As much as heel lovers will try to deny it, sneakers are necessary footwear. Sure, you can get on a treadmill in heels and *possibly* end up with amazing calf muscles—but you more likely run the risk of ending up with a serious injury. The aversion to the sneaker probably stemmed from their functionality aspect: no one wants to wear something because they have to or because it “makes sense.” If they do, it’s automatically undesirable. Think about it: the commuter shoe of choice was a sneaker (think Working Girl) and you’d change out of them as soon as you got the chance. But recently, sneakers have become a coveted style choice. Season after season, the sneaker has been reimagined to be an exciting footwear option instead of one that’s merely necessary.
The ugly dad sneaker has reigned supreme for several seasons, with designers like Balenciaga and Yeezy releasing their dominating iterations of the trend. But despite the popularity of the chunky and ugly trend, signature styles—à la Adidas Gazelles and classic Vans, and more recently designer collaborations—are finding favor with the fashion community, too. These newer fashion-forward styles are solidifying the fact that sneakers aren’t just about performance and functionality anymore; they are just as much of an outfit maker as your heels and sandals. Sneakerheads everywhere have been screaming about this and we’re finally listening. We’ve rounded up a mix of the best styles you can get now so you’ll always look good no matter what kicks you choose to wear.
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