Maybe you think trainers are dead (what with the current appetite for polished alternatives like Derbies, ’90s-style boots and loafers). Or maybe, like me, you think tastes are simply evolving. The Samba fever that pervaded the early 2020s may have worn off a while ago – and even become, dare I say it, cheugy – but there are certain trainers that many of us are still copping for 2026. And more often than not, they’re throwback styles – the sort that stand the test of time, or are being reevaluated through a contemporary lens.
The Noughties obsession isn’t going anywhere, so it makes sense that we’d turn to aesthetics from one of the most beloved – and copycatted – decades for our footwear choices, too. To that end, here are all the Noughties trainers we’ll be wearing well into 2026.
Nike Air Rift
Thought weird-ass ballet sneakers were a new phenomenon? Think again! In 1996, Nike released their Air Rift style, also known as the Ninja, which gathered momentum throughout the late ’90s and early ’00s (A-list fans included the likes of Madonna and Jennifer Aniston). These days, they’re more likely to be sported by off-duty fashion girls who’ve grown tired of their scuffed Tabis (plus Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lawrence, who’ve both been spotted in Air Rifts recently).
Puma Mostro
Madonna’s workout fashion in the 2000s was nothing short of immaculate. She was often spotted in London in an Ed Hardy long-sleeve, big blocky shades and her trusty black and white Puma Mostros – the latter of which is a freaky little trainer still beloved by the fashion set and A-listers to this day. Rihanna is still frequently seen out and about in her Puma X Ottolinger Mostro sneakers, and if they’re good enough for Rihanna… well, you know the rest.
Nike Shox
Earlier this week, Bella Hadid was spied walking her dog around LA in a pair of black Nike Shox TL, confirming my suspicions that Nike Shox remain the casual It-trainer for those who don’t always want to wear loafers or boots. The Nike Shox R4 is the style most frequently spotted around Vogue HQ (though I’m personally desperate to own the Nike Shox Transform Boot worn by Serena Williams at the 2004 US Open).
Dad sneakers
In the late 2000s and early 2010s, something strange started happening. The cool kids around New York and London started dressing like Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, in stiff blue jeans, turtle-neck sweaters and dad trainers. Now, we’re starting to see dad sneakers enter the fray yet again – not just New Balance, but various Asics and also Nike V5 RNRs; the sort of techy, chunky styles worn by Larry David (and now adopted by off-duty models and fashion industry types).
Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66
The one trainer that seems to have survived the rise and fall of the most recent ’70s sneaker revival is the Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66, which was always the cooler alternative to the Samba. First attaining cult status in the ’00s thanks to Uma Thurman’s iconic turn in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill, you’re now extremely likely to spot the fabled Mexico 66 on the streets of Paris, London and New York – in yellow, yes, but also black or (my favourite) white.
This article is from Vogue.co.uk
Also read:
5 ways to wear ballet trainers in 2025
