Trainers! Who knew they were so important? Suddenly, the humble sneaker is top of the news.
First, Rishi Sunak wore Adidas Samba sneakers, ruining them for many fashion-conscious Samba wearers, including Vogue’s new editor, Chioma Nnadi.
Sir Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage were also pictured wearing Adidas Gazelles; and then came the news that the most coveted sneaker is from New Balance for Miu Miu and costs £780, if only there were any left, which there aren’t.
Everywhere I’ve been in recent weeks people are asking (only half-jokingly) what brand they should wear, without ever having thought about the style of the shoe.
It’s now clear that the old assumption that trainers aren’t suitable for fifty-somethings is outdated and that you can wear trainers at any age, and not just if you’re hoping to kick a football (Starmer’s excuse).
And suddenly, sneaker owners around the world are waking up to their potential: the power to turn up the fashion dial or give the everyday a touch of style.
Sneakers are now undoubtedly the most stylish, simple, cost-effective and practical way to keep up with fashion.
So here’s everything you need to know (at the time of writing, things are moving fast in the coaching world) to help you make your decision…
Chic: Jennifer López with Adidas Samba OG
Casual: Olivia Wilde in Adidas x Gucci Gazelles
Sneakers count as smart casual footwear. . . if they are a) clean and b) some combination of leather and suede, or their vegan equivalent (no technical fabric if you want to wear them to the office).
The reason the Sambas (£90, arket.com) became so popular is because they come in white with black/navy stripes, stone suede details and a thin rubber sole.
They’re smart casual with a capital S and look like they’re made to be worn with tailoring rather than sweatpants.
By the way, the woman who interviewed Sunak on Sambageddon day was wearing white New Balance sneakers with a gray N and a platform sole, still elegant, but more casual and without the fashion points typical of the style of the moment.
It’s worth noting: knockoffs work, but there’s nothing like the real thing when it comes to sneakers.
If you’re a disillusioned Sambas wearer, the smart new shoe on the block, Onitsuka Tiger’s Mexico 66 SD (£195, onitsukatiger.com) with the distinctive side stripes, is already fashion editors’ number one pick . Get them in white with blue and red stripes and you’ll also have this year’s white sneakers.
The time for pretty white sneakers has officially passed. Vejas, with the V in colored leather, no longer cuts the mustard, despite its ecological credentials.
Now, the sneakers du jour are retro, old school, and suede (the kind seen on campus in the 1970s) in vintage colorways.
Adidas for Gucci sneakers in colorways like burgundy and turquoise started this trend a couple of years ago and now it’s flying: another retro Adidas design, the SL72 (£79.99, office.co.uk) has a thicker white sole, it seems It looks a little more like a running shoe than the regular Gazelles, and it comes in 12 colorways, including my favorite maroon, almost yellow, and brown.
Adidas Handball Spezials (£89.99, office.co.uk) are equally colorful and covetable.
Otherwise, for anyone unwilling to wear a sneaker that dads are comfortable in (lots of men wear Spezials), the new hot style on the block is Nike’s vintage suede Cortez (£131, farfetch. com) in preppy colors like green with a turquoise flash on the heel.
Katie Holmes taking a walk through New York City in Adidas sneakers
Beige and cream suede sneakers are also popular, including New Balance’s RC42 style (£89.99, office.co.uk), and you get a lot more sole with New Balance.
If you’re looking for fashion-forward sneakers, flatter retro running styles are the order of the day.
But with trainers, it’s all about finding the one that suits your needs, and if you need more support or height, then the Marks & Spencer version – it has a ‘side detail’ style in stone, green, white and blue marine (£35, marksandspencer.com) — is a good alternative.
For avid fashion followers, designer collaborations with sneaker brands are the new It Bags. Those currently making the fashion public drool include Adidas and Wales Bonner, and the New Balance and Miu Miu collection.
Miu Miu’s 530 SL flat style in tan brown with orange laces sold out instantly, but there are plenty of imitators. Fans could easily settle for Adidas Gazelles in burnt orange and brown (£89.99, office.co.uk).