The best fashion trainers we'll all be wearing, according to a Fashion Director

The most stylish way to take baby steps back into *real* footwear.

Over the past few months, we’ve been in mourning for lost opportunities to wear our best trainers and fancy flats. Footwear has become the forgotten accessory - and we've been sad about it. Apart from the slippers we ordered in the sale, a walking boot purchase for the Daily Walk and the running shoes we ordered and never wore, our need for *actual* footwear and best fashion trainers has hovered around the "zero" mark.

It's officially time to take baby steps back into real-life-appropriate footwear. We're starting out in some of the best trainers and newly-dropped fashion trainers of the moment.

Trainers are a trans-seasonal dressing hero. Actually - who are we kidding? Trainers are a wardrobe hero all year round - perfectly paired with everything from summer dresses to high waisted jeans and loungewear. You can literally wear trainers with everything... and we plan to. But with so many styles on the market, how do you know which to buy? Enter: our almighty shopping guide.

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Our edit of the best trainers features styles that are more fashion-led than being actually sports-appropriate, so they look best styled up with ‘real’ clothes. Leave your tracksuit at home and opt for slouchy trouser suits, pleat-front trousers or swishy midi-skirts which all look the coolest with a pair of the best trainers for women. Welcome back real world footwear, we’ve missed you.

What are the most popular women's trainers?

Veja trainers are some of the most popular white trainers right now - with Meghan Markle, Emily Ratajowski and Emma Watson all fans of the sustainable sneaker brand.

If you’re after influencer-worthy style, New Balance is one of the most coveted labels for Dad-style trainers while Balenciaga still offer the original super-sized sneakers with their Track style.

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If you do plan on doing something sporty, check out our edit of the best trainers for running right here or if you’re more into simple plimsoll-type trainers, suitable for a stroll, Saint Laurent’s Court trainers are inspired by classic tennis shoes. Converse and Superga both have brilliantly pared-back plimsolls too. We've also rounded up the best Gucci trainers and Balenciaga trainers if you're after something super exclusive.