The A List: Sneakers

VANCOUVER The Chuck Taylor All Star Conversations Hi ($68) was inspired by Converse newsletters from World War II

LAS VEGAS European and South American tourists don Fila's Leggerissimo ($95) to wear sightseeing

HOUSTON Wowed by the performance of New Balance's Zip 8505 ($85), customers who bought it last fall are buying again in spring colors

MINNEAPOLIS The Keds Classic Champion ($39.99), now commonly paired with skinny jeans, has been a favorite in the Midwest since 1916

BUENOS AIRES The Argentinean women who wear Lacoste's Illuminate sneaker ($98) go for its bold yellow and purple hues

NEW YORK CITY Celebs like Sarah Jessica Parker and Kate Beckinsale love the Adidas by Stella McCartney Daya ($145) running sneaker

ATLANTA Elton John and Usher both purchased their Vans at hip boutique Standard, where the Era ($40) is the hot style right now

SAO PAULO Even though the Asics Gel Kinsei ($373) costs more than most other sneakers in Brazil, its launch caused wait lists throughout the city

LONDON Although Reebok's Workout ($55) is offered in an array of colors, Brits prefer the all-white version

PARIS The French are known for being fashion forward, so it makes sense that Prada's most popular sneaker ($395) in the City of Light is silver, one of the season's biggest trends

ROME Diesel's suede-and-leather stonewashed Rainbow ($196) appeals to Italian men ever in search of a sneaker that is both sporty and chic

BANGALORE A best seller for three years' running, Puma's Numostro ($101) has proved its appeal to young adults, who favor the sneaker's easy comfort, versatility and innovative design

STOCKHOLM Swedish hip-hop fans adore Missy Elliott, which explains why this golden sneaker ($80) from the Adidas Respect M.E. by Missy Elliott line is a hit

HONG KONG No matter the weather, clean white sneakers like DKNY's Active Ramble Runner ($96) are the footwear of choice for a trendy crowd that prefers lounging to lunging

KUALA LUMPUR Aficionados, like Malaysian hip-hop artists Joe Flizzow and Point Blanc, hoard Nike's Air Force 1 ($94), a top seller around the globe for 25 years

TOKYO The Japanese women who collect Tod's Wave Nuovo Allacciato ($396) appreciate the feminine style of this sneaker, which is perfect for dashing around the city

BEIJING Y-3's unisex Honja ($270) may not be the most technologically advanced shoe on the market, but both men and women dig its simple design