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What socks, if any, do you wear with these? What about in the winter? Thanks!