Trends · Fall-winter 2026-2027
The sneaker has won: you wear it with an overcoat, with a suit, in the evening. But precisely because you can wear it everywhere, the choice has become more difficult — and this season's trends, for once, are clear enough to explain without going around the subject.
Three things matter: the material, the shape, and how much attention you are willing to attract.
1. Suede, once again
It is the material of the season everywhere, and on sneakers it has shifted the market more than any other. The reason is visual: suede softens a shoe's sporty character and makes it acceptable alongside wool trousers. A glossy leather Samba clashes with an overcoat; the same shoe in suede does not.
The practical objection is rain, and it is justified. The answer is not to avoid it but to care for it: a protective spray before the first wear and a rubber brush from time to time are enough for a season. What suede does not forgive is drying it near a radiator, which hardens it irreversibly.
2. Animal print has moved beyond its niche
Leopard, cow, python: once a collector's detail, now a category. It is the trend that has surprised us most in terms of sales, and our explanation is that it works like a neutral — a spotted shoe goes with black, brown, and denim, and removes the awkwardness of having to match a color.
The advice is to treat it for what it is: a statement piece in a quiet outfit. If the rest is printed too, the shoe stops working.
3. The low, narrow shape has beaten the chunky sneaker
The cycle is over. After five years of thick soles, court silhouettes now rule: low profile, tapered toe, thin rubber sole. This is the terrace family — Samba, Gazelle, Handball Spezial — which emerged in the Eighties on English terraces and has never been more central.
Two exceptions remain, and they are not minor. The Superstar, which has lived outside fashion cycles for forty years. And the XLG shape, meaning the exaggerated, high-soled versions, which still works well with a younger audience and wide-leg trousers.
4. For those who really walk: the technical sneaker in the city
Some people who come into the boutique are not looking for a shoe to admire but one to wear for eight hours. That changes the conversation: cushioning, weight, and sole grip on wet surfaces matter. Running lines with an aesthetic understated enough for the office are the most honest answer, and over the past two years they have become much more beautiful.
If you have support issues or spend the day on your feet, this is the direction to look at first — regardless of what the runways say.
5. The colors: mud, leather brown, forest green
All-white recedes, but does not disappear. In its place come muted neutrals - mud beige, taupe, leather brown - and dark greens, the most interesting color of the season because they work equally well with denim and brown. It is the same shift we see throughout the wardrobe, and we covered it in our guide to fall-winter 2026-2027 colors.
The boutique's advice. If you buy just one pair, choose suede in a warm neutral: it is the combination that works with the widest range of pieces and ages best. Animal prints and exaggerated silhouettes are secondary purchases, the ones to make once you already have the foundation. And always try them on in the afternoon: by the end of the day, your foot is half a size larger than in the morning.
Where to look in our selection
adidas Originals is the brand we stock most extensively, and it is also the one with almost all the silhouettes mentioned above in its catalogue: the Samba in its many versions, the Handball Spezial, the Gazelle, the Superstar and the XLG.
For a more tailored approach, Premiata remains the Italian benchmark, while ON covers the technical side for those who truly walk, and Flower Mountain the more unconventional side. Everything else is in women's sneakers and men's sneakers.
To complete your seasonal wardrobe: fall-winter shoes and bags.
When the cold really sets in, the choice shifts to boots: autumn-winter boot guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which sneakers are in fashion for autumn-winter 2026-2027?
Low, slim silhouettes from the terrace family - Samba, Gazelle, Handball Spezial - preferably in suede, the fabric of the season. Animal print remains alongside them, now a category rather than a detail, as do exaggerated XLG-style silhouettes for a younger audience.
Can suede sneakers be worn in winter?
Yes, as long as you care for them properly: apply a protective spray before first wear and use a rubber brush for maintenance. What irreversibly damages suede isn't rain but drying it near a heat source, which makes it stiff.
Have chunky sneakers gone out of fashion?
The thick sole no longer dominates, but it hasn't disappeared: the XLG silhouette and similar styles remain highly sought-after, especially with wide-leg trousers. You could say it's gone from dominant trend to a matter of personal taste.
Which sneakers should you buy if you're only getting one pair?
Suede, in a warm neutral - mud beige, taupe, or leather brown - with a low profile. It's the combination that works with the widest range of pieces and ages best. Animal print and exaggerated soles are purchases to make once you already have the essentials.
How do you choose the right sneaker size?
Try them on in the afternoon: by the end of the day, your foot is about half a size larger than in the morning, and a shoe tried on at nine may feel tight at six. If you buy online, measure your foot length in centimetres and compare it with the model's size chart.
Vittorio Citro Boutique Editorial Team, Roccapiemonte. We've been selling fashion since 1917.
Suede, animal print and soft volumes aren't limited to sneakers: the season's movement is explored in autumn-winter 2026-2027 fashion trends.
From the boutique
If your size isn't available, that doesn't mean it won't come back. In the boutique app, you can set an alert for an individual item and receive a notification when it returns: it's the easiest way not to miss a style that sells out quickly. Download it from the App Store and Google Play.
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