Walked 8 miles on the trail in my backyard and was checking out what everyone wore. Runners, walkers, dog walkers. Not a single pair of white shoes. Lots of Brooks and Hokas in all sorts of colors. A few white dogs. 
MaterS, don’t feel deprived. Gucci shoes are crap. I stopped buying Gucci because they fall apart too fast. I am a fan of Moncler or Tod’s for fashion sneaker, but that is definitely not an athletic shoe.
I’m confused - is this thread for athletic sneakers or fashion sneaks?
I have these but in white. https://www.amazon.com/Pikolinos-Womens-Calabria-917-4549-Oxford/dp/B0156CIFWQ/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1523105213&sr=8-5&keywords=pikolinos+calabria
Nothing old ladyish about them at all. And they look darling with any color pant.
I have a pair of white Cole Haan Grand Pro “tennis” sneakers that I use for everything but sports…I see them as a casual summer shoe more than anything. White just gets too dirty too quickly for my taste. I don’t think TOO much about how the shoes “go” with anything (except for the Grand Pros and the Jordans mentioned below, which are more for everyday wear than anything active).
In terms of actual sporty shoes…
- Altra Lone Peaks for walking on trails/hiking
- Altra Torins for walking around
- Old Adidas AX2s for yard work when boots seem like overkill
- Nike Metcons for the gym
- Just got a pair of retro black Jordan 1s for casual wear — first pair and I love them
For reference, I’m a dad in my late 40s. And yeah, I guess I’m kinda into shoes.
OP here. They are for walking for exercise, or just to put on with shorts to kick around in for comfort. I guess I was wanting white because I wear a lot of white shorts with various colors and types of tops. So white would go with anything. But mostly they would be for walking. I wear a wide width, so my selection is more narrowed. I have to be able to take the insole out and put in my own.
So for walking for exercise I would not want white because I’m going to walk in all weather, all conditions, in all types of spots so while I don’t look to jump in mud puddles, I wouldn’t want white quickly getting non-white.
While I’m not going to wear bright green athletic shoes with neon orange shorts (well, probably not…) I don’t want to appear matchy matchy. So if I’m wearing white shorts,skort/skirt I would actually choose a color shoe.
BTW, I have one pair or NEON Orange Nikes for walking - I’m sort of known around the neighborhood and on our neighborhood trail because they can see me coming! It’s fun!
Also wanted to say, walking IS exercise and thus you should have a shoe that still provides appropriate support and cushioning assuming you are truly walking FOR exercise - so at a good pace, still working up a bit of a sweat, etc.
When I started a true exercise routine several years ago I started wearing these adorable but FLAT athletic shoes - it’s the only time in my life since I started exercising that I have had an injury of sorts (ankle issues).
I have 5 pairs of walking/hiking/dog agility shoes. All the same brand/style and they are
- blue
- black.
- grey/aqua with black
- tan and
- white with black trim. The blue, black, and tan are older and used for muddy or dirty conditions. The white and grey/aqua are used when I am showing on grass or mats, or out and about shopping/working for the day.
ETA: The brand is Clarks and the style is Wave Walker. They are water resistant, so I can wear them in the damp.
@conmama: I have a widish foot as well, and like the Altras for that reason (square/natural toe box).
I’m assuming I may be the only one among the commenters so far who has been mentioned in GQ favorably (years ago, but still!), and I’m leaning on those bona fides for support when I say there is a BIG difference between these types of white “athletic” shoes:
http://www.newbalance.com/pd/womens-leather-928v3/WW928-V3.html?dwvar_WW928-V3_color=White#color=White
And these:
http://thewindow.barneys.com/sole-series-adidas-samba-2017/
@doschicos: You know I love you, but yeah, I’d put the Adidas above into the hipster camp. Need proof? 7D2 is wearing them to her BS graduation. Kids these days!
Those Adidas Sambas are actually very retro looking which is definitely part of the trend. What’s old is new again.
I’d actually give K Swiss a lot of the credit for the new white sneaker trend as they did a big marketing push a few years back of basically the same sneakers I wore in the 70s/80s.
@SevenDad Here you go, Mr. GQ. 
https://www.gq.com/gallery/white-sneakers-to-buy-now-for-fall
@doschicos: $850 for a pair of sneakers??? That’s not hipster…that’s trustafarian territory!
White K-Swiss were part of my college uniform…but they aren’t much for serious walking (if that’s what the OP is after). Just a good/good-looking everyday knockaround shoe.
Did you notice the $30 pair from Target, too? Take it up with GQ. 
Besides, if the Karadashians are wearing white sneaks, they definitely AREN’T the definition of hipster. I’m not sure how some here define hipster.
I’ll never live that mention down, I guess! May as well own it, then!
Yes, I’ll admit there is a trend right now toward white “athleisure” shoes (which is why, I’m guessing, Cole Haan saw fit to make the Grand Sports), but none of these are really meant for serious activity. At least in my (GQ-approved) opinion.
These bright green Topos are more my style. I’m definitely NOT GQ approved. Otherwise, my leisure shoes are flip flops.
@conmama I get I think what you are talking about now.
If I’m going to “walk” which is for fitness and purpose. I put exercise clothes on and wear substantial dedicated running shoes. For me that usually means walking with purpose for 45 minutes 1 hour. I listen to a podcast and wear my flip belt and it’s exercise.
If I’m wearing street clothes, it’s a stroll to me. I may wear my running shoes (probably not) or I have a pair of black or gray Nike’s. They are more casual shoes with casual but not exercise clothes.
I don’t really combine the 2, exercise means exercise clothes. Street clothes and I’m walking but not exercising.
+1, @deb922.
Same as @deb922 . That’s what I referred to in my prior post. If I am doing fitness walking I wear my running shoes. For casual walking around such as running errands, I’m in sneakers such as the ones I mentioned.
Greyish Black Altras. Greyish Black Merrills.
zzzzzzzz
@svcamom I just found out about the Dunkin Donut Saucony shoes this morning and am totally bummed that I couldn’t get my hands on a pair. I love donuts and I love colorful sneakers, these would have been right up my alley. I even called a Marathon Sports store in Mashpee, MA this morning when I found out about them to see if perhaps they were available in stores and the very very friendly guy who answered the phone said no. That the only way to get them would be to try to get one of the 500 pairs that are going to be sold at the Boston Marathon expo.
^^^^I got on a list on the Saucony site to be notified when they make more.