Don’t be surprised if you find yourself digging through your dad’s closet to keep up with the latest trends this season. According to our fashion experts, old-school sneakers, also known as “dad shoes” are making a comeback.
They may look bulky, plain, and overly-simple, but there’s a good chance that they’ll be coming to a runway near you as part of the reinvention of sportswear. Recently, the retro sports brand Fila took their spring/summer 2019 collection (“dad shoes” and all) to Milan Fashion Week. Whether you’re all about that retro look, or can’t bear to look at them, “dad shoes” are here to stay. Here are the reasons why.
Nineties Nostalgia
Back in the ’90s, it was all about high-waisted ripped jeans, unitards, catsuits, cycling shorts, and dad trainers. According to Emily Gordon-Smith, a fashion trend forecaster for Stylus, “It’s one that we’re forecasting going forward for at least the next couple of years, and the ’90s and early noughties have become a real focus. This whole sort of dad trainer thing is very much a part of it.”
Ugly Fashion
With their absurd chunkiness, mismatched color schemes, and overall unattractiveness, “dad shoes” are a perfect fit for the current evolving trend called “ugly fashion.” “It sounds slightly bizarre, but it’s true to say that things that are ugly have really become quite cool and chic,” explains Emily.
West Yorkshire broadcast and production coordinator April Winters has been keen on the trend since it first emerged. “Dad trainers are definitely ugly and I love it,” Winters explains. “I like them, for the look.”
Wearing Sportswear Outside Sports
Sportswear, athleisure, and streetwear have found a new home on the runway in recent years. According to Emily, your sweatpants are no longer restricted to the living room couch. “The whole sportswear thing is such a massive phenomenon,” she explains. “There’s no real sign of that going away. It’s effectively how everybody wants to dress now and it’s got a lot to do with comfort rather than actually being active.”