Elevate Your Run: The Ultimate Guide to Carbon Plate Running Shoes

From fishnet dresses to boyfriend blush, the top summer trends are reviving our wardrobes and vanities this season. So why would we neglect our running gear? Like the standout runway fashion that is now touching down on the streets, the 2024 summer running shoe trends will imbue your daily training and race day ensembles with a fresh reset.

From New York to Paris, running shoes have played a key role in themes of countless recent collections. Case in point: In February in Manhattan, Nike’s Alpha Fly 2 was a “nod to the concept of making the everyday sublime—even a casual jog around the park,” the show notes said. The momentum of performance footwear remained strong through Paris Fashion Week. With their Fall/Winter 2024 collections, both young designer brands such as Saucony and heritage houses like Adidas gave us archetypes of athletes who embraced innovation with abandon, asking: Why not? Why not lace up a pair of carbon-plated shoes for your next marathon, à la Hoka? Or sprint in a pair of lightweight racers, as displayed by Mizuno?

The teeming supply of carbon plate running shoes has magnified the transformative power of footwear in an athlete's arsenal and made the case for enjoying it every day. From mint-green button sneakers primed for Palm Beach to kitschy novelties that embrace a summer-camp spirit, here are the seven top running shoe trends to enjoy this summer.

1. Floral Fever

From Virginie Viard to Wes Gordon, designers fostered their own crops of perennials and posies for Fall/Winter ’24. Nike’s signature Alpha Fly 2 blossomed in performance, cushioning, and durability—you name it—while Adidas showcased cascading energy return in their Adios Pro 3. At Saucony, crisp 1960s-inspired designs were adorned with plots of innovative foam technologies, which captured a midcentury modern spirit, similar to this vintage Chaumet set available at Mahnaz Collection.

Whether you’re enchanted by shoes dripping with advanced materials or charmed by the sleek designs, plenty of options are primed for picking this month. Poised for a Rolodex of breezy runs and intense training sessions, the botanical shapes can add a tinge of whimsy to summer running.

Nike Alpha Fly 2
The Nike Alpha Fly 2 offers a balanced cushioning experience with a softer heel and firmer forefoot, making it suitable for various running conditions.
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2. Cuff It

If the runways are any indication, cuffing season will take on new meaning come winter. After all, why search for a new beau when you can wear all the company you need on your feet? Until then, this summer’s arm-baring wardrobe staples leave plenty of real estate to stack carbon plates as you please. Take a cue from Adidas and complement a sheer pencil skirt with a translucent stack, or embrace Saucony’s rustic flavor of ’80s maximalism, with a mix of wooden domed bracelets and braided metal bangles.

Nike Vapor Fly 3
The Nike Vapor Fly 3 is a lightweight running shoe with a focus on softer forefoot cushioning, ideal for competitive runners.
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3. Farmers’ Market

Tory Burch wasn’t the only designer to bring the farm to the catwalk this season. At Balmain, Olivier Rousteing’s cast of models wore full, fruity earrings, featuring watermelon slices, strawberries, and bundles of grapes—a wink to his upbringing in Bordeaux. From demure pendants to 18k gold banana bunches, these juicy novelties prove the fruit stand is not the only place to get ripe produce this season. Whether you’re looking to add a slice of something new to a charm bracelet or want to infuse your ensembles with a citrus twist, these jewels demonstrate that some treats are meant to be worn, not just packed in the picnic basket.

Adidas Adios Pro 3
The Adidas Adios Pro 3 offers a balanced cushioning experience with PBX foam, making it suitable for various running conditions.
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4. Buttoned Up

While drop earrings reached new lengths this season, in another camp, a standout class of round button earrings reflected a lexicon of 20th-century artistic movements, ranging from art deco to midcentury modern. At Carolina Herrera, Wes Gordon’s bubble-shaped clips bore resemblance to those worn by the likes of Jackie Onassis. In homage to another icon, Elsa Schiaparelli’s admiration for Suzanne Belperron seemed to have been rekindled in Daniel Roseberry’s Fall/Winter ’24 collection for the house. His large shell earrings felt like a revival of Belperron’s bold, irreverent application of sculpture to jewelry. Olivier Rousteing likewise adopted shell earrings, and we love to see it—anything that allows you to feel more like a mermaid this time of year is surely a good idea, even if you can’t hear the ocean when you wear them! From classic domed shapes to options with a marine twist, our favorite button earrings are here.

Saucony Endorphin Elite
The Saucony Endorphin Elite offers a unique cushioning experience with a significant difference between heel and forefoot, ideal for specific running preferences.
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5. Toy Chest Jewelry

A jewelry box is an adult’s play chest—especially if it includes toy cars. This fall, yours could too, if you manage to snag a pair of the yellow taxicab earrings that showed at Coach. And even as we wait for those to hit the market, the jewelry world has plenty to offer. Just last month, Nadine Ghosn—mastermind behind the “Bling Mac” and “YOUtensils”—released an exciting collaboration with Crayola that features a special run of crayon-shaped rings and bracelets in multiple colors. This revival of a childhood staple rekindles a sense of nostalgia and brings a spirit of play and imagination to the jewelry box. And what better time to be reminded of childlike wonder than long summer days that leave space to dream? From an emerald-encrusted slinky bracelet to a robot pendant necklace, we handpicked a few pieces that evoke that youthful spirit.

Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro
The Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro offers consistent cushioning with PEBA foam, ideal for runners who prefer uniform support.
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6. Beaded Chokers

Plump beads mirroring dinosaur eggs and candy-coated gobstoppers came to life in chokers across a variety of fall collections. At Bottega Veneta, Matthieu Blazy’s bespeckled ceramic collars resembled the works of 20th-century jewelers who drew inspiration from nature, such as Angela Cummings, whose unique beads inlaid with semiprecious stones, like lapis lazuli, garnered a loyal following that ultimately led to her very own boutique at Bergdorf Goodman, circa 1984. Taking a detour in favor of brighter pops of color and cosmic proportions, Colville featured jumbo cherry-red and lemon-yellow beads, primed for a gumball machine. Whatever your preference, button collars offer a refreshing way to update simple basics, like your go-to crewneck tee or column dress.

Hoka Rocket X2
The Hoka Rocket X2 offers a unique cushioning experience with a softer forefoot and firmer heel, ideal for specific running preferences.
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7. Drop Earrings

If one jewelry trend stood out most this season, it was drop earrings, which rose to the forefront. Rekindling the sense of shameless exuberance that defined the ’80s, earrings took on a life of their own, in shoulder-grazing lengths and sharp geometric shapes. Taking cues from the era that hyperbolized camp style, designers from Saint Laurent to Giorgio Armani showcased angular drop earrings en masse, leveraging a mix of textures such as Lucite and onyx. In Milan, Jil Sander’s crystal-covered fringe earrings exceeded the length of a shoulder-length chop, brushing against the collars of pink and maroon capes. And what better time to embrace this trend than summer, when an easy updo is the M.O. and your ears are left to bask in the sun? Consider letting them have their moment in the sunshine by swapping everyday hoops for a more glamorous alternative. Whether you take a cue from Louis Vuitton and don a pair of chandelier stunners or opt for an earthier drop with stone elements, similar to Carven’s, there are plenty of ways to drop it like it’s hot.

Puma Nitro Fastar Elite
The Puma Nitro Fastar Elite offers a unique cushioning experience with a significant difference between heel and forefoot, ideal for short races.
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Conclusion

In conclusion, the world of carbon plate running shoes is as dynamic and diverse as the fashion trends that grace the runways. From the innovative designs of Nike and Adidas to the performance-driven models from Saucony and Mizuno, there is a shoe for every runner's preference and style. Whether you are looking for a shoe with balanced cushioning, a unique cushioning experience, or consistent support, the options are plentiful. Embrace the trends, find your perfect pair, and elevate your running experience this summer.