The white sneaker trend is one that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. I get a lot of requests for comfortable plain white sneaker recommendations, so I wanted to share a few fan favorites that look great with anything and everything. Feel free to add your favorite white sneakers in the comments.
Splurge, Spend, or Save: Clean White Sneakers
These are the sneakers I have or I’ve tried recently, and I highly recommend any of them. It really comes down to personal taste and budget.
SPLURGE: Paul Green Hadley Platform Sneaker in White Silver MC Leather ($378)
These luxe leather sneakers are my favorites for when I have to do a lot of walking. They have excellent cushion and support, they’re super lightweight at just 9 oz. each, and they look great with everything from jeans and shorts to dresses and skirts. As an added bonus, they’re slip-ons, so there’s no futzing with tying and untying laces!
The hand-stitched detailing and double-elastic lacing set them apart from your basic white leather sneaker, and they also have a super soft terry cloth lining, so I don’t feel any need to wear socks with them. They have a removable insole, and a bit of a platform for a little extra height. These sneakers run true to size, or size down if in between; I have the size 8.
SPEND – täōs Plim Soul Luxe in White Leather ($154.95)
These leather sneakers are also great for when you have to do lots of walking; I wore these all over Italy last summer. They also have good arch support, but they’re a little bulkier than the Paul Green and don’t look and feel quite as luxe. They’re also a bit heavier, at 12 oz. as opposed to 9 oz.
They have a combination of leather and textile lining and insole, and they’re also comfortable to wear without socks for short periods of time, but I wear my Sheec socks for long days of walking. These sneakers also come in wide widths, for ladies who need that. They’re true to size; I have the 8.
SAVE – Sam Edelman Ethyl Low Top Sneaker in Bright White Leather ($80)
at Nordstrom // at Zappos // at Bloomingdale’s
Another community favorite, I tried and liked the comfort and style well enough. They’re a really good option for under $100. They’re fairly plain, and they don’t look or feel as high quality as the other two, especially on the inside due to the synthetic lining. But they have a nice clean minimalist style and a cushioned footbed, and they’re quite comfortable right out of the box. These sneakers also run true to size; I had the size 8.
More Comfortable White Sneakers to Try
Vionic Winny Sneaker // Vionic is a great brand for those of you looking for extra arch support or wide-width. Their Winny sneaker has a super clean look that reminds me of my sneakers from Paul Green or Taos.
Veja Esplar Sneaker // These sneakers are a classic and sustainable choice. I’ve had a few pairs, and they hold up great to daily wear and tear and seem to get better over time. They aren’t quite as comfortable out-of-box as the sneakers featured above, but they have a breathable organic cotton lining, and they break in quickly. I also just love the court-inspired aesthetic, with the blind eyelets and logo at the heel and tongue. These sneakers run true to size; I take the 8/39.
Birkenstock Bend Low Top Sneaker // These also have a nice, classic design, and I like the lack of grommets. For some reason, I dislike grommets, although I realize my two top recommendations at the top of this post have them. These sneakers should be extremely comfortable, with the removable, anatomically shaped cork-latex footbed that Birkenstock is well-known for.
Naturalizer Morrison 2.0 Sneaker // The cushioned footbed and breathable lining on this leather pair from Naturalizer make them a solid choice for long days on your feet or running errands. You can also grab them in a wide width, which can be hard to find in a cute sneaker!
Tretorn Nylite Canvas Sneakers // For a canvas option, the classic Tretorn with the EcoOrtholite insole and soft terrycloth lining is a great choice.
Jenni Kayne Canvas Skater Sneaker // Another good canvas option, this do-it-all sneaker from the iconic California lifestyle brand Jenni Kayne has a luxe leather footbed with a rubber gum sole for a nice bit of contrast. The reviews are excellent, I’m thinking I might order these to try the next time they have a sale.
Madewell Sidewalk Low Top Sneaker // These leather sneakers are a chunkier style with a bit of a platform, and a super cushy, ultra supportive MWL Cloudlift insole. I like the extra detail on teh side, and the blind eyelets. I actually just ordered these to try!
New Balance 327 // The chunky retro sneaker trend is still going strong, and the New Balance 327 are everywhere these days. This pair will be included in the NSale.
Tory Burch Howell Court Sneaker // I actually tried on and reviewed the navy and white version of these shoes four years ago in this post. That’s a true testament to how timeless a sneaker can be! The court-style sneaker is made of a soft, supple leather with a contrasting heel tab accented by her gold logo medallion, and they’re extremely soft and comfortable and flexible.
Shop White Sneakers for Summer
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11 Responses
I have the Morrison white with taupe heel and I’ve really liked them. I’ve had mine going on 3 years and they just now need replacing I feel. I kept them clean and washed the laces etc. I believe the 2.0 one you feature is the same but just alittle higher platform sole than mine. The only complaint I have is the side leather is coming away from the shoe at the stress point when you walk and bend the foot, but this wasn’t until way after wearing a year or so.
Love my Paul Green sneakers, (have 2 pair) definitely getting cost per wear out of them. They are comfortable directly out of the box, no need to break them in. I pair them with slacks at work or summer dresses, they go with anything. Close second is my Birkenstock sneakers. I pick these for my jean shorts and casual wear. My OnCloud is my walking/jogging shoes. I have Veja, New Balance and 2 pair of P448 but don’t reach for any of those much. So glad to see sneakers going strong and hanging on for the long run 🙂
Cole Hahn also has a good white leather sneaker.They have a tan trim around the area wear the leather meets the sole. I I think the look a little dressier if that’s possible with a sneaker! I don’t see anyone mention this brand and am a bit surprised.
I agree! I have the pair of cole hahn sneakers you mentioned, ad another in the same line. They are excellent. I bought a pair for my daugher for christmas, and she loves them too!
I have a pair of white leather Vans sneakers that I really enjoy wearing. While I thoroughly enjoy wearing my Birkenstocks sandals (I have 16+ pairs), I do not find their sneakers that I have to be as comfortable. They do feel a bit heavy. I need to try them again with socks to see if that helps, since my feet are very thin & narrow. Slip on sneakers that are not available in narrow width don’t work for me, unfortunately. I looked at the New Balance sneakers last night when I was looking through the NAS items, but since they don’t say that they have arch support, I have to pass on them.
I’ve had my P448 sneakers for about two years, but didn’t really wear them much until recently. I find I’m reaching for them all the time as they feel so good on my feet (even walked the dogs in them a few days ago). I hope they’re not going out of style any time soon. **I love that you included the weight of the shoes you reviewed here…makes a difference for me….especially when traveling.
Great post!!!!!!!
The Naturalizer Morrison 2.0 was a HUGE disappointment! The sole separated from the leather on both sides of each shoe. It gapped with every step. Fortunately Zappos refunded my $$$ without a quibble saying they’d had many returns due to this issue.
On the hunt for a replacement with good quality workmanship.
After trying many of the ones you mentioned plus some others, I finally caved and bought the Paul Green Hadley this summer. They are by far the most expensive shoes I own but I love them so much. I only wish I hadn’t waited so long to try them. They are so comfortable and look great with everything.
Another vote for the Paul Green Hadley! Expensive, but so very comfortable. Probably my favorite pair of shoes (and I have a few, hah). Thanks for another great post Jo-Lynne!
I love the Madewell sneaker and am on my second pair. I had the first pair for almost 3 years before I wore them out with constant use. They are my go-to sneaker for running errands or when I will do a lot of walking but don’t want to wear running shoes. I highly recommend for people with finicky feet. I would say they are a low profile shoe…the rubber sole is deceiving in pictures. I look forward to seeing what you think about them when you try them!
I have 3 pairs of the Birkenstocks and the Sam Edelman. My Birkenstock sneakers are not nearly as comfortable as their sandals. I can’t work all day in these and definitely so t wear for walking. My Sam Edelman I can wear all day and are comfortable.