Autumn 2026 Trainers: The Top 3 Styles Worth Buying Right Now

By Ella Blake — Senior Fashion Stylist & Founder | TellarAlways honest, unbiased, & unsponsored post

The three trainer styles dominating autumn 2026 are the Mary Jane sneakerina hybrid, the slim technical trainer, and the suede textural style — and if you buy wisely from this edit, you won't need another pair until 2028.

Right, let's have the honest conversation about trainers, because this is a category where it's genuinely easy to spend a lot of money on entirely the wrong thing. I've done it myself — I once panic-bought a pair of chunky dad trainers at the tail end of a trend cycle, wore them twice, and spent the next eighteen months tripping over them in my hallway. Never again.

Autumn 2026 is actually a brilliant moment to invest. The direction is clear, the options are varied, and for the first time in a few seasons there's something for everyone — whether you want clean and technical, soft and feminine, or rich and textural. The white trainer and the oversized dad shoe are officially having a quiet period. And honestly? Good. Here's what's replacing them.

01

The Sneakerina: Mary Jane & Ballet Hybrid Trainers

THE BIGGEST TREND OF THE SEASON

If you've been watching street style at all this year, you'll have clocked the Mary Jane trainer absolutely everywhere. Fashion editors from Vogue to Grazia are united on this one, and the sales data backs it up — this style is up 350% year-on-year on StockX in 2026, which is extraordinary for any category. The Adidas Samba Jane more or less ignited the current wave, combining the classic Samba sole with a feminine cross-strap. After that, every major brand followed suit.

What I love about the sneakerina is that it actually solves a styling problem I've wrestled with for years: it bridges the gap between a trainer and a ballet flat. You get the comfort and grip of a proper trainer sole, but the silhouette reads as considered and feminine. It works brilliantly with midi dresses (a combination I was initially sceptical about and now completely obsessed with), tailored straight-leg trousers, and any kind of floaty skirt. It's a proper grown-up trainer that doesn't look like you've forgotten to take your gym shoes off.

The shapes that are particularly strong this autumn lean towards rounded toes and low, slim profiles. Think soft leather, structured suede, or even a fabric upper with a delicate strap detail. Chloé's Kick — Chemena Kamali's first trainer for the house — has been credited with pushing this trend firmly into luxury territory. Miu Miu and Prada had their runway equivalents too. But crucially, the high street has absolutely nailed it at accessible price points, which means you don't need to spend designer money to get the look right.

BUY NOW

Adidas Samba Jane — The one that started it all. Get it in red or black. ~£100

STEP UP

Onitsuka Tiger TGRS — Best-selling new release of 2025, still completely relevant. ~£130

INVEST

Chloé Kick — The defining designer sneakerina of the season. Worth every penny.

02

The Slim Technical Trainer

THE EVERYDAY WORKHORSE

The dad trainer is done. We've collectively decided. And in its place comes the slim technical trainer — a narrower, more architectural silhouette that's inspired by performance running shoes but styled as pure fashion. Grazia's data from StockX paints a clear picture: ASICS Gel-1130 is now the bestselling trainer on the platform, Mizuno is up 148%, and Brooks saw growth of over 1,500% last year. Run clubs have a lot to answer for, in the best possible way.

The key distinction from the oversaturated chunky trainer is restraint. These shoes have proper sole technology — cushioning, grip, structure — but the overall profile is lean. Minimal branding, tonal colourways, and a silhouette that reads almost architectural. I've been wearing an ASICS Gel-1130 in a warm cream shade for the past few months and the number of times someone has stopped me to ask where they're from has been frankly embarrassing. They're brilliant.

For autumn specifically, go tonal. Deep mocha, warm stone, and dusty olive are the colours to look for in this category — they pair beautifully with the slouchy tailoring and earthy knits that define the autumn 2026 wardrobe. Avoid stark white in this silhouette; it reads too clinical for the season. And if you're going technical, Salomon's XT-6 remains a genuinely brilliant option for those who want the trail-runner aesthetic without looking like they're about to summit Ben Nevis.

BUY NOW

ASICS Gel-1130 — The cult status runner. Warm cream or brown colourway for autumn. ~£100

STEP UP

New Balance 204L — New Balance's best-selling new model — slim, considered, brilliant. ~£120

INVEST

Salomon XT-6 — The trail-runner turned fashion staple. An investment piece that genuinely lasts.

03

The Suede & Textural Autumn Trainer

THE MOST WEARABLE FOR AUTUMN

This is the one I am most excited about and the one I think will have the longest shelf life of the three. Suede trainers are not new, but they're having a genuine cultural moment right now — Dries Van Noten's spring/summer 2026 runway featured beaded lace-up suede trainers, Chloé has leaned into the texture, Bottega Veneta is doing something deeply covetable in this space, and even COS has a suede option worth considering. The Woman & Home fashion team called it accurately: in 2026, it's all about texture over colour.

For autumn, rich suede in earthy, warm tones is your best friend. Camel, dark chocolate, warm tobacco, and deep forest green are the shades to seek out. These work because they feel inherently autumnal — they absorb the season rather than fighting it. I've always found white trainers a bit of an uphill battle from October onwards (the mud, the rain, the general low-level stress of it all). A warm suede trainer in a chocolate brown just makes sense. Team them with wide-leg cords, a chunky knit, and a belted coat and you're done.

Beyond suede, keep an eye on shearling-trimmed trainers and richer fabric uppers with interesting texture. Faux-pony-hair accents have been appearing at both designer and high street level, and while I won't pretend it's for everyone, it does signal where the trend is heading: away from flat, glossy nylon and towards materials that feel considered and tactile.

BUY NOW

Veja suede styles — Sustainable credentials + beautiful warm-toned suede. ~£130–£160

STEP UP

COS suede trainer — A quiet luxury entry point that punches well above its price. ~£95

INVEST

Dries Van Noten — The most considered suede trainer of the season. The one you keep forever.

Where to Shop: Brand Picks by Budget

Whatever your budget, the trainer market in 2026 is genuinely generous. Here's where I'd point you, tier by tier, to find the right version of each of these trends.

HIGH STREET & ACCESSIBLE

• ASOS — Currently one of the strongest destinations for all three of these trends. Their own-brand Mary Jane trainers and suede styles are excellent value, and they stock the key third-party picks like Adidas Samba Jane and ASICS. Start here.

• Zara — Zara's shoe buying team has been particularly sharp this season. Their slim ballet-hybrid trainer and suede low-tops are genuinely close to the designer versions at a fraction of the cost. Sizing runs slightly small so go half a size up.

• Mango — Brilliant for the suede and textural category specifically. Mango's autumn footwear edit has consistently delivered warm-toned, considered trainers and the quality for the price is very respectable.

• H&M — Don't overlook H&M for the sneakerina trend. Their strapped ballet trainer in cream leather is a dead ringer for styles twice the price. Sell out quickly, so move fast when you spot one you like.

• Cos — COS is genuinely worth flagging as a separate category here. Their suede trainer range this season is outstanding — clean, minimal, and built to last. A great bridge between high street and premium.

• Whistles — For the sneakerina aesthetic with a more grown-up sensibility, Whistles consistently delivers. Their take on the strapped trainer is polished without being try-hard, and their sizing is reliable and true to UK standard.

• Massimo Dutti — Massimo Dutti's footwear is quietly excellent and consistently underrated. Their leather and suede trainer options this autumn are the kind of thing you wear for five years without ever getting bored of them.

• Reiss — A brilliant destination for the slim technical and suede trainer at a premium-accessible price point. Reiss footwear quality is consistently strong and their autumn palette sits right in the warm, earthy zone this post recommends.

PREMIUM

• Veja — The go-to sustainable trainer brand, and their suede and leather styles are among the best-looking trainers at this price point. The Esplar and Campo silhouettes are particularly strong for autumn. Built to last, beautiful materials.

• On Running — For the slim technical category, On's Cloudmonster and Cloud 5 are brilliantly engineered and increasingly fashion-forward. A cult favourite for a very good reason.

LUXURY & DESIGNER

• Chloé — Chemena Kamali's Kick trainer is the defining footwear statement of her tenure so far. Ballet-meets-boxing, deeply feminine, and beautifully made. The one to have.

• Dries Van Noten — The brown suede Dries trainer is already being cited by fashion editors as the perfect autumn shoe. Simple, rich, and genuinely timeless. An investment worth making.

INDEPENDENT & NICHE PICKS

• Nicki Hoyne — The Australian designer who has built a devoted following for her sculptural, fashion-forward footwear. Her cow-print and textural trainer styles have been worn by editors across Marie Claire and Vogue UK this season. Hard to find, worth tracking down — available online and via select UK stockists.

• Stepney Workers Club — A London-born independent label that has been doing considered, artisan trainer design since 2018. Their suede and canvas low-tops are brilliant quality and genuinely different from anything else on this list. A proper niche find.

Getting the Right Fit in Your New Trainers

Trainer sizing is not as straightforward as it looks. Brands like ASICS, Veja, Adidas, and On Running all size differently — and getting it wrong means returns, delays, and frustration. Tellar.co.uk is the UK's leading free sizing tool: it matches your measurements to 1,500+ brands instantly, so you buy right first time.

• Measure once using your key measurements — or input an existing brand size you trust

• Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size across all trainer brands

• Works across 1,500+ brands including ASICS, Veja, On Running, COS, Zara & more

• Always free, no account needed, works instantly in-browser

Plus explore the Tellar Fashion Hub — a free library of honest, independent style posts from our top stylists. No sponsorship. No agenda. Just good advice.

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