Up until recently, if you spotted sneakers in any fashion capacity, nine times out of 10, they were a pair from New Balance (either 990v5s or 550s) or a pair of the highly coveted but equally elusive Adidas Sambas (and no, we still can’t find them in stock anywhere either). But after one too many sightings of a new, fresher-looking sneaker style on street style stars, runway models, and Instagram influencers alike, I’m starting to think a new It shoe is rising to prominence. And it helps that the charge is led by Bella Hadid.
Since Bella was spotted leaving the gym in New York City last year in an oversized Nike polo shirt and a pair of bright-red Salomon hiking-and-running sneakers, the brand has been popping up on the feet of fashion’s most stylish. Her pair, the XT-4 Advanced Sneakers have already flown out of stock on MATCHESFASHION, a slight surprise given their hiking-dad-meets-gorpcore aesthetic, complete with drawstring closure. Not since the return of the socks and sandals pairing have we seen such a divisive “ugly” shoe trend gain so much traction.
