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Updated August 14, 2024: This article on the best white sneakers for women was updated with Footwear News’ Greatest Shoes of All Time selections and additional reviews after a third round of shoe testing by Footwear News Shop editors. We are currently testing additional women’s white sneakers from brands like Superga and Alo Yoga for consideration in this expert-approved guide.
White sneakers are quintessential shoes that go with everything. They’re a foundational base for any outfit, and despite being a no-frills footwear choice by definition, the right pair can instantly polish off anything you wear as a perennial capsule wardrobe secret weapon.
No longer simply suited for the tennis court, comfy white sneakers are embraced in every setting. Remember when women would wear white sneakers with their ’80s power suits to commute to work before swapping them for painful pumps? Now you can wear minimalist, all-white leather sneakers with your tailored trousers from 9 to 5. Ready to dance the night away but need a pair of shoes that will keep you moving and grooving? There are plenty of chunky or platform white sneakers to add an effortlessly cool edge and a subtle height boost without straining your arches. Whether you love classic Converse Chuck Taylor All Star High Top Shoes or prefer a bold, statement-making sneaker like Puma Mazye shoes or Nike Air Max 97 shoes, the best white sneakers for women come in many silhouettes.
Modern white sneakers have a humble origin story. In the 1910s, Keds and Converse created sneakers with white canvas uppers and rubber soles, designed for sport. Adidas’ Stan Smith sneakers’ debut in 1965 coincided with the tennis boom of the ‘70s and ‘80s, and soon the shoes crept off the court and into fashion, seen on the heels of icons like John Lennon. But these early iterations were primarily only white sneakers for men. In 1982, girls got options: Reebok Freestyle sneakers came onto the scene as one of the first women’s white sneakers — popularized by Jane Fonda’s aerobics videos — and icons like Pamela Anderson and Kate Moss wore white sneakers casually throughout the ‘90s. Although they never faded from fashion, white sneakers got a style boost when Phoebe Philo wore white Stan Smiths to close out Celine’s fall 2011 show, laying the groundwork for luxury brands like Gucci to create sleek offerings in luxurious leather.
White sneakers for women run the gamut from tried-and-true to on-trend. Heritage brands like Adidas, Nike, and Reebok offer reliable classics, while newer lines like Cariuma and Veja are elbowing in with a sustainable bent. Selecting a pair of white sneakers for women can feel overwhelming — there are hundreds, if not thousands, of options. To help you make your selection, we’ve interviewed podiatrists Bruce Pinkner, Bradley Schaeffer, and Mike Rushton for insight on ideal comfort features for different foot types and conditions. Shop our editor-tested list of the best white sneakers for women, then read more about trends, tips for choosing a pair, and curated white sneaker outfit ideas for any season.
White sneakers go beyond seasonal trends — they’ve been a style staple for decades. Whether it’s a performance running shoe with airy mesh uppers, a crisp leather white sneaker, or a bold, mixed-media silhouette that references vintage aesthetics, there are countless options to choose from. They’re all equally just as versatile, timeless, and stylish as the last, but, before investing in your go-to white sneaker, it’s important to consider your foot type and comfort needs, activity level, and personal style. Below, we’ve crowned our top three white sneakers of 2024, which have each been evaluated through three rounds of editor product testing with careful consideration of trend appeal, comfort features, durability, and boundless versatility.
Our top three recommendations for the best white sneakers for women were also included in the Footwear News Greatest Shoes of All Time list. The honor reflects the opinions of a diverse panel of editors and industry experts, plus data and metrics that measure the historical significance and current trend appeal of the sneakers.
Selecting a reliable pair of white sneakers takes careful consideration — like most fashion staples, there’s an overwhelming number of trendy iterations of the silhouette. It’s all about finding the white sneakers that match your personal style. Regardless, white sneakers are timeless, so no matter which white sneaker trend you choose to experiment with, remember that your white sneakers should first and foremost feel exceptionally comfortable for many years of wear on top of adding an effortlessly cool vibe as a bonus.
White sneakers are instant outfit boosters in more ways than one. They’re streamlined and minimal in design and versatile enough to be worn year-round. However, before putting your white sneaker outfit together there are a few guidelines you’ll want to consider.
Shown with: Bombas Women’s Lightweight No Show Socks ($13), Banana Republic Lina Linen Vest ($140), J.Crew Denim Midi Skirt ($83.99)
Shown with: J.Crew Relaxed-Fit “Lemons” Graphic Tee ($34.99), Abercrombie High Rise 90s Relaxed Jeans ($90), Aritzia Tna Dad Baseball Cap ($9.99)
Shown with: Gap Drop-Waist Mixed Mediua Midi Dress (79.99), Coach Tabby Shoulder Bag 20 ($350), Gorjana Crew Helium Hoops ($68)
Now more than ever, white sneakers for women come in many different forms, making it tricky to know which material and style is best for your needs. We’ve broken down the different types of white sneakers for women based on fabrication and silhouette, below:
The Different White Sneaker Fabrications:
The Different White Sneaker Silhouettes:
White sneaker lovers fall in two camps: One that loves to earn the look of a dirty, lived-in shoe, and the other that is focused on keeping them looking clean, crisp, and bright white. If you fall in the latter, it’s important to keep in mind that there are different ways to care for white sneakers, depending on the materials they are made of. Shoe storage is just as important as properly cleaning them, as built-up dust and residue can warp color quickly. Many shoe storage ideas will help your white sneakers from getting scuffed, creased, or damaged prematurely, like traditional shoe boxes and shoe racks. For example, you can properly place your white sneakers in the boxes your shoes come in or the special bins you can buy separately.
Since caring for white sneakers isn’t just based on how you store them, we’ve broken down the best ways to clean white sneakers depending on the type of sneakers you cherish.
For more than 75 years, Footwear News has been the shoe authority. Our coverage spans top industry news, retail trends, head-to-toe fashion, athletic and outdoor analysis, and more. Footwear News’ global network of editors has carefully curated all product selections featured using our expansive brand knowledge and thorough research to find quality, long-lasting items.
To select the best white sneakers for women, Footwear News Shop editors researched the entire sneaker market to nail down bestsellers, then conducted three rounds of extensive sneaker testing, noting each shoe’s style versatility, trend appeal, supportive comfort, and long-term durability. We included white sneaker options for different material preferences and foot needs by comparing consumer product reviews and selecting the most universally satisfying styles. Our guide to the best white sneakers for women also includes shoes featured in Footwear News’ list of the Greatest Shoes of All Time. This list was created with expert input from our editorial team and a diverse panel of footwear industry insiders, along with key metrics and data related to the popularity and historical significance of the included shoes. Learn more about us here.
Brad Schaeffer, DPM, is a board-certified foot surgeon at Sole Podiatry NYC and star of the TLC show “My Feet Are Killing Me.”
Bruce Pinker, DPM, is a board-certified podiatrist and foot surgeon of Progressive Foot Care in New York State. He treats foot and ankle trauma, diabetic foot injuries and infections, foot dermatology, and more.
Mike Rushton, DPM, is the co-founder and medical director of Forward Motion Orthotics in St. George, Utah. He has 13 years of experience specializing in conservative care and orthotic therapy.
Claire Sullivan is the Senior Beauty and Lifestyle Commerce Editor for WWD and Footwear News. She has over six years of experience as a writer and editor for national media outlets including Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle, and Byrdie. She keeps her finger on the pulse of all things related to lifestyle, regularly digging into foot-related topics like the best white sneakers for women.
Olivia Cigliano is a Commerce Writer & Producer at Footwear News and WWD where she writes shopping content on the best-rated footwear, TikTok style trends, and more. Olivia received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Emerson College, and her byline can be found in publications including Elite Daily and CR Fashion Book. She updated this guide to the best white sneakers for women in August 2024 with Footwear News’ Greatest Shoes of All Time selections and additional editor testing reviews.
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.