The 5 Sneaker Trends To Invest In For 2020
Pumped up kicks
The fact that fashion has welcomed sneakers into the fold is, in some ways, quite significant. Remember when Victoria Beckham said she “couldn’t concentrate in flats” then switched her six-inch stilettos for Stan Smiths? It was a sign that there had been an undeniable shift in the way women consume fashion, moving away from the constrictive idea that teetering on painful pumps equates to ‘power dressing’.
Instead, ‘fashion sneakers‘ became an industry-wide obsession and a more experimental—dare we say, comfortable—approach to style became the new norm. The last few seasons have demonstrated that sneakers are more than a passing trend: they’re a quiet, footwear-focused revolution. They’re here to stay.
With this in mind, we’re documenting the next-gen of sneaker trends. While chunky Dad sneakers and souped-up Air Force 1s had our hearts aflutter for the majority of 2018 (and a little of 2019), we’re setting our sights on the future. What’s next? We document the five trends you’ll be embracing for the rest of the year, and well into 2020.
[1]
Statement makers
Bold, colourful, sportswear-adjacent sneakers look incredibly fresh and modern, especially when paired with an all-neutral ensemble.
Buy: Sneakers by Reebok, Dhs355 at Farfetch
[2]
Lace it up
Stompy lace-up boots were the shoe of autumn winter ’19 shows, and sneakers are following suit. A heavy-soled, lace-up sneaker looks great with denim (extra points for statement socks).
Buy: Sneakers by Saint Laurent, Dhs2,454 at My Theresa
[3]
Dad 2.0
Several designers created cult-worthy iterations of the chunky ‘Dad’ sneaker in 2018. Now, we’re paring things back a bit — think more ‘Jerry Seinfed’s’ New Balances’ than Balenciaga Triple S’s.
Buy: Sneakers by Veja, Dhs447 at My Chameleon
[4]
White heat
A burst-of-white sneaker makes a neutral-heavy outfit feel incredibly modern. Stock-up accordingly.
Buy: Sneakers by Prada, Dhs2,863 at MyTheresa
[5]
Matchy-matchy
Susie Lau converted us to a ‘match and match’ approach at the couture shows this year, when she paired her Maison Margiela dress with same-print chunky sneakers. We recommend taking her styling cues, stat.
Buy: Sneakers by Aquazurra, Dhs1,542 at Net-a-Porter