5 Double Lace Trainers to have in rotation in 2026

The mountain of neatly packed trainers in my closet has grown in recent years, as has the colorful tangle of loose threads. Multiple Adidas Originals by Wales Bonner styles, Fenty x Puma Avanti, Nike x Ambush Dunk High and others have additional straps hidden under the box, sometimes with a dust bag. The discovery both excites and terrifies me because, while I’m setting up a fast-selling Miu Miu x New Balance lace-up trainer, the thought of returning my trainers so often seems boring. I appreciate the choice and the opportunity to change colors, but I never do it myself.

I wear trainers with day and night dresses, cozy knits, and fluid midi skirts that make up my winter uniform that puts a rebellious sporty feel (I’m a football fan) into the scene. The bigger the double knotted bow loops I tie on the ropes, the better for high security, weatherproof boots, tabi flats, and polished loafers in the back of my closet. But since stylish minds think alike, and I check out similar kicks from my collection on other women in London all the time, I’ve been wondering how I can customize mine to make a statement.

Having bravely had the trainers custom made in a dedicated workshop before, the lace brooches and jewels pierced on the heel collar fell off within the first few wears so I wasn’t overly optimistic. That is until I had a eureka moment while scrolling recently: double lace trainers. Yes, I’ve done a complete 180 on a stylish but minimalist style hack that’s exactly what it sounds like. Two laces inserted into the eyelets of each shoe separately, usually stacked on top of each other, and tied separately. It’s a matter of expression and experimentation, yours or the designer’s (if the trainers come with double laces), because you can have four different laces per pair and different tones, textures and thicknesses add varying degrees of creativity. This beauty offers an old-school PE kit and I enjoy it.

The double lace-up trainers are another classic example of Miu Miu’s street-to-real-life style perfectly curated by Ms. Miuccia Prada herself. The second silhouette of the Miu Miu x New Balance trainer, the 530 Sl, debuted on the spring/summer 2024 runway with contrasting laces that echo sandals and boat shoes from the same season. The hybrid trainer-mule version was first seen in the Autumn 2024 collection and now Miu Miu owns double lace and colorful lace styles sold separately. From campaign stars Coco Gauff and Little Simz to Lily Allen and Elsa Hosk, It-girls around the world can’t get enough of the double lace trainers, prompting other brands to follow suit to create their own versions. And these reimagined leather and suede running shoes tap into the current renaissance of exercise mode and the explosion of the running community.

Let me be honest when it comes to tying and styling double lace trainers. If you are not bothered, the opportunities to assert your identity and find creativity are endless. There’s nothing stopping you from borrowing laces from your other trainers or choosing combinations that really pop against your favorite jeans or bright colors in your wardrobe. But if you can’t, or in the interest of time, there are many double lace trainers to choose from. Go for the shades and placement that you like the most and focus on tying each lace differently. I’m in the second camp of the poor and did the research so you can wear this cool style in no time.