Author: Henry

I love a boot, but for the same reason I’m partial to a ballet flat, I need to have a sneaker in my life for comfort and ease. And before the streets pile up with snow and waterproof boots become my only option for survival in NYC, I need to make the most of this crisp fall forecast and break out the kicks. That said, my sneaker game could use an upgrade.

Whether I go classic with an Adidas Samba or lean experimental with a metallic lo-pro sneaker, I can trust my soles will be protected all day. Scroll on to shop the best sneakers for fall 2026, from Adidas to Puma to Nike. PS: I threw in some outfit inspiration, if you find yourself in need.

Shop the Best Sneakers for Fall 2026

Shop Talk is a biweekly column dedicated to exploring the latest styles and trends to hit the internet. We’ll sift through new arrivals to bring you the styles we’re loving, the trends gaining momentum, and the pieces you’ll want to see before they sell out.

No one can predict with 100% certainty what the next buzzy micro trend or It piece will be, but fashion people are as omniscient as they come. I’m always looking to sartorial tastemakers, my favorite street-style celebrities, and my fellow editors for the pieces to invest in every season, and they never let me down. Although fall is just starting, you can bet they’ve already spoken about the exact staples your closet needs for the rest of the season. Some will be no surprise (ahem, chocolate brown), some will shock you (purple staples—just hear me out!), but all of them lean into the cozy yet elevated fall vibe we’re going for. I’ve culled all the pieces you’ll want to shop in one place, so keep scrolling to see them all.

1. Chocolate Brown

I have a bit of a problem when it comes to wearing chocolate brown. No matter how many pieces I have, I always want more of this rich, understated hue in my closet. But it’s okay because fashion people and celebs endorse it as well.

2. Midi Skirts

Lately, I’ve seen just as many skirts as jeans. I think a chic midi is the perfect option for when you want to be comfortable but a little dressier than you’d be in your go-to jeans.

3. Mary Janes

How sweet and timeless are Mary Janes? Everyone needs a pair of these in their wardrobe. The Mary Jane Sambas in particular have been flying off the shelves, so if you’re like me and eyeing a few different pairs, you might want to grab them sooner rather than later.

4. Deep Burgundy

The runways confirmed that burgundy is the color to know this season, so I’m buying all my basics in this deep, rich hue.

5. Relaxed Jeans

A relaxed, yet flattering pair of jeans is exactly what you need for brunch dates, afternoons spent baking fall treats, and pumpkin or apple picking. These are the jeans fashion people and celebs love most for those cozy fall days.

6. Upgraded Black Basics

I heard you needed some new basics, so here are the fall versions of your favorite staples like loafers, trousers, and leggings.

7. Pops of Purple and Pink

Just because the weather is cooling down doesn’t mean you need to push colorful clothes to the back of your closet. We’re still seeing plenty of cold-weather staples with pops of purple and pink, like hoodies, long-sleeve tops, and every celeb’s winter staple, The North Face puffer jacket.

8. Cropped Sweatshirts

A cropped sweatshirt and sweatpants is my go-to fall and winter uniform. I like a cropped cut because I can layer a jacket over without it feeling too bulky.

9. Platform Shoes

There’s something about platforms that elevates your outfit. Whether you go for sneakers, clogs, or boots, make it a platform and thank me later.

Bonus: Intense Fragrances

Fall is not the time to be shy with your fragrances. Get bold with these intense, intoxicating scents. They’ll do all the talking for you.

There’s a special place in this world for fashion designers who can’t decide between two moods and refuse to pick. Antonin Tron is one of them. For his spring/summer 2027 collection at Balmain, he pulled from the maison’s early Parisian glamour designs and his own long fascination with California in the ’60s and ’70s. These two themes might seem like polar opposites, yet somehow, it appears they were always meant to share a closet.

The result is a woman who’s grown-up and glamorous, a little glossier and tougher than you’d expect, with a sensuality that feels straight out of a movie. She could be getting dressed in a Paris atelier or driving through Death Valley at sunset listening to Jim Morrison. Honestly, she’s probably doing both in the same week, but today, she sits in the front row of this Balmain show and watches the two characters she can’t decide between walk the runway. Finally, there’s an opportunity to channel both in one look.

The Elegant Parisian Woman

Half of this woman is a true Parisian, and she knows it. Tron went back to Pierre Balmain’s archive to channel history. Think elegant gowns featuring beading and embroidery that catch the light, plus the kind of dramatic draping that made mid-century Hollywood fall in love with the maison.

Lingerie details came from an unexpected place. Tron found photographs taken backstage at one of Pierre Balmain’s shows in the 1950s, with models caught mid-change, half-dressed and rushing between looks. That energy turned into bra tops, corset seaming, and satin suspender skirts worn with sheer silk lamé jacquard shirts. “These images are from Paris of the 1950s, but they could be today,” Tron said. He’s right. Nothing about these looks felt vintage.

Even the venue played into this mood. The show took place at the Hôtel de Maisons in the 7th arrondissement, Karl Lagerfeld’s former home. Lagerfeld worked at Balmain in the ’50s, so it was a very Parisian full-circle moment.

The Daring California Counterculture Woman

The other half of her is out in the desert. Tron has been fascinated by the culture and counterculture of California in the ’60s and ’70s for years. Think Joshua Tree, Palm Springs, Laurel Canyon, Death Valley—locales that drew artists and writers like Walter De Maria and Joan Didion. His references go all the way to Michelangelo Antonioni’s Zabriskie Point and a leather-clad Jim Morrison.

You can see it most in the silky prints that look like they came out of a Los Angeles fever dream. The palette follows West Coast skies at dawn and dusk: ivory, black, mineral gray, and sundown shades of copper, gold, orange, and pale yellow.

“Animalia” Prints

Pierre Balmain loved an extravagant animal print, and Tron tapped into this with an archival take on it. Snake print shows up all over this collection, on soft oversize coats and on long, lean pants, while eel skin adds a glossy, exotic texture to jackets and trousers. The prints read more rock star than safari. If you’ve been wearing leopard for the last few seasons, snake feels like the natural next step, and this collection makes a pretty convincing case for it.

Tron’s Take on Tailoring

Tailoring is where the Paris and California sides of this woman meet. Tron found inspiration for this aspect of the collection from the Christophe Decarnin era, who held the creative director role at the house from 2005 to 2011. This was a time when a sharp shoulder and well-tailored pants ruled this house’s runway. That beautiful silhouette strikes the runway once again, highlighting the house-classic 1970s pilot jacket, which starred in Tron’s Balmain debut. The sharp pants feel very much like the uniform of a ’70s California rock idol.