Sneakers have long outgrown their gym-only reputation. Same with their “man-only” reputation. Today, they’re as integral to women’s street style as the bag you’re carrying or the coat you’re wearing. Sneakers can elevate a look, signal personal style, and help you move through the world with purpose. (Yes, even style icons need to run errands.) What used to be purely performance gear is now front-row worthy, and increasingly, it’s women who are shaping what’s cool, what sells, and what gets collected.
While SELF has covered the “workout” of it all for years—always telling you our thoughts on the best new drops, all-time greats, and pairs that look so good we’re actually excited to go for a jog—we know you’re wearing sneakers off the mat too. So are we: to the office, on our travels, and even out to dinner.
That’s why we’re introducing a new category in our annual Sneaker Awards. Meet the Editor’s Picks. Here, we’re spotlighting the shoes that are driving culture, defining aesthetic shifts, creating communities, and popping up everywhere from runways to sidewalks—right now.
See the best workout sneakers of the year here, and read our joint report on the state of women’s sneaker culture with StockX here.
The 2025 SELF Sneaker Awards: Editor’s Picks
Adidas Taekwondo
First came the Stan Smiths (2016). Then came the Sambas (2023), and then the Gazelles (2023-2024). Now it’s 2025, and we’re head over heels for Adidas’s Taekwondo. After a fickle few years for the brand, you can call it a comeback, thanks to a focus on Adidas’s retro sneakers, most recently headlined by the Taekwondo. Originally produced in the ’80s and brought back in the early 2000s, the fitted slip-on is beloved by celebs like Jennifer Lawrence and street style stars alike.
Asics Gel-Venture 6 Shield
Editor’s Pick
Asics Gel-Venture 6 Shield
“Watch your back, Salomon,” says SELF senior commerce writer Sara Coughlin. “This iteration of the Gel-Venture is dramatically more stylish and streetwear-informed than previous versions I’ve seen online.” Asics hits the gorpcore mark here—the shoe looks sleek, with a truly waterproof sole—speaking to the increasingly blurred lines between outdoor tech and everyday wear.
Reebok Classic AZ
Editor’s Pick
Reebok Classic AZ
“The amount of compliments I get on these shoes is unreal,” Paige Levinson, SELF’s special projects coordinator, says. Levinson wears them all the time—they’ve withstood 25,000-step-count days—and they also caught the eye of SELF editor in chief Jessica Cruel, who snagged a pair right off of our photoshoot set. Erica Sloan, SELF’s senior health writer, nods to the shoe’s suede detailing and textured outsole as her favorite design elements. Our executive editor, Jennifer Fields, came into the office with a red pair last week. Clearly, the Reebok AZs are very popular around here.
Asics Gel-Quantum Kinetic
Editor’s Pick
Asics Gel-Quantum Kinetic
A good pair of Asics is the finishing touch to any Princess Diana out-and-about/supermodel off-duty look. These, with their unusual-looking gel cushioning detail, bring extra visual interest to a look that could otherwise become tired. (We’re pleased to report they’re comfortable too.)
New Balance 1906L Loafers
Editor’s Pick
New Balance 1906L Loafers
If there has been one outstanding theme in the market over the last year, it’s the reexamination of what a sneaker really is. Like the ballerina sneaker, the sneaker loafer—in particular, this one from New Balance—sent out shockwaves when it launched late last summer. (Now, of course, it’s nearly impossible to get your hands on.) At the very least, it demonstrates the sneaker as something that can be worn both on the street and to the office. At the most, it encourages us to wonder how else sneakers, ironically or anachronistically, can subvert expectations.
Autry Windspin
Editor’s Pick
Autry Windspin
The Windspin is a 2025 launch for Autry, though its retro track-star look hearkens back to an earlier time. Soft, broken-in suede on the outside and a leather and cotton-terry lining inside make these as comfortable and effortless as the classic Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66. And while you really can’t go wrong with any of the It brand’s sneakers, these feel slightly more under the radar, and we love them for that.
Camper Peu Path
Editor’s Pick
Camper Peu Path
A big takeaway from the year in sneakers thus far? Ballet, ballet, ballet. Bunhead style has long influenced fashion at large (scoop back bodysuits, flats, “coquette core,” we could go on), but the most pleasantly surprising interpretation is the slipper-sneaker hybrid. Camper’s Peu Path is flexible and utilitarian, versatile (pair it with a dress, or pair it with poplin pants and a tee), and nearly octogenarian. And we mean that as a compliment.
Puma Speedcat OG
Editor’s Pick
Puma Speedcat OG
The Speedcat originated more than 20 years ago as a fireproof shoe for Formula 1 racers. Those roots make its return to fashion today feel all the more apropos. You can wear them day to night, and they add a playful dose of attitude and nostalgia to any look. “I want every single color they come in,” Gunderman says.
Converse Chuck 70
Editor’s Pick
Converse Chuck 70
Few sneakers deemed “classics” will actually hold up over time, outlasting whatever trends cycle through the zeitgeist. Converse, and the brand’s Chuck 70s in particular, are one of the few that actually deserve this title. Unisex and laid back, beloved by the likes of Alexa Chung, Serena Williams, and Dakota Johnson, the canvas high-top has real staying power. Reach back into the depths of your closet: We anticipate you’ll only see more of them over the next year.
Gola Classics Stadium ’86
Editor’s Pick
Gola Classics Stadium ’86
We’ve seen Gola, the 100-plus-year-old British sporting brand—particularly the brightly colored, Samba-esque Elan trainers—creeping up from coast to coast. But what comes next? We think the Stadium ’86. It’s a more forward-thinking style: Metallic colorways feel like a natural step after the rise of bold primaries, and it taps into sports culture with the fold-over soccer-shoe tongue.
Hoka Bondi 9
Editor’s Pick
Hoka Bondi 9
Hoka—once favored mainly by orthopedists—started gaining traction among millennials when Outdoor Voices spotlighted the brand in its marketing campaigns. The two later collaborated on a 2018 collection, kicking off a partnership that lasted for several years. While Outdoor Voices has faced its share of ups and downs in recent years (and is, perhaps, on the verge of a major comeback), Hoka has remained a standout all the while—for walking, running, and everything in between.
Merrell 1TRL Moab 3
Editor’s Pick
Merrell 1TRL Moab 3
SELF and Allure shopping director (and resident Angeleno) Shanna Shipin calls these “a vibe on the trail.” It’s true; Merrell’s new monochromatic look pulls the traditional Moab 3s out of the granola sphere and into chic territory; a shoe you can wear when sweating it out on a mountain—or on line at a painfully hip coffee shop. “And in this desert sand color, I never have to worry about them appearing dusty or dirty on a Southern California hike,” she adds.
New Balance 9060
Editor’s Pick
New Balance 9060
A little futuristic, a little alien-like, a little bit Dad Sneaker, and most certainly funky—the 9060s have beamed into New Balance’s classic 99x series, and we’re glad to see them join the family.
Nike Luka 4
Luka Dončić debuted the latest version of his signature Jordan this spring, during his first matchup against his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, as a newly minted Laker. His high-profile trade in the 2024–2025 season sparked plenty of buzz—so much so that these sleek new sneakers may have flown under the radar. SELF associate social media manager Katie Gunderman wears them both on and off the court, and loves how streamlined they are for a basketball shoe.
Pompeii Gemini
Editor’s Pick
Pompeii Gemini
Somewhere between an Onitsuka Tiger and the Miu Miu x New Balance collaboration sits Pompeii’s Gemini, at a reasonable price point no less. The Spanish brand designs shoes for movement, drawing inspiration from vintage sport (see its new collaboration with Tan Line, and sailing and soccer references), and we love where this 2025 release landed.
Salomon ACS Pro Gore-Tex
Editor’s Pick
Salomon Acs Pro Gore-Tex
These were designed with hiking and adventuring in mind, but you’re just as likely to spot them on a Sunday stroll in Brooklyn. For the tech enthusiasts, they feature a Gore-Tex rim around the sole and Salomon’s signature Quicklace system. And for the indoor crowd who appreciate a gorpcore nod, they come in a rich chocolate brown—a runway-favorite colorway we hope sticks around for a while.
Best Collabs
Salomon x Sandy Liang Speedcross 3—Ribbon
Best Collab
Salomon x Sandy Liang Speedcross 3—Ribbon
An unlikely pairing, or match made in heaven? Balletcore meets gorpcore in this playful Salomon and Sandy Liang collab. The clash of feminine and rugged details creates a sneaker that’s both whimsical and wearable, marrying two of the biggest trends of the year.
Miu Miu x New Balance 530 SL
Best Collab
Miu Miu x New Balance 530 SL
For Coco Gauff, tournament season is also fashion season. Particularly this year, as she cheekily debuted pieces from her joint collaboration with Miu Miu and New Balance during matches in Rome, Berlin, and soon, Cincinnati. The line will be available this September, and we’ve got our eyes on the 530 SLs: Gauff put her own spin on the already-viral sneaker with a lovely new slate of colorways.
New Balance x Auralee 990v4 Made in USA
Best Collab
New Balance x Auralee 990v4 Made in USA
In this collaboration, Japanese brand Auralee brings its signature blend of polish, timelessness, and nature-inspired design to the New Balance 990v4. The serene blue colorway, accented with butter yellow and warm grey, feels like true quiet luxury—ideal for pairing with menswear-inspired looks, like a great pair of tailored trousers.
Asics x Cecilie Bahnsen Gel-Quantum 360 VIII
Best Collab
Asics x Cecilie Bahnsen Gel-Quantum 360 VIII
Cecilie Bahnsen’s Asics Mary Jane is ultramodern and childlike all at once, not dissimilar from the Danish designer’s line of romantic, frilly, and poofy, voluminous clothing. The sneaker looks right at home on a Copenhagen street—but you can bring some of that European sensibility anywhere when wearing these.
Adidas x Bad Bunny Ballerina
Best Collab
Adidas x Bad Bunny Ballerina
Bad Bunny has consistently embraced and celebrated his Puerto Rican heritage in his work. His latest collaboration with Adidas, which dropped earlier this year, is no exception. “It’s a silhouette that blends sport and fashion, immediately resonating with me,” SELF and Allure social media manager—and fellow Boricua—Bianca Richards says. “I was also drawn to the storytelling behind the shoes—an extension of the energy and emotion from his hit album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos. The gold and black colorway remains my favorite—a go-to pair that carries the spirit of cultural pride and creative expression.”
Nike x Hayley Wilson SB Dunk Low Pro
Best Collab
Nike x Hayley Wilson SB Dunk Low Pro
Hayley Wilson, the Australian pro skateboarder who first qualified for the X-Games in 2017, at 15 years old—making her the youngest Women’s Street Division competitor in contest history—dropped her signature shoe with Nike earlier this summer to much fanfare. They’re full of personal detail, with designs inspired by Wilson’s tattoos and a heel tab that changes color in the sun. Our favorite bit is the typography with her signature phrase: “You Reckon.” (Yes, we do.)
Photography by Myles Loftin.
