White trainers have dipped in and out of fashion, but there’s no doubt they’ve become a firm wardrobe staple in the past five years.
And now it seems that the most recent iteration of the shoe-style, a clean-cut plimsoll seen on everyone from Liz Truss to Gwyneth Paltrow, has finally had its day, as more trend-setters are turning to bulkier, multi-toned ‘hiking’-esque designs.
This style has a technical, athletic feel with a more ergonomic sole and will often feature a multi-toned scheme, marked by either complementary hues or different shades of the same colour.
Holly Willoughby was spotted leaning into the high-end athleisure look this weekend as she sported £99 sneakers from HOFF.
Elsewhere last month, Hailey Bieber sported Nike Air Max trainers with a lacey summer dress as she and her husband Justin strolled around West Hollywood.
Holly Willoughby was spotted leaning into the high-end athleisure look this weekend as she sported £99 sneakers from HOFF
The model, 26, expertly balanced the modern touch a ‘hiking’ trainer adds with romantic elements like golden jewellery and a chic clutch as she walked hand in hand with her beau.
Her appreciation of the look dates all the way back to last year, when she donned nifty New Balance shoes for lunch in West Hollywood, styled with a chunky jumper, cap and handbag.
Singer Billie Eilish in December had even promoted a collaboration with Nike, showing off ‘reimagined’ Air Force 1s which featured patchwork designs and a trek-like feel.
Other stars like Kim Kardashian have been walking the trend for years, going back to her chic street-style looks which were often teamed with a sporty pair of Adidas or – years ago – Yeezys.
Celebrity stylist and royal fashion expert Miranda Holder says the white trainer is at ‘an all time low’.
Her appreciation of the look dates all the way back to last year, when she donned nifty New Balance shoes for lunch in West Hollywood, styled with a chunky jumper, cap and handbag
Singer Billie Eilish in December had even promoted a collaboration with Nike, showing off ‘reimagined’ Air Force 1s which featured patchwork designs and a trek-like feel
Last month Bella Thorne opted for a two-toned ‘hiking trainer’ inspired shoe while out and about in New York
Gigi Hadid rocked the practical yet stylish design with a laid back look in April as she explored Soho in New York
‘The hiking trainer – a continuation of the fugly Dad trainer trend – is running the show,’ she told Femail.
‘White trainers are undoubtedly a useful component in any wardrobe, lending versatility and preppy freshness to a myriad of different outfits – but they, like other trends before them, have become a victim of their own success.’
Miranda says overexposure to the clean, simple design is ultimately what killed it.
‘Spotted everywhere from the school gates to the city commute, and teamed with everything from suits to slip dresses, the footwear phenomenon has become so ubiquitous that they are now considered highly passé by the fashion set,’ she continued.
‘As soon as a trend becomes fully mainstream – and let’s face it, the pairing white trainers with a floral dress style formula is really far from groundbreaking these days – the fashion pack drop it quicker than they can race to be at the front of the queue for the hottest new designer sample sale.’
Ryan Reynolds showed off his trendy sense of style as he wore the fashionable shoe in New York last month
Last week Rod Stewart coordinated his outfit with ‘hiking trainers’ as he enjoyed a day out in Los Angeles
Justin Bieber appeared to take a page out of his wife’s style book as he donned the stylish sneaker in LA this month
She says that celebrities – especially LA-based natives who may well enjoy a hike – are all over the ‘dad’ trainer trend.
‘These chunky, rugged accessories toughen up the most feminine of looks, often adding an interesting pop of colour and edge with their fugly treaded soles and fancy technical lacing.
‘Definitely the footwear to be seen in if you’re keen to be up to the minute in your apparel – and for many it’s a welcome change. For once, fashion meets function with the added benefit of completing the toughest of shopping marathons with no danger of our arches dropping.’
However, that isn’t to say there aren’t white trainer purists still out there.
The style may often offer an undeniable levity and cleanliness to a look.
The Princess of Wales is known to be a big fan, often donning a clean plimsoll style sneaker to make an outfit more light and summery.
The Princess of Wales is known to be a big fan, often donning a clean plimsoll style sneaker to make an outfit more light and summery. Pictured in February
On the other side of the pond, Emily Ratajkowski is often spotted in a pair of squeaky-clean white shoes
Most recently the royal, 41, threw on £140 VEJA shoes as she joined her husband, the Prince of Wales, for a 40-minute walkabout in Windsor following King Charles III’s Coronation.
Kate embraced a sunny Spring look as she teamed the shoes with a blue linen blazer, white T-shirt and black trousers.
On the other side of the pond, Emily Ratajkowski is often spotted in a pair of squeaky-clean white shoes.
Last month the star, 31, wore chunky white Vans with tan parachute pants and a stylish halter neck top while out and about in New York City.
It comes as this year has seen another notable sneaker trend – the return of the iconic Adidas Gazelle.
Designed in 1966, it was the first trainer from the German-based company to be made from suede, giving drab leather alternatives a run for their money.
Now, the swiftness of the gazelle is also a reminder of how quickly Gen Z is recycling and re-energizing tried and true trends. While the undeniably cool sneaker never went completely out of style, in our nostalgia-obsessed era, it’s been making a comeback with the fashion influencer set.
Everyone from Ivanka Trump to Gigi Hadid has been sported wearing a pair.
The Gazelle sneaker was originally designed as an indoor soccer shoe.
Some think that it was named after Wilma Rudolph, the US sprinter who won three gold medals wearing Adidas at the 1960 Olympics in Rome and earned the nickname ‘The Black Gazelle’.
The performance sneaker quickly transition to a fashion item thanks to a handful of influential subcultures and Mick Jagger in the ’70s, and celebrities like Kate Moss and the Beastie Boys in the ’80s.
They originally only came in two colors, red and blue.
There have been a ton of new iterations of the iconic shoe over the years, the most notable being the collaborative designs with Gucci’s former Creative Director, Alessandro Michele.
SRC: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
