The Biggest Sneaker Trends
There are some big questions on everyone’s mind as we slowly move toward 2021: Are we going to start World War III? What can we do to keep the world from going up in flames? And, not nearly as important, what will be the next big thing in sneaker fashion?
We’re sorry, but we can’t answer the first two questions because they have nothing to do with clothing. But since this is the first time we’ve looked into the Fashionnect crystal ball this year, we think we can answer the third question.
Here are the sneaker trends you need to know about for the next 12 months, ranging from high-fashion collaborations to going back to the year 2000.
High-Fashion Hookups
Ten years ago, people in Paris who were tall, skinny, and gorgeous who smoked little menthol cigarettes would have laughed you out of the city if you said Christian Dior and Air Jordan collaborated. But, here we are. The Sacai x Nike LDWaffle may have been the most successful shoe release of 2019. The trend of high-fashion labels collaborating is only going to continue, with the Air Dior sneaker and another from Adidas and Prada slated to release later this year.
The collaboration between high-fashion names and shoe firms is part of a larger sneaker trend. This is simply another step toward streetwear becoming more mainstream, following in the footsteps of recent years.
Still, for those who felt it was a fleeting phenomenon, this should demonstrate that streetwear is here to stay in the fashion industry.
More Gore
One of the most popular menswear styles in 2019 and 2020 was “function-going” attire. Models walked the runways wearing technical clothes with loads of pockets, and Gore-Tex was the sexiest fabric around, beating out fleece and corduroy. It has never looked better to prepare for an ice climb in the Karakoram.
However, the performance materials did not end at our legs. AW19 saw the release of numerous Gore-Tex sneakers, some of which were surprisingly comfortable to wear. Classic sneakers such as the Adidas Stan Smith, Superstar, and Nike Air Force One sold out immediately in waterproof versions. This solved the age-old conundrum for sneakerheads: what to wear when the weather goes nasty in the winter.
You should expect this trend in practical sneakers to continue as we enter the new year.
Simple, Yet Timeless
There’s no denying that minimalist sneakers are the only sneaker trend that will always look fashionable. Even though bulky forms and vivid colors are in right now, there’s nothing more attractive than a man wearing a simple pair of clean sneakers.
However, creating minimalist shoes is difficult, particularly in today’s sneaker industry. You can select from high-quality leather, hand-stitched details, a variety of easy-to-match colors, and traditional styles that can be dressed up or down. Every season, small and large companies offer their own versions of this popular shoe type. Expect more of it in the coming months (and years).
Textured Trainers
We frequently discuss the importance of adding details to your clothing, but why stop at your feet? Although they are already starting to appear in regular clothes, textured sneakers will truly start to gain popularity in 2021.We adore the trend of touchable fabrics taking over the sneaker industry. There are several different designs available, ranging from scratchy suede runners to cord plimsolls. The exact beginning of it is unknown, but if we had to guess, we’d say it started in 2018 with the release of the corduroy Sean Wotherspoon Air Max 1/97. Ever since, trainers and texture have been in a passionate relationship that has produced some of the most adorable shoe babies ever.Wotherspoon is working on a new tune that will be released in 2020, so things will only grow hotter.
Performance Runners
For a few seasons now, the most stylish people in fashion have been spotted at Fashion Week sporting trail runners. Performance running shoes are currently the newest practical footwear that everyone desires.
With their vibrant, high-performing shoes that bite as hard as they bark, Hoka One One, Nike, and Undercover’s Gyakusou range have elevated the standing of your neighborhood running club to a whole new level. It’s nice to know that you can run a 150-mile ultramarathon in these, even though you probably won’t.
Mesh And Metallic
As with the “infinite monkeys/infinite typewriters” puzzle, if you wait long enough, anything comes into vogue. Awnings that move around? Check. Artists? Check. Remember those mesh and shiny silver shoes your high school PE instructor wore? That would be another large check in 2021.
They resemble running shoes from the 2000s, and brands such as New Balance, Saucony, and Asics have revived them for the new year. We call it Dad Shoe 2.0. Because it is the continuation of one of last year’s most popular shoe trends, and we will see a lot more of it in the future year.
Noughties Revival
When we talk about things done in the 2000s, 2020 will be a good year to recall that the 20-year trend-cycle clock is still ticking perfectly. People have had a lot of nostalgia for the 1990s during the last ten years. But now that we’re in the 1920s, people are starting to consider the 2000s. We didn’t think it would ever happen, but last year’s reintroduction of loose pants and canvas belts that hang down was the first clue.
For additional evidence of what’s to come in shoes, check out the current resurgence of early 2000s styles like Nike’s Shox and those wonderful, sparkling mesh gym shoes. Do you feel older yet?
Sneaker Trend We Can See Right Through
Even though we write about menswear every day at FashionBeans, we were startled by this recent sneaker-related development. The first hint of see-through sneakers arrived in 2018 with Virgil Abloh’s version on the Converse All-Star and Nike’s React Element 87, two semi-transparent kicks that disclosed the wearer’s socks preference to the world.
You may have dismissed it as a novelty at the time, but two years later, we’re faced with a profusion of entirely see-through sneakers, with more appearing on a monthly basis.
Blondey McCoy’s new Adidas Superstar collaboration is the latest transparent shoe to make headlines, but we’ve previously seen translucent Fila Disruptors, Nike Air Force 1s, and many more.
For better or worse, this sneaker trend is only growing, and if you must participate, for the love of God, wear some socks.
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Discover the biggest sneaker trends of 2024, from luxury brand collaborations and functional Gore-Tex designs to minimalist classics, textured trainers, and a nostalgic revival of early 2000s styles. Stay ahead of the curve with performance runners, metallic finishes, and even transparent sneakers, blending style, comfort, and innovation for the year ahead.