I have to agree (I’m married to one of those white New Balance sneaker wearers as well!). I think the colors for running shoes are absolutely ugly and garish, and I don’t know who designs them, but they’re awful. My own running shoes are white with a little bit of purple and yellow trim and I bought many of my running outfits and workout gear in those colors so it would all look good together.
Until this thread, I didn’t know that white sneakers were a faux pas. When I put them on to go for my walk this morning, I wondered what they said about me. There were many other colors to choose from when I bought them, but I wanted white because the other colors where so garish. Apparently I didn’t get the memo.
I think white tennis shoes might be a good idea for night walking and probably ok for neighborhood walking, but otherwise …
There are so many other cool choices…even those that are mostly white, but have some color…
@notrichenough avatar or it didn’t happen. 
I think the point is probably that if you want to be stylish you shouldn’t wear sneakers at all, unless you are exercising.
Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately for those around me) I don’t care about being a fashion plate. Although I do draw the line at wearing socks with sandals.
I think the super garish exercise shoes are to make the statement that “These shoes are so ugly that there’s no way anyone would wear them other than for exercise, and since I have them on I am rich/successful/beautiful enough that I have separate shoes just for exercising”.
While white sneakers were horribly out of style for twenty years or so, in the past few years they’ve become a fashion trend among the most stylish. You couldn’t open a fashion magazine without an article about white sneakers with everything, for men and women. The trend seems to be fading slightly, but it is NOT accurate to say white sneakers are out of style.
Just type “white sneakers fashion” into Google Images and you will see what I mean. Or search “white sneakers” on the Harper’s Bazaar or Elle websites.
" I think the point is probably that if you want to be stylish you shouldn’t wear sneakers at all, unless you are exercising."
Exactly, running shoes are designed for running. Runners actually wear out their shoes before fashion changes, so runners always stay fashion-forward
. Typical running shoes last about 300 miles, give or take a few. There are some athletic shoe styles that survived decades of fashion changes (think Adidas, Converse) - because they were not designed for athletic activity. They simply became another classic shoe style like loafers, etc.
Those white New Balance walking shoes are the Alfred Dunner of footwear. Do not age your look unless there is nothing on the planet that fits your feet other than those sneakers.
What?! You mean I am stylish? Oh god, the pressure… Most likely I’m wearing the wrong non-stylish kind of white sneakers, though.
You really don’t believe I am wearing faded jeans, white socks, and white NB sneakers? I’m not sure I want to subject the fine folks here to that. Or subject myself to the abuse that will follow. 
I think your wife is taking the wrong approach. I notice that ever since I told my husband he looked really hot in a new pair of black skinny jeans (and proved it), he’s bought several more pairs. And he wears them a lot.
“Those white New Balance walking shoes are the Alfred Dunner of footwear. Do not age your look unless there is nothing on the planet that fits your feet other than those sneakers.”
It makes my husband look like a 55 yo suburban balding Jewish guy. Oh wait - he IS a 55 yo suburban balding Jewish guy! LOL! He does at least know enough to wear other shoes for nicer occasions. But really, if he looks normcore, then I’m all the hotter by comparison
If sneakers were not stylish for non-athletic wear, why are Prada and Balenciaga and Chanel (and zillions of other designers) making $800 pairs to be worn with their non-athletic wear? I think the trend is kind of stupid myself (especially the high-wedge-heeled versions that look ridiculous), but you can’t say that it is not in style.
PS – Here are Barney’s sneakers offerings for men. Note the number of non-athletic companies represented.
http://www.barneys.com/barneys-new-york/men/shoes/sneakers
And women:
http://www.barneys.com/barneys-new-york/women/shoes/sneakers
(Those $1200 Fendi numbers are a delight).
Well here you go - “All Hail White Sneakers.” You are actually very high fashion @notrichenough.
http://www.thefashionmedley.com/2014/02/23/all-hail-white-sneakers/
New Balance, weirdly, are among the most stylish of the white sneaker trend.
HarvestMoon, that article was published in February of 2014. In fashion years, that’s last millenium. 
Even if white sneakers were in, pay attention to the shape. They are closer to Adidas Sambas than these walkers:
http://m.llbean.com/product.html?skCatId=68368&bc=#68368
Nottelling, fads come and go. Judging by what was left on the designer sale racks, the designers will soon move on to the next ridiculous thing. The classics always stay in the background.
It just goes to show, if you wait long enough, everything becomes stylish again.
Except bell bottoms.
For $1400, these things should have solid gold buckles: http://www.barneys.com/buscemi-crocodile-stamped-100mm-sneakers-504417901.html#start=5
I paid $50 for my last pair of NB 608s. $1400? So not happening.
I am schadenfreude-ing the heck out of all you naysaying Nellies who think you are oh-so-trendy, when I now have it on good authority (thanks @nottelling ) that I am leading the pack.
You all have my permission to copy my style, I don’t mind at all. :ar!
Well I don’t know @BunsenBurner ‘cause The Cut says the white sneaker trend has not yet “peaked.” This article is May 15’:
http://nymag.com/thecut/2015/05/the-white-sneaker-trend-is-not-over.html
Not that I am a white sneaker person in any event…
If you look like this, time for a wardrobe update.
I haven’t seen my 18 year old son wear jeans in over a year. He wears Hurley khakis (in traditional khaki color as well as an ash grey), solid tee shirts, a zip up hoodie in cool weather, and converse shoes. I’m surprised he likes khakis after fighting them for his middle school uniform, but now he just says they’re more comfortable. I saw him wear shorts one time last summer (though he sleeps in basketball shorts).
Hopefully he’ll be going to school in western New York, so it will be interesting to see if that changes in the frigid winters.
@BunsenBurner - reminds me of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aVxNH6iN9I
B-)
Can we discuss the blue blazer with gold buttons?
@megpmom A seersucker suit is appropriate in any former Confederate state which voted for Goldwater in 1964 from Easter to Labor day.