Sneakerinas were at first a divisive style, but the trainer and ballet slipper hybrid has become a mainstay, with Vivaia’s design worn by Bella Hadid, Charli XCX and Gabriette, while Puma’s Speedcat Ballet comes in seven shades of suede and remains a bestseller. Meanwhile, in the SS26 designer realm, Chloé, Saint Laurent, Dries Van Noten and Miu Miu have all offered up an iteration of the minimalist trainer, in moreish shades of mint green, powder blue, baby pink and bronze.
A minimalist trainer can transition seamlessly to pair as well with tailored trousers as fluid silk skirts and relaxed denim. The clean, streamlined profile elongates the leg, while subtle details of fine stitching, tonal laces and minimal branding add depth without distraction, making for a shoe that complements rather than competes with the rest of your outfit.
Adding to its versatility, more pared-back styles bridge the gap between formality and comfort in a way that chunkier, statement versions can’t always achieve. It’s a shoe that really can suit anyone, particularly if you don’t naturally gravitate to athleisure, and your approach to footwear tends to skew more timeless than transient trend. Ahead, see 12 of the best sleek and minimalist trainers to shop now (that will quietly whisper luxury for seasons to come).
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It wouldn’t be a minimalist trainer edit without Vivaia’s satin Sneakerinas. A barefoot ballet-trainer hybrid, there are eight shades in the brand’s unashamedly feminine style, including forever-chic white and blush pink. Each pair comes with two sets of shoelaces (a flat, traditional style and a lustrous ribbon) so you can tailor your chosen pair to your mood.
Best hybrid
Chloé Kick Suede And Leather Sneakers
Fusing a traditional ballet slipper with a boxing style, Chloé’s suede and leather trainer has delicate elasticated sides which gather via the sleek white laces, while the mint green colour palette is particularly fresh as we transition into spring.
Most timeless
Saint Laurent Lewis Suede-Trimmed Leather Sneakers
Trust Saint Laurent to create the perfect pared-back trainer for everyday wear. Made from supple leather, the bright white panels are trimmed with pale grey suede and completed with a lace-up front, retro-style perforations and a delicate elasticated heel.
Editor’s favourite
Miu Miu Plume Satin Sneakers
The trainer for the girl who doesn’t wear trainers, this Miu Miu satin pair is virtually too pretty to wear. In pale pink, ice blue or metallic brown, the style captures the brand’s playful, coquettish spirit in the most glamorous fashion.
Best slip-on style
Puma Speedcat Suede Ballet Shoes
If you’re already attached to your Speedcats, you’re in good company among the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Emily Ratajkowski and Dua Lipa. This iteration of the motorsport-inspired sneaker leans into a ballet influence with cross-over elastic straps and an easy slip-on construction. We were immediately drawn to the 2026 colourway of cream (elegantly named ‘Alpine Snow’) and grey.
Best for spring
Alo Sunset Sneaker
Named in tribute to LA’s Sunset Boulevard, Alo’s trainer is the epitome of effortless yet elevated. Featuring a recovery foam insole, it provides the perfect mix of performance-driven comfort and polish for wherever your day takes you. We’re drawn to this sunny pale lemon tone, but are also fans of the sandstone white and taupe.
best colour mix
Dries Van Noten Leather-Trimmed Paneled Satin Sneakers
Dries Van Noten’s trainers are fast becoming an editor favourite. The pale bronze panels of lustrous satin used for this pair are lightly padded and contrast beautifully with pale pink leather trims.
Best collaboration
Adidas Y-3 Tokyo Shoes
Part of a 23-year-long collaboration between legendary Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto and sportswear giant Adidas, the Y-3 trainer has a low profile and is rendered in gleaming white leather, with the brand’s iconic 3-Stripes camouflaged in a matching tone. A debossed Y-3 logo and printed Yohji Yamamoto signature further amp up the fashion edge.
Best on the high street
M&S Suede Embossed Croc Trainers
Marks & Spencer’s croc-pattern trainer uses an all-over sand shade to stop the pattern from shouting, and is completed by matching laces and lightweight rubber soles.
Best performance style
On Cloudtilt Moon
Co-created with Zendaya and Law Roach, this style delivers on the performance-enhancing qualities of the brand’s cult footwear while adopting a serene pale cream tone and minimal branding.
Best quilted
& Other Stories Suede-Detail Trainers
Crafted from Portuguese leather and suede, & Other Stories’ dual-toned trainers feature decorative side stitching and lightly padded panels, and would look great worn with grey cable-knit socks and a pleated skirt.
Best for work and weekends
Le Monde Beryl Slim Runner Suede And Leather-Trimmed Shell Sneakers
Le Monde Beryl’s ballet flats gained cult appeal among the fashion set a couple of years ago, and the brand’s 2026 trainer looks set to do the same. Made in Italy, the pale beige and cream suede and shell fabric panels look sporty while the result is minimalist enough to satisfy a smart/casual office dress code.
Esther Coombes is the Senior Ecommerce Editor at Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE and Esquire, overseeing luxury shopping content across fashion, beauty, travel and homes. She graduated from London College of Fashion with a First Class BA in Fashion Journalism in 2010, and has since worked at Marie-Claire, Easy Living, GLAMOUR and Women’s Health.
She held positions as Senior Fashion and Beauty Executive, Senior Lifestyle Executive and Content Lead during her nine years at HELLO! and HELLO! Fashion, creating editorial and branded content across the lifestyle sector and interviewing talent and experts including Lisa Eldridge, Jo Malone and Katie Jane Hughes for print and digital features.
With exacting standards and a critical eye for editing new launches, she enjoys recommending readers best in class products and experiences, be that a glow-giving skin tint, a boutique hotel stay or the perfect slingback stiletto.
In her spare time you can find her at a spin or reformer class or streaming the latest zeitgeisty podcast or television drama.
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