These Sneakers Are the Hottest Athleisure Footwear Trend Right Now

You can wear sneakers with a maxi skirt to brunch or throw them on with sweats for a workout. Dressing for comfort is perhaps the athleisure trend's biggest benefit and that has carried over from the rise of yoga pants as standard attire into footwear that looks as good as it feels. 

Lately, "sock sneakers" — such as those from Balenciaga — undeniably have been the most significant trend, growing 220 percent from Q1 to Q3 2017. The average price is $410, with only 5 percent of new arrivals going on sale, with the average discount at 20 percent.

"Thanks to consumers’ continued desire for comfort, it’s no surprise that sock sneakers are a clearly trending forerunner," says Katie Smith, senior retail analyst at EDITED, the fashion retail data and analytics experts. "With the lowest rate of discounts despite the hefty price tag, sock sneakers are a lucrative item for activewear-focused retailers this season."

EDITED identified a number of trends from Q1 to Q3. For one, classic sneaker re-releases are making a strong comeback. Classic Air Max shoes and skate-friendly checkerboard Old Skool Vans have grown by 50 percent, and nearly ubiquitous on Millennials in urban areas.

However, satin sneakers are on the decline, perhaps due to the changing seasons. Data shows 44 percent of products are currently selling at an average discount of 40 percent. Embellished sneakers are the second-most expensive sneaker. After the sock sneaker, the average price is $276.03, and it also has the second-lowest rate of discounts, at just 21 percent.

Lightweight mesh sneakers see moderate growth. While these products have seen 33 percent growth, 41 percent of products are discounted by an average of one third off.

Based on popularity, the top styles (ranking from most popular to least) are sock sneakers, platforms, classic re-releases, lightweight mesh, suede, embellished and satin.