THE BIGGEST SNEAKER TRENDS OF 2023

 

HIGH-FASHION HOOKUPS

This time ten years ago, you’d have been laughed out of Paris by tall, thin, good-looking people smoking tiny menthol cigarettes for suggesting an Air Jordan x Christian Dior collab, and yet here we are. In 2019, the Sacai x Nike LDWaffle was arguably the biggest release of the year, and with the aforementioned Air Dior sneaker, plus another from Adidas and Prada set to land later this year, the trend for high-fashion collaborations is only going to get bigger. Haute-couture houses hooking up with sneaker brands is symptomatic of a larger, overarching sneaker trend. It’s yet another step towards streetwear becoming fashion’s new normal – something which has been taking place for several years now.

Still, for anyone convinced it was just a flash in the pan, this should serve as further proof of streetwear’s staying power in the fashion arena.

MORE GORE

Function going fashion was one of the major menswear moments of 2019 and 2020. Models were paraded down runways in technical outerwear, pockets were everywhere and Gore-Tex surpassed fleece and corduroy as the hottest fabric around. Dressing for an ice climb in the Karakoram had never looked so good.

But the performance fabrics didn’t end at our ankles. AW19 brought with it an influx of Gore-Tex sneakers, some of which were shockingly wearable. Waterproof versions of classic styles like the Adidas Stan Smith, the Superstar and the Nike Air Force One all flew off shelves, solving that age-old sneakerhead winter dilemma of what to rock when the weather turns sour.

SIMPLE, YET TIMELESS

Minimalist trainers are without a doubt the only sneaker trend that’ll never go out of style. While the chunky silhouettes and eye grabbing colors are unquestionably in at the moment, there’s still nothing quite as sharp as a man with a simple pair of crisp kicks.

That said, minimalist trainers are anything but simple, especially in today’s sneaker climate. On offer you’ll find the highest quality Italian leather, hand stitched details, an array of easy-to-match hues and timeless designs to dress up or down (cue: East London brand Uniform Standard). Each season without fail, independent brands and massive powerhouses alike churn out their own take on this timeless sneaker trend, so only expect more of this in the coming months (and years).

TEXTURED TRAINERS

We’re always banging on about the merits of adding some texture to your wardrobe, but why stop at your feet? Textured trainers are already making inroads into mainstream menswear, but in 2021 they’re on track to really blow up. From cord plimsolls to hairy suede runners, tactile fabrics are taking over the sneaker world and we’re all for it. It’s tricky to pinpoint when this all started but if we had to put money on it we’d say it began around the launch of the corduroy Sean Wotherspoon Air Max 1/97 in 2018. Ever since then, texture and trainers have been having a steamy love affair that has resulted in some of the most beautiful little sneaker babies we’ve ever laid eyes on. And with a new Wotherspoon collab set to drop in 2020, things are only going to heat up.

PERFORMANCE RUNNERS

Hot on the heels of the trail-runners that have been peppering the front row of Fashion Week for several seasons now, performance running shoes are the latest functional footwear to have been picked up by the cooler-than-thou fashion crowd.

Brands like Hoka One One and Nike and Undercover’s Gyakusou imprint have boosted your local running club’s street cred to unprecedented new heights, with colourful, high-performance kicks that bite as hard as they bark. Granted, you’re probably not going to run a 150-mile ultramarathon in them, but it’s nice to know the option’s there.