The throwback 'ugly' shoe is taking over, one celeb at a time.
“Dad sneakers” are officially back, with everyone from Selena Gomez to Kendall Jenner rocking the '90s footwear trend.
Not only is the "Wolves" singer wearing these bulky sneakers but she has teamed up with Puma to design a pair of fashionable new kicks, Phenom Lux, created for training, but perfectly of-the-moment for outside the gym. The exclusive shoes, on sale April 6, are a high tops with metallic details and also features a removable anklet. The Phenom Lux sneakers ($110) and its matching socks ($14) will also benefit the Lupus Research Alliance, which aims to find a cure for the condition.
While Gomez introduces fans to the throwback trend, Bella Hadid, Hailey Baldwin and Jenner have already ditched their high heels in favor for this comfort-driven look.
We know that not everyone is a fan of the somewhat orthopedic-looking shoes. Just ask Tracee Ellis Ross' Instagram followers who playfully poked fun at her when she shared a picture of herself wearing a pair earlier this week. But the Black-ish star fully embraced the trend and declared herself an "ugly shoe" lover.
"I really love my sneakers. Like, I'm obsessed with them. But it turns out that some of you don't feel the same way, and the names you had for them made me giggle!!" she wrote, adding the hilarious names her fans gave her shoes.
As "It" girls, models, fashion editors and fashionistas embrace the trend, it seems as if the love-it-or-hate-it shoe is having a moment. So why not toss out last season's simple tennis shoes and try a pair that has a throwback vibe? Try this polarizing uni-sex trend with a printed dress and tailored coat or a full athleisure look with leggings and a cozy sweatshirt.
Balenciaga's Triple S is the OG dad sneaker that arguably began this craze. This pair, which features a stacked composition, different shaped midsoles, red logos at the side panel and padded tongue and worn by men and women, will set you back $850 to $1,200, if you can still find this mostly sold-out style.
The Louis Vuitton Archlight Sneaker ($1,090) exudes futuristic vibes with its wave-shaped outsole and an oversized tongue.
But not all of these chunky pairs are as extreme as the above. Alexander McQueen ($590) offers women a more subtle design that is crisp and clean, yet is still defined by its exaggerated proportions.
Yeezy also has you covered with the Yeezy Boost 700 for Adidas ($475 - $500), which still offers the old-school feel, with less of the chunkiness. Both Kanye West and Kim Kardashian have been spotted rocking them.
While you may not be ready to jump on board with something like the over-the-top Balenciaga version, you can tread lightly into this trend with some fresh -- and more affordable -- updates for spring.
Fila is also getting a revival with its women's version of the retro-inspired look, the Disruptor 2 Premium Mono Sneaker ($65).
Meanwhile, ASOS is jumping on the trend with its all-white Dare Chunky Sneakers, priced at only $60.
And if you're still not sold on this trend, Hollie Watman's Star Gazing sneaker ($268) in white and orange is a playful take on a classic tennis shoe.
Whether you plan to adopt this trend, toy with the idea of taking it on or completely tossing it to the side, ugly sneakers are the shoe of the moment. You too can slowly dip your toes and incorporate the style into your everyday wardrobe (start simple at first).
And, if you need some extra inspiration on how to wear them, check out other ways celebrities have sported the sneakers here.
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