Style is just as important as comfort when it comes to running shoes. With these throwback sneakers — from '70s classics to Y2K favorites — you can finally have both.

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Sneakers have, for the most part, outrun their sporting origins, becoming more of a fashion statement than a performance-optimized necessity. Running shoes utilized as sartorial staples gained momentum in the 1950s, when relaxed school dress codes and a growing appetite for leisure helped push rubber-soled kicks beyond the running track and into everyday wardrobes. Hollywood, naturally, also cemented their style credentials.

Marilyn Monroe made the case for off-duty sneaker pairings when she was photographed wearing canvas Keds on the set of “Clash by Night” in 1952. Three years later, James Dean reinforced sneakers’ lifestyle appeal in a photograph taken on the set of “Giant,” donning Jack Purcell tennis shoes.

Today, retro-inspired running shoes successfully bring together nostalgic silhouettes and contemporary footwear technology. The challenge? Finding a pair that delivers attractive looks without sacrificing the cushioning, support, and overall performance needed for the activity in question.

We identified seven selects that revisit everything from the streamlined steppers of the 1970s to the metallic, retro-futuristic designs of the early 2000s. A guarantee: They’ll fuel your every step, whether you’re engaging in actual running or that of the errand kind, while powering your fashion equations this fall.

New Balance’s Made in UK 991v2 Vintage Sports model takes a page from classic tennis attire, spicing things up with burnt-orange suede and breathable, textural mesh for a retro-coded final look.

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