Not a Sneakerhead? These ’70s-Inspired Runners Will Change Your Mind
Despite having a double-tier shoe rack in my closet, I wear the same pair of three-year-old, hanging-on-for-dear-life leather gladiator sandals most days. If I happen to be seeing my twin sister—the chances of which are high—she’s wearing an identical pair. We’d complain about matching if we didn’t love them so much; we often joke that they’re as close to going barefoot as it gets (and yes, we mean that in an appealing way). We want a shoe that essentially disappears.
Suffice to say, sneakerheads we are not, especially in the summer. As much as I appreciate the comfort and look of sneakers on other people, the minute I slip them on with a dress or denim cut-offs, they somehow become too sporty, too heavy, or too bright for my liking (except for Stan Smiths or Supergas, which have the opposite effect: too conventional). This isn’t at all conducive to the socially-distanced summer we’re having, either; when you’re commuting exclusively by foot or Citibike, a strappy sandal with zero cushion isn’t going to cut it, regardless of the 90-degree heat.
But just when I felt I’d abused my feet enough for one season, I stumbled upon a sneaker I actually loved: Loewe’s Ballet Runner, aptly named for merging the silhouette of a ballet flat with the style of a 1970s track shoe. It’s my exact comfort zone. On the fall 2019 runway, the leather runners were paired with cropped trousers, opaque tights, and even satin evening gowns; online, they’re available in a dozen colors and materials, from shades of cream (my preference) to audacious yellows and retro browns.
At $550, they’re an investment, but it seems other designers are on the same wavelength. My colleague Madeline Fass found a handful of similar ’70s-inspired runners to wear with dresses, jeans, and everything in between, from Nike to Tory Burch. Burch likes the silhouette so much, she called it The Tory, citing it as her “ideal” sneaker. “I’m not much of a sneaker girl, but these soft-silhouetted tennis shoes might be the ones to change my mind this fall,” Fass says. “I’m intrigued by the laid-back, sporty aesthetic—no physical activity required. Plus, some of them were inspired by styles originally produced in the 1970s, or they’re reissues of the originals, which makes them feel less like a sneaker trend and more like a vintage treasure.” Re/Done’s primary-hued nylon sneaker was in fact inspired by a vintage find, and Lotta Volkova’s new Adidas collaboration includes a reissued 1970s sneaker from the archive.
Whether you’re in the market for a statement shoe or just need to upgrade your white sneaker game, find all the best options below.
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