Sneakers have become increasingly difficult to pigeonhole. The days when you could divide them neatly into ‘minimal’ and ‘chunky’ are long gone, replaced by a footwear landscape that borrows from running, hiking, football, tennis and seemingly every decade from the 1970s onwards.
That makes autumn 2026 an interesting time to buy a new pair. Slimmer shapes are continuing to muscle out the bulkier styles of recent years, suede is everywhere, and the season’s typically muted palette is being interrupted by the occasional flash of something altogether louder.
French sneaker specialist Zespà’s latest collection happens to cover much of this ground. Made in Portugal and spanning everything from pared-back leather styles to retro runners, it provides a useful snapshot of where casual footwear is heading right now.
These are five sneaker trends worth knowing this autumn.
Low-profile leather
After several years of soles thick enough to require planning permission, sneakers are coming back down to earth. Low-profile styles inspired by vintage runners, motorsport shoes and old-school indoor trainers are among the biggest footwear shifts of the moment, bringing a sleeker silhouette to everyday outfits.
Leather makes this shape particularly useful for autumn. It feels a little more substantial and polished than mesh, while still retaining the sporty character that stops a slim sneaker looking overly formal. Try a pair with relaxed trousers or straight-leg denim, allowing the narrow profile to sit cleanly beneath the hem.
Hiking coded
You don’t need to be halfway up a mountain to appreciate a bit of outdoor influence. Hiking footwear has spent the past few years steadily infiltrating everyday wardrobes, bringing with it chunky tread, technical lacing, panelled uppers and a generally more utilitarian approach to sneaker design.
For autumn, the sweet spot is footwear that nods to the trail without looking like you’re about to produce a laminated OS map. Look for hiking-inspired details, substantial soles and outdoorsy proportions, then use them to add some visual weight to loose denim, cargos and work pants.
Earthy suede
There are few materials better suited to autumn than suede. Its soft, textured finish works particularly well with the season’s heavier fabrics – think denim, corduroy, wool and brushed cotton – while muted colours give it a warmth that smooth white leather struggles to replicate.
Brown is the obvious option, but it’s far from the only one. Mossy greens, tobacco, sand and rust all work brilliantly at this time of year and slot easily into a wardrobe dominated by navy, olive, grey and ecru. Just remember to introduce your new sneakers to some suede protector before introducing them to British weather.
Off-white
Box-fresh brilliant white sneakers have their place, but autumn arguably calls for something a little softer. Cream, ecru and off-white shades offer the same versatility while feeling less stark against the darker, earthier colours that tend to take over wardrobes as the temperature drops.
They’re also considerably easier to live with. A little dirt and wear tends to complement rather than ruin the look, particularly when the sneaker itself has a retro feel. Wear them anywhere you’d normally reach for plain white leather: with jeans, chinos, cords or even relaxed tailoring.
Statement
Minimalism has dominated the sneaker conversation for so long that wearing something deliberately loud feels strangely refreshing. Animal prints, unusual textures and bold colour combinations are all fair game, particularly when applied to familiar, retro-leaning silhouettes.
The trick is to let the footwear do most of the shouting. Keep everything above the ankle relatively restrained – washed denim, plain knitwear, simple outerwear – and a more adventurous sneaker becomes an easy focal point rather than one ingredient in a particularly aggressive visual soup.
