18 Iconic Celebrity Outfits That Prove White Sneakers Are a Permanent Staple

Few items in a modern wardrobe are as essential as the classic white sneaker. While footwear trends cycle rapidly, the crisp white trainer has evolved from a seasonal “must-have” into a permanent staple of effortless style.

This enduring shoe trend persists because of its unique versatility—it functions as a neutral base that can ground a bold print or soften a formal silhouette.

To master the look, the only universal rule is maintenance: celebrities consistently keep their sneakers pristine and bright to ensure the outfit looks intentional rather than accidental.

Looking at the mid-2010s street style scene in fashion hubs like Los Angeles and Paris, we can see exactly how this footwear became a legend. Below are 18 timeless ways to style white sneakers, modeled by the era’s most influential trendsetters.

Sporty Foundations: Hoodies, Sweatpants & White Sneakers

After all, white sneakers were born in sportswear—a heritage Rihanna nods to in Puma Select Boris Becker leather sneakers, styled with relaxed sweatpants, a Madonna Blonde Ambition tour T-shirt, and Beats by Dr. Dre Chen Man Year of the Sheep headphones, then elevated with luxe touches like a Goyard Vendôme PM bag and Sunday Somewhere Valentine sunglasses.

Rihanna keeps airport style effortlessly cool, grounding her hoodie-and-sweatpants travel look with crisp white sneakers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on January 8, 2016 (Credit: WENN)

Varsity Energy: Track Shorts & Statement Jackets

This pairing works because it leans directly into the sneaker’s athletic heritage. By opting for a coordinated, printed jacket-and-shorts set—like the bold ensemble worn by Kylie Jenner—you transform a gym-ready aesthetic into a deliberate fashion statement.

The crispness of a white sneaker keeps a busy print from feeling overwhelming, serving as a clean anchor that ties the varsity-inspired look together.

Kylie Jenner keeps her errand-day look sporty and streamlined, pairing crisp white sneakers with a coordinated bomber jacket and shorts while grabbing yogurt at Go Greek on Bedford Drive in Beverly Hills on April 28, 2015

Tomboy Cool: Graphic Layers & Relaxed Styling

Jessie J committed to the tomboy look with a statement-printed sweater, a plaid shirt tied around the waist, and a backward cap.

Jessie J leans into tomboy airport style, anchoring her statement sweatshirt and leather-look leggings with clean white sneakers while arriving at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on September 18, 2015

Everyday Ease: White Sneakers with Classic Denim

Swap out your usual sandals for white sneakers to refresh a tank-top-and-jeans staple—Dakota Fanning modernizes the formula with Mother The Looker ankle-fray jeans, classic Adidas Originals sneakers, and subtle polish from Ray-Ban round metal sunglasses and a Celine Trio bag in soft lilac.

Dakota Fanning gives her classic tank-top-and-jeans uniform a fresh update with clean white sneakers while leaving Ramirez Tran hair salon in Los Angeles on August 20, 2015

Balanced Bold: Skin-Baring Looks Grounded by Sneakers

Thanks to the low-key coolness of white sneakers, showing a little more skin feels effortless—Gigi Hadid leans into the balance in West Hollywood, grounding her cropped tee and True Religion x Joan Smalls high-rise skinnies with Vans leather Old Skool zip sneakers, finished with Retrosuperfuture Paloma Sagoma sunglasses and an Elizabeth and James Scott duffel.

Gigi Hadid balances a cropped “G.I.” T-shirt and high-waisted black jeans with clean white sneakers, keeping her off-duty look effortlessly cool while out at The Grove in Los Angeles on July 22, 2015

Softening Tailoring with White Sneakers

Simply adding white sneakers instantly relaxes a polished look—Rosie Huntington-Whiteley softens her crisp Paige shirt and skinny jeans with Isabel Marant Étoile Bart leather sneakers, balancing tailored layers, luxe Anita Ko jewelry, and a structured travel bag into an effortlessly chic airport ensemble.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley elevates airport casual with crisp white sneakers, using them to soften a denim shirt and skinny jeans while traveling through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on June 5, 2015

Off-Duty Errands: Real-Life White Sneaker Style

Jessica Alba breezes through her mom-on-the-go routine in style, anchoring a relaxed Z Supply white pocket tee and The Great. Slouch Armies with eye-catching Vans leather Old Skool zip sneakers, finished with a luxe Chanel Paris–Salzburg cashmere flap bag.

Jessica Alba keeps airport style practical yet polished, grounding her soft layered travel look with crisp white sneakers while arriving at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) with her daughters on January 2, 2016

Fellow mom-of-two Reese Witherspoon shows another easy way to style white sneakers, pairing Puma Match Lo Basic trainers with a J.Crew gingham utility shirt knotted at the waist, finished with her Draper James Vanderbilt tote and Westward Leaning x Olivia Palermo sunglasses for a country-chic off-duty look.

Reese Witherspoon keeps her off-duty uniform effortlessly classic, pairing slim jeans and a knotted gingham shirt with fresh white sneakers while sipping a cold drink in Santa Monica on August 1, 2015

Edge & Ease: Leather Jackets and White Sneakers

We love how Charlize Theron’s t-shirt-jeans-and-sneakers getup was instantly paparazzi-ready with the simple addition of a leather jacket and a designer bag.

Charlize Theron sharpens a classic T-shirt-and-jeans airport uniform with clean white sneakers, letting the streamlined footwear balance her leather jacket and off-duty essentials at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on March 13, 2015

Modern Trousers: Styling White Sneakers with Pants

Experiment with a looser, baggier silhouette like Miley Cyrus.

If you have a pair of well-fitting dress pants you want to get more mileage out of, pair them with white sneakers to make them more casual and wearable for everyday wear.

Miley Cyrus relaxes in tailored dressing by pairing well-fitting dress pants with classic white trainers, striking an easy balance between polish and comfort while stepping out at Granville Cafe in Los Angeles on July 12, 2015

Effortless Contrast: Dresses with White Sneakers

The ultimate contrast—pairing a dress with sneakers—remains a timeless fashion formula, especially when grounded by statement pairs like Bella Thorne’s Adidas Stan Smith zebra-print sneakers.

Bella Thorne keeps airport style playful and relaxed, pairing a striped mini dress with fresh white sneakers while departing Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) with her dog on September 11, 2015

Polished Casual: Skirts, Blouses & Sneakers

Charlize showed a polished way of wearing sneakers with a skirt and a satin blouse, but there are a multitude of ways to go about this combo. Try a sweatshirt or hoodie with a baseball cap for a dressed-down look.

Charlize Theron demonstrates the enduring appeal of high–low styling, pairing a fluid satin blouse and skirt with clean white sneakers for her guest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at the ABC studios in Los Angeles on July 21, 2015

Finishing Touches: Accessories That Elevate Sneakers

You can branch out from athletic clothing. Try experimenting with boho pieces like a fedora and retro-inspired cat-eye sunglasses, as Jaime King does, if you prefer.

Jaime King elevates her airport athleisure with crisp white sneakers, letting them anchor a sleek black travel look finished with a fedora and retro cat-eye sunglasses at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on September 9, 2015

Layered Length: Long Coats & White Sneakers

Long duster coats may be a natural match for white sneakers, but Kylie Jenner keeps the look sporty by swapping in an R13 oversized bomber jacket, grounding a ribbed midi dress with Celine pull-on white sneakers, and finishing off the airport formula with a Balenciaga suede backpack and Tom Ford Conrad sunglasses.

Kylie Jenner gives her airport look a utilitarian edge, grounding an oversized bomber jacket and midi skirt with crisp white sneakers while traveling through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on October 21, 2015

Model Off-Duty Polish: Sneakers with Refined Looks

For models constantly moving between shows, fittings, and shoots, efficiency matters—and Kendall Jenner proves it.

She grounds a silk-crepe trench and knit dress with Adidas Originals Stan Smith sneakers, showing how a look polished enough for heels works just as effortlessly with clean white kicks, finished with a Givenchy Nightingale bag and sleek Ahlem Concorde sunglasses.

Kendall Jenner keeps travel dressing streamlined and polished, relying on comfortable, clean white sneakers to ground a tailored black-and-cream airport look while out in Paris on January 22, 2016

Head-to-Toe Minimal: All-White Sneaker Outfits

Can’t be bothered to mix and match? Just go all-white from head to toe.

Gabrielle Union embraces head-to-toe minimalism, letting crisp white sneakers anchor her monochrome airport look while traveling through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on January 26, 2016

Coordinated Cool: Matching Sets & Sneakers

A fully coordinated look doesn’t have to feel stiff—Kendall Jenner softens a head-to-toe Sally Lapointe ensemble with Celine pull-on white sneakers, letting the striped silk-wool duster and cashmere knit tank feel effortless rather than overworked, finished with a Givenchy Nightingale bag and Ahlem République aviator sunglasses.

Kendall Jenner sharpens her airport tailoring with clean white shoes, using them to ground a striped suit and long duster while arriving at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on January 21, 2016

Runway to Street: White Sneakers with Couture

Take haute couture from runway to street with white sneakers—Gigi Hadid masters the high–low mix by pairing Balmain Resort 2016 layers with a Jonathan Simkhai cutout turtleneck, T by Alexander Wang track pants, and classic Adidas Originals Superstar sneakers, finished with a Proenza Schouler PS1 mini and signature hardware pins.

Gigi Hadid brings white sneakers onto the fashion week circuit, grounding a cropped all-white look and embellished jacket with clean trainers while arriving at the Balmain show during Paris Fashion Week on October 1, 2015

Why White Sneakers Remain Fashion’s Most Reliable Shoe Investment

White sneakers have proven they’re far more than a passing trend. From airport street style to polished off-duty looks, their ability to adapt across outfits, seasons, and decades explains why celebrities continue to reach for them year after year.

Whether styled with tailoring, dresses, or casual staples, the appeal lies in versatility, comfort, and a clean aesthetic that never dates.