Just as all-black and all-white sneakers are essential to a well-rounded rotation, so too are neutral sneakers — mostly thanks to their versatility with regards to styling. The beauty about neutral-toned sneakers is that, while subtle in their appearance, they don’t have to be predominantly one color. This leaves a little more wiggle room to play with and opens up a lot of possibilities — both from a brand and a model perspective.
Additionally, another advantage of neutral sneakers is in the name itself; these sneakers are incredibly versatile across different styles, situations, and even seasons. Whereas white sneakers are probably best left for the dry summer months, neutral sneakers can practically be worn all year round.
More room to play with and less of a need to adhere to a certain color means we’re almost spoiled for choice when it comes to neutral sneakers. With a never-ending list of brands, models, and designs, it can become hard to choose the right shoe for you. That’s where we come in, with our team of curators working tirelessly around the clock to make sure you don’t need to get lost in online shopping to find the best neutral sneakers.
Below, we’ve rounded up some of our favorites. Take a look.
The best neutral sneakers to buy online right now
Raf Simons Cylon 21 Sneakers
Cylon 21 Sneakers
Raf Simons
Raf Simons' relationship with sneakers is long-standing and highly successful. From adidas collaborations through to a range of his own, Raf knows what the people want when it comes to footwear. The Cylon 21 is arguably Raf's most distinctive silhouette but this neutral colorway brings the impact levels down a notch in the best way possible.
adidas Forum Low
Forum Low
adidas
The adidas Forum has been a staple for a really long time — since 1984, to be exact — but over the past year, it saw a rise to contemporary stardom. Colorways like this neutral masterpiece emphasize all the best aspects of this silhouette, most notably its versatility.
New Balance ML725G Moonbeam
ML725G Moonbeam
New Balance
New Balance is at its best when it's bringing new updates to its seemingly limitless archive of retro running sneakers and the classic look of the 725 is only exemplified by this neutral colorway.
Balenciaga Track Sneakers
Track Sneakers
Balenciaga
Balenciaga Track Sneakers are an interesting proposition when dressed in a neutral outfit. The bold, multi-layered kicks are made to turn heads, so there's an incongruity between that and an understated palette. We're here for it though, in a way it actually gives the design even more impact with the focus solely on the structure.
HOKA Bondi L
Bondi L
HOKA
HOKA's line of Bondi sneakers is famed for its performance as a running shoe and unparalleled cushioning. The Bondi L is a bit different, taking those features and using them in an everyday, lifestyle shoe.
adidas Superstar
Superstar
adidas
Talk about a lifestyle shoe. The adidas Superstar in any colorway is the type of shoe that you can wear day in, day out for the rest of your life. When it's finished with beautiful neutral tones like this, though, the versatility hits a new level.
Marni Pablo
Pablo Sneakers
Marni
A chunky rubber sole not only turns the bottom half of this white sneaker into a neutral colorway but also acts as its standout feature.
Lanvin Curb Sneakers
Curb Sneakers
Lanvin
A host of new colorways of the Lanvin Curb Sneakers just dropped for the new season. Amongst the bright iterations sit a core of understated palettes which have really caught our eye.
Puma x AMI Suede Mayu Deconstruct Pristine
Suede Mayu Deconstruct Pristine
Puma x AMI
Parisian fashion house AMI has given the Puma Suede, a classic sneaker that most people have owned at some point in their life, a brand new look through a chunky sole. Crafted from leather with suede trims, the neutral colorway keeps your eyes drawn to the exaggerated sole unit.
Converse Vintage Canvas Chuck 70 Hi
Chuck 70 Hi
Converse
Talk about a classic, the Converse Chuck Taylor 70 is a bonafide, going-nowhere MVP when it comes to versatile sneakers. This colorway sees the shoe keep the iconic look that has made it a favorite of everyone from basketballers to skaters while including recycled materials and an OrthoLite® Insole for added comfort.
Jil Sander Basket
Basket Leather Sneakers
Jil Sander
Bringing a touch of luxury and refinement to the performance-focused world of basketball sneakers is Jil Sander. These leather shoes might not be any good to cross someone in but they sure make up for that with looks.
Maison Margiela Retro Runner Sneakers
Retro Runner Sneakers
Maison Margiela
Margiela footwear is usually a little different from the brand's ready-to-wear collections. Dodging the kind of avant-garde cuts of the apparel collection, the label's footwear looks to retro classics for its inspiration.
Bottega Veneta Intrecciato Tech Sneakers
Intrecciato Tech Sneakers
Bottega Veneta
Bottega Veneta pieces are never far from an Intrecciato weave, and that goes for the brand's sneakers, too. The signature texture characterizes the upper of this new-season design.
adidas YEEZY 500 Blush
YEEZY 500 Blush
adidas
Released in 2018, the "Blush" is the second colorway of the hiking-inspired YEEZY 500 and remains one of the most lust after iterations to date. A sculptural adiPRENE sole unit combined with the mixed-material upper keeps to the futuristic aesthetic Ye has established with his YEEZY footwear line, however, this muted colorway means they remain far from being garish.
Nike x Off-White™ Air Jordan 4 Sail
Air Jordan 4 Sail
Nike x Off-White™
Virgil Abloh's Nike collaborations usually feature bold palettes and in-your-face detailing. It's what made the July 2020 Jordan 4 Sail such a surprise. The neutral palette features signature quotation-mark detailing to the sole unit but, aside from that, it's a highly minimal design.
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