Written by The Strategy

As part of our birthday week round-up, we are re-publishing some of our most viewed posts. Today is our story on The Fashion Sneaker. 

Things have a way of coming back around. Crop tops, platforms, brown lipstick, neon…it’s hard to imagine anyone unaware of the cyclical manner in which fashion trends travel. Many fashion adoring people follow these trends blindly through the night, no matter how dark and tragic that night may be (Looking at you, mullet dress.) However there are always those few who stick to what they know. And while dabbling in trends from time to time, eventually they see the light of their own sartorial conviction and move happily along.

I imagine that these are the people designers try the hardest to please. Especially when attempting to coerce them away from the straight and narrow of their tried and true style. So when reintroducing the sneaker, the journey to where we are now from sneaker heel is understandable. Let’s take a walk back to sneaker wedges, shall we?

After our first introduction to the comfort shoe that is the sneaker by way of parents, school, and gym classes, they faded from importance in the lives of the fashionably inclined. Popping up here and there over the years, little made as big of an impression as the infamous Isabel Marant Sneaker Wedge. Gracing the feet of fashion’s elite, appearing in every fashion magazine under the sun in countless editorials, and, ultimately, copycat versions bombarding every store possible, the sneaker wedge was a force to be reckoned with. Though there may have been more exposure to the sneaker wedge than to the Kardashian’s, the reception was a little rocky. Many a shoe makeover later, the sneaker has evolved to a more understated and average looking cousin of the sneaker wedge. Trudging through bold colour details, platforms, lace, leather, et cetera, the sneaker may finally be at a place where the elusive stick-to-their-style bunch can appreciate it in its natural form.

A style approved sneaker seems to have generated in the form of a low key, typical looking, “My mom could wear these gardening” kind of shoe with a high fashion seal of approval from Chanel. If there’s one thing fashion can’t seem to figure out, it would be comfort. Ugly is the new chic, and the sneaker is nothing if not a testament to this reality.

So how does one go about wearing the sneaker? Well, with anything really. The matter is truly a free for all situation. Whatever your heart desires. Got a dress that needs to be made a little more casual? Sneakers. Running errands but can’t function properly for four hours in stilettos? Sneakers. Maxi skirt and embroidered crop? Sneakers. Loose white culottes? Sneakers. Need we go on?

Here’s to you, sneakers. Our feet thank you.