Trainers are the most versatile thing in your wardrobe. They can dress down a tailored trouser, elevate a simple dress, or anchor a casual outfit so it looks considered rather than thrown together. But with 19 style categories and hundreds of silhouettes to choose from, knowing where to start isn't always obvious.

Here are the five trainer styles that earn their place in almost any wardrobe — and how to actually wear them.

The white low-top is the trainer equivalent of a white shirt. It goes with everything, it never dates, and a good pair will outlast most trends by a decade. The key is keeping it genuinely clean — scuffed white trainers read as neglected, not worn-in.

The silhouettes to know: Nike Air Force 1, Adidas Stan Smith, Veja V-10, Common Projects Achilles.

How to wear them: With wide-leg trousers and a tucked shirt for a clean, considered look. With a midi skirt for an easy contrast. With straight-leg jeans and a blazer when you want to look put-together without trying too hard.

The retro runner is the workhorse of contemporary trainer culture. Originally designed for performance, these silhouettes have aged into something more interesting — they carry history, they have genuine design credibility, and they work across a wider range of outfits than almost anything else.

The silhouettes to know: New Balance 574, 990, 2002R. Asics Gel-Kayano 14. Nike Air Max 95.

How to wear them: The retro runner is at its best when the rest of the outfit is relatively simple. Straight-leg jeans, a plain tee, a good jacket. Let the shoe do the talking.

The chunky trainer divides opinion, which is exactly why it's worth owning. A well-chosen chunky sole adds visual weight to an outfit in a way that can look deliberately styled rather than accidental. The trick is proportion — pair with slimmer silhouettes above to balance the volume below.

The silhouettes to know: New Balance 9060, Salomon XT-6, Hoka Clifton, Fila Disruptor II.

How to wear them: With slim or straight-leg trousers and a relaxed top. With a fitted dress or skirt for a high-low contrast that reads as intentional. Avoid wide-leg trousers — too much volume at both ends loses the effect.

The skate shoe has crossed over so completely into lifestyle territory that it barely registers as a skate shoe anymore. Low-profile, flat-soled, and with a quiet confidence that works across casual and smart-casual dressing, it's one of the most underrated silhouettes in the wardrobe.

The silhouettes to know: Vans Old Skool, Vans Authentic, Converse Chuck 70, Nike SB Dunk Low.

How to wear them: With relaxed trousers and a graphic tee for an easy, off-duty look. With a tailored trouser and a simple shirt for a smart-casual combination that doesn't look like it's trying too hard.

Gorpcore has moved from niche to mainstream, and the trail-inspired trainer is at the centre of it. Technical materials, aggressive outsoles, and a utilitarian aesthetic that works as well in the city as it does on an actual trail — this is the silhouette that's defined the last few seasons and shows no sign of slowing down.

The silhouettes to know: Salomon XT-6, Salomon Speedcross, Hoka Speedgoat, Brooks Cascadia.

How to wear them: With technical or relaxed trousers and a fleece or softshell jacket for a full gorpcore look. Or dial it back — a trail trainer with straight-leg jeans and a simple knit creates an interesting tension between technical and everyday.

These five silhouettes cover most of what you need from a trainer wardrobe. Start with the white low-top if you're building from scratch. Add a retro runner for versatility. Then choose your statement piece — chunky, skate, or trail — based on the aesthetic you're drawn to.

Discover all 19 style categories on Soletry and find the silhouettes that belong in your rotation.