Retro sneakers or ultra-thin silhouettes? French research exploded this summer and one model clearly stands out from the crowd. Discover the star pair of the season.
After the wave of refined shoes, the summer that is beginning marks a definite shift towards more expressive, more generous, and above all deeply nostalgic sneakers. The French have already decided: they want models that say something.
The signal is not misleading. Over the last month, Google searches for the phrase “trendy sneakers” have exploded by 220%. A peak that accompanies the great ritual of renewing your summer wardrobe, but which also reflects a real hesitation: between the dozens of models claiming the title of summer star, how to choose? To decide between all these little people, JD Sports crossed the search volumes on Google, the popularity on TikTok and the evolution of sales on its site.
Verdict: it’s the New Balance 9060 which takes first place, with an almost perfect score of 93.8 out of 100. The figures speak for themselves, 135,000 monthly searches on Google and an increase of 185% on the sales side. This success is no coincidence. With its massive and worked sole and its lines which borrow from running shoes from the turn of the 2000s, it has this rare talent of adapting to everything: raw jeans, wide pants or a sportswear outfit.
This triumph illustrates a broader shift. Yesterday’s running shoes, designed for performance, have transformed into real fashion pieces. Just behind, we find the ASICS GEL-NYC then the Saucony Omni 9, two models with an overtly technical look without ever giving the impression of coming back from a run. Overlays of materials, visible cushioning, careful finishes: these details are enough to give character to a yet very simple silhouette.
It’s impossible to talk about this season without mentioning the obsession with the 2000s. Y2K nostalgia continues to dictate its law, and the GEL-NYC is the purest emblem, with its silver touches and airy mesh. The same energy irrigates the GEL-1130, GEL-Kayano 14 and the New Balance 740. The style advice is simple: these voluminous models call for loose clothing, baggy jeans or generous cuts that play on contrast.
But the volume is not unanimous. In fifth place, tied, the PUMA Speedcat and the adidas Samba defend another philosophy: that of finesse. Flat sole and slender look inherited from motorsport for the first, timeless sobriety for the second. Where retro-running asserts the silhouette, these low models refine it and go wonderfully with straight pants, 7/8 or a skirt.
Should we then choose a side? Not really. “Consumers do not necessarily choose between these two trends, they create a wardrobe in which each finds its place“, observes Cécilia Vivaldi, head of online commerce at JD Sports. In other words, summer 2026 will not crown a single silhouette: between retro volume and clean lines, the real trend is to have the choice.
