Women's Sneakers & Runners

Where the collar sits against the ankle is the first thing separating one sneaker from the next. Low tops finish below the ankle bone and leave the joint free, covering everything from a flat-soled court shoe with a clean vamp to chunkier runner-derived silhouettes built over a moulded midsole. High tops carry the collar up above the ankle and close with longer lacing or a strap, padded through the cuff and stiffened by a firmer heel counter.

A third approach hides the height inside the shoe, with wedge styles concealing a raised heel under the upper so the lift reads as sole rather than heel. Uppers are cut from smooth and grained leather, suede, canvas and engineered mesh, usually panelled at the toe, quarter and heel. Soles range from thin vulcanised rubber that bends with the foot to cupsoles and moulded units with a visible stack.