What Are Those?

Heels are so 10 years ago; today, sneaker culture is rewriting the rules of fashion by combining everyday comfort with high style, setting trends that echo from urban streets to international catwalks.

I mean, seriously, who wants to break their feet with a pair of stilettos when Jordan 1s go so perfectly with your favorite little black dress? Shoes make or break an outfit. I often plan my whole outfit around shoes. Shoes need to provide that perfect arch support for my hot girl walks, but said shoe also needs to look like it could make an appearance at fashion week. Choosing shoes can be a hard decision...but a good trainer is always a go-to. In the 2020s so far, we have seen all of the retro sneaker trends strutting back into the fashion scene, even making appearances on red carpets. While it’s hard to decipher the BEST trainer, there are a few top dogs;

Utopia

Air Jordan 1 Low Travis Scott x Fragment

Travis Scott is an American rapper and singer/songwriter...and has a pretty strong kick game too. He has over 20 sneaker collaborations with Nike and Jordan, but swooshed the world of sneakers to a new level in 2017 with his first partnership. Each Travis Scott x Nike release is exclusive, limited, and in high demand - only a select number of pairs are made. A clever marketing strategy with its laces tied to fashion. The Travis Scott collaborations can typically be identified through the iconic reverse swoosh, although this design has featured in other Nike trainers in the past like the infamous Zoom Freak 1. The first shoe to bear the Travis Scott name was the Travis Scott x Nike Air Force 1 Low 'Sail'. This was launched in Autumn of 2017 to celebrate 35 years of the AF1 silhouette. It is a predominantly plain white shoe, with a light brown sole and red insoles. It has removable velcro patches on the laces, and the Nike SWOOSH logos can be detached and exchanged for different colorways; including chrome silver. Today they are resold for thousands as a major cop for collectors. The most popular Travis Scott x Nike/Jordan release has some strong contenders, but a personal favorite is the Travis Scott x Nike Air Jordan 1 Low OG SP-T "Black/Dark Mocha". These are low-top Jordan 1s with black and brown leather and a white reverse swoosh. Jordan 1s are a staple and definitely one of the most sought-after shoes in 2024. Travis Scott collaborations excel them further. The versatility in the choice of high top, mid, and low Jordan 1 styles means they can be customized to everyone's style - a real fan favorite. Although, I fear I would be too scared to wear them in case I got them dirty, or worse - creased, to be honest.

Impossible is Nothing

Bella Hadid styling all black Adidas Samba trainers with black trousers, a black trench coat, and accessories. Image by Getty Images/Marc Piasecki

Bella approved. The certified bad b shoe of 2024 - TikTok cannot stop styling the Samba. Versatility, quality, and fashion is what makes a soul (or…sole) satisfying shoe; Adidas Samba has all of the above and more. Leather jacket and jorts? Baggy jeans and puffer jacket? Skirt and tank? Samba. The original Samba was designed in 1949 by Adi Dassler as a football boot exemplary for training in icy conditions and was given its name in 1950, but is now more of a pro in the streetwear world and an official in the fashion game. We’ve seen Sambas strutting down the runway at Fashion Week, adding flair to celebs’ outfits, and coming out in some daring new colorways. Generally, you can snatch a pair from the Adidas website or stores; but every good shoe shop should have a stock of Sambas.

Sambas feature a leather upper and a suede t-toe detailing so you can easily tell them apart from other iconic Adidas moments, like the gazelle and spezial. The sole pays homage to the shoes' days on the pitch with textured rubber. So, if you’re ever grabbing a matcha and fancy a spontaneous kickabout, Sambas are your bestie!

Find the Balance

Sofia Richie in New Balance 550. Image by Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/Getty

Consider me influenced. What’s a wardrobe without a chunky '90s sneaker anyway? The New Balance 550 is a returning fav and can be styled with pretty much anything. This shoe has had a…reboot. First released in 1989 as a basketball shoe marketed towards some professional players, but didn't quite sell as imagined. It was archived; disappearing from the market. But, in 2020 it was re-released in a collection of limited edition New Balance sneakers. TikTok, celebrities, and the media quickly picked up on the retro style and by 2021 the 550 had a permanent spot in the New Balance roster. Today, this trainer is more of a fashion statement than a sports aid and has a lot of star-studded fans including Kendall Jenner and Sofia Richie. They’re generally made from leather, suede, and mesh so are durable and reignite the late '80s style.

They are perfect with baggy cargos or jeans and an oversized jersey, hoodie, or jacket. The multitude of colorways means you can have that iconic color-coordinated or monochrome fit. To be honest, you can't really go wrong. New Balance 9060s are also one to watch on the fashion scene, becoming increasingly popular for hot girl autumn.

Jordan 4s or Jordan 1s?

Born in 1989 (becoming a trend), the Air Jordan 4 rocked the world. This unique style was designed by Tinker Hatfield because of the back of the success of the Jordan III, also curated by Hatfield. 4 colorways were available but now there are many, many, many more. Nike first collaborated with Michael Jordan in 1984 and produced footwear the NBA had never seen in 1985. The rest is history. The Jumpman silhouette is now the logo of the Jordan brand and is easily recognizable, making this collaboration one of the most influential. The shoes were created as a basketball trainer, duh, it’s Michael Jordan...but they are a reliable fashion statement too. The streetwear scene adopted the Jordan range, the 4s go perfectly with oversized joggers and a hoodie, or anything really. They add a seamless pop of color and have a unique look, particularly with the mesh, that adds something extra to a look. Leather, mesh, rubber, and intricate stitching makeup that Jordan 4 durability and quality while serving a more fashionable purpose. Just watch out for creases!

Air Jordan 4 was brought to mainstream popularity partially through Spike Lee’s commercials as Mars Blackmon, featuring Michael Jordan and the Jordan 4. You can get yourself a pair of Jordan 4s to create a slay outfit, but you can’t be Michael Jordan.

Lee still has a heavy influence on Nike; the Jordan Spiz’ike line is named after him. Style and fashion vary person to person, but we can all agree that some trainers just make us stop and stare. There’s hundreds of kicks on the market, but the '90s has that extra special energy that we just keep going back to - maybe dig out your old pairs. Or, create your own trends. Fashion has no rules and your sneakers will likely serve couture with any outfit.