I just came back from Paris – and these white sneakers were everywhere

I saw these white sneakers everywhere on my trip to Paris.

Most people who live in a big city are convinced that theirs is the coolest. Londoners swear by London. Berliners by Berlin. New Yorkers by the Big Apple – and so on. I belong to the first group, of course. London simply has its own, very special style. But I have to say: Parisians have a lot going for them too. The Parisian style seems somehow understated yet sophisticated. So it's no wonder that pretty much everyone these days wants to copy the "French Girl" style – even if they're not from Paris.

And that brings us to my – unfortunately very short – trip to Paris last week. I spent a lot of time people-watching at various sidewalk cafés (as is only natural when you're in Paris), accompanied by one espresso after another. Sure, there were plenty of perfectly fitting jeans and plenty of brown loafers . But one particular sneaker kept catching my eye: the "Mexico 66" by Onitsuka Tiger – in white.

For a long time, the bright yellow "Mexico 66" sneakers were the must- have. Partly because Uma Thurman wore them in "Kill Bill" in the early 2000s , of course, and partly thanks to stars like Bella Hadid and Kaia Gerber, who breathed new life into the style. In Paris, however, it was definitely the white version that I encountered most often. Usually in the version with black stripes, but sometimes also in all-white. And it makes sense that this color variant is so popular in Paris: While the yellow version is loud and eye-catching, the white one exudes a calm coolness. Combined with blue jeans and a white T-shirt in summer? Très chic.

We'll probably see the "Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66" more often soon – and not just in Paris. In the last year and a half, the Japanese brand has opened 28 new stores worldwide, from Shanghai to Barcelona to London. The very first flagship store? In Paris, of course – back in 2002. And ever since, Parisians have been strolling through the city in these small, classic sneakers.

This article originally appeared on Vogue.co.uk .

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