The days of stylish, clean, streamlined sneakers (i.e. the almighty Adidas’ Stan Smiths) are officially over. Make way as we warmly welcome the trend of “ugly” dad sneakers. Sporty rather than chic, they are known for their chunky and exaggerated soles. Not exactly hideous, but not particularly elegant either.
Still, their eye-popping clunky designs have caught the fashion world by storm. Just look at style stars such as Eva Chen, Susie Lau and Chriselle Lim, who have been flaunting them on their social media accounts. And now it’s your turn. We give you our best picks, from splurge-worthy to absolute steals, that are bound to be #shoeporn worthy for your Instagram handles.
Splurge ($1,000 and above):
This flashy pair inspired by hiking boots is a jarring contrast of various metallic colours. But we love it. Because go big or go home, right?
Holographic sneakers are always Insta-worthy. These babies from Maison Margiela, while pricey, are worth every penny.
These chunky trainers from Stella McCartney are an interesting blend of femininity and strength. They’re a great way to soften the striped shirt and leather skirt combination, as seen on Eva Chen.
Seen as the pioneer of Dad sneakers, Demna Gvasalia’s Triple S has inspired knock-offs and a fervent cult following. Go for a casual dress-down look by pairing it with a simple cotton blouse and a pair of denim jeans.
We love the muted pastel shades of this pair. Besides, it is a combination of two shoe trends — plastic shoes and dad sneakers — so it’s a must-have for footwear fanatics.
Spend ($500 – $999):
With its bright metallic body, you can be sure you’re right on trend for one of Fall/Winter’s latest craze — basically anything that has a dash of silver — when you don this pair.
You can’t go wrong with a pair of black sneakers. Classic and wearable with just about anything, try an amped up version like this pair — it comes with an espadrille platform for extra height.
With a leather body, patterned sole, colour block and snake skin accents, this pair of sneakers has got a lot going on. We suggest wearing an all-black outfit and letting these babies shine.
If staying safe is not for you, add a splash of colour with this pair from Chloé that sports bright red soles and yellow accents.
Be a bright spark at brunch with this pair of white sneakers that comes with splashes of yellow. Pair it with a sunflower print swing dress for maximum impact.
Shop ($200 – $499):
It doesn’t hurt to go bold with your fashion choices sometimes. This pair of bright red Nike “Huarache” sneakers will make you stand out among the crowd.
White sneakers are a footwear staple for any sneaker-head. Dress up this pair of leather platform sneakers with a flowy mini dress for brunch with your girlfriends.
Comfortable, casual and chic — this pair of Alexander Wang x Adidas Originals sneakers is everything you’d want your shoes to be.
Get in touch with your combatant side with this pair of Air Max sneakers that exudes a utilitarian style.
Add a touch of joy with these bright yellow nubuck leather sneakers by Buffalo. Pair them with a satin midi dress for an intriguing contrast.
Steal ($199 and below):
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Affordable yet not lacking in style, we like that you can see your cute printed socks through the plastic detail. Nice touch.
We’re all for the details. This pair of sneakers sports a marble-print sole that is a surprising contrast to the colour block design above.
Make a statement with this pair of contrasting colour-way sneakers. Complement it with a black leather bandeau and a baby blue skater skirt.
We’re loving this cool pair of sneakers that sports a military green hue with accents of pink and rose gold. It’s feminine, but with an edge.
Reminisce your school days with white sneakers. This simple pair from Reebok will look great with a white shirt and navy blue midi skirt.
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