Save Your Coins: The Coolest Sneakers Right Now Don't Top $100

I get a certain thrill from coming across trendy fashion buys that come in at under $100, especially if they don't look it. Right now, the internet is overflowing with excellent sneakers that fall squarely in the category of trendy and affordable, and you need to be aware of it.

You see, as I went to survey all of 2023's trending sneakers, I realized that approximately 90% of the styles I was bookmarking happen to be priced under $100. It seems like the only sneakers we hear about lately are the buzzy drops that spike the resale price on sites like StockX and GOAT, but I'm here to offer a counter to the notion that cool sneakers need to be expensive and impossible to acquire. Instead, the below roundup of the best sneakers under $100 proves otherwise.

So what are the affordable sneakers trending at the moment? Retro throwback styles are everywhere thanks to brands like Adidas and Onitsuka Tiger, who are releasing styles from the '70s and '80s archives, and the fashion world's newfound fascination with New Balance's normcore-esque kicks. To get a sense of what's trending and shop all the styles, just keep scrolling.

Adidas Gazelle Sneakers

In the aftermath of the Adidas Samba surge, savvy shoppers are setting their sights on the sneakers' cousin, the Gazelle. Featuring a similarly slim profile and the brand's recognizable three-stripe design, this silhouette is quickly earning a spot not just as a second-best to the Sambas—it's becoming a cool-girl pick in its own right. With all its vibrant color options and plenty of sizes in stock (for now), this is your sign not to sleep on the Gazelles.

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Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 Sneakers

If you keep a close eye on sneaker trends, you might have already noticed an uptick in the Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66. The pair previously flew under the radar, but now with the worldwide fame of soccer styles like the Sambas and Gazelles, it makes sense that the insider crowd would shift their gazes toward a similar pair that offers the same retro feel without the crazy hype (yet).

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Reebok Club C Sneakers

Sensing a theme here? I sure am. Throwback and retro sneakers are leading the trend pack these days, and Reebok's popular low-top kicks are another sneaker style that should be on your radar. They also happen to be a long-standing editor favorite. (I'm on my third pair.)

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New Balance 574 Sneakers

Wherever cool sneakers are mentioned, you can bet that pretty much any lifestyle pair from New Balance is involved. The brand is home to so many trending styles that it's easy to overlook its older, but no less cool, classics. At least, Emily Ratajkowski is making a point not to do so. She recently stepped out wearing the old-school runners—with a Coperni fall 2022 runway look, no less. Similar gray, beige, and white versions of the 574 have been adopted by the celeb set.

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Converse High-Top Sneakers

The words "Converse" and "trendy" are rarely mentioned in the same breath because the brand's high-top sneakers have earned a permanent place in the closets of fashion people. But thanks to the rise of the quiet-luxury aesthetic and preppy style's comeback, they're well worth highlighting once again today. While the black and white pairs are your entry point into Converse, the 70 styles that come in brown and beige offer a dose of cool retro appeal.

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For more spring shoes we love, see the styles one former Nordstrom stylist is currently eyeing.