The sneaker trends Parisians are wearing this spring

A few of you have asked me about whether to pack sneakers for Paris, and if so, which styles will work. When we first began traveling to Paris, we were told to leave the sneakers at home if we didn’t want to stand out as tourists. But even back then, you would see Parisians wearing sleek styles such as Puma, Converse, and Stan Smiths with casual outfits.

mesh fabric | color accent | classic | wedge

But in the last decade, sneakers have become ubiquitous here. And not just sleek, classic styles worn casually. You’ll see women of all ages wearing trendier sneakers with trousers, skirts, and dresses. Here are a few of the styles I’ve noticed most often since we arrived a few days ago:

1. While simple leather lace-up styles are a safe bet, I’m also seeing a lot of more athletic or running styles, often with fabric mesh or knit exteriors.
2. Color accent or color-block. While I’ve mostly seen bright multicolored styles on younger women, I have noticed some women our age, “elegant casual,” wearing neutral sneakers with color accents.
3. Hi-tops. Usually black.
4. Wedge styles and sneaker-boot hybrids

I’ve also seen a smattering of hiking style sneakers (probably the cold weather a factor), red sneakers (usually coordinating with something else red in the outfit), and metallic sneakers. And yes, you still see Chuck Taylors, both low and hi-top. I’ve seen a few well-turned-out women in the Gucci bee sneakers.

Of course when deciding which sneakers to pack for Paris (or any other destination), comfort should be the most important factor. In many major cities, you’ll probably do a lot of walking, so supportive and well-fitting shoes are crucial.

Here are a few more sneaker styles that could work in Paris…