From Adidas Stan Smiths to all-white Converse, how the gym sneaker became a catwalk staple
You own the It shoe of this decade already, even if you don’t know it. I’m not talking about the fur-lined backless Gucci loafer that nearly broke the internet in 2015. Nor do I mean the girls-night-out vibes of the deathless Valentino Rockstud, with its studded straps. I have no idea whether you own the Isabel Marant Dicker ankle boot, the one that never seems to leave the Paris front row.
I’m talking about your white trainers. Your Adidas Stan Smiths, perhaps. Or maybe you recently bought into the new ethical brand, Veja. You might wear Reebok Classic or Nike Cortez or have gone full ironic dad-trainer in chunky Fila. Possibly you are loyal to a pair of Converse worn thin as a cotton T-shirt. Maybe you’ve bought a new pair of white trainers this year already; maybe you’ve been wearing the same pair for five. Maybe you keep them in a box and clean them with a special toothbrush. Maybe you didn’t even know that keeping trainers in a box and cleaning them with a toothbrush was a thing.
The white trainer unites sportswear giants with niche brands, crosses from menswear to womenswear
The boxfresh dazzle of a new pair is a dopamine hit that wears off as the grime sets in
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