Whether it be designers finally catering to women who are sick of high-heel pain, or perhaps to capitalize on the fervor of the upcoming Olympic games, both Chanel and Dior sent sneakers down the runway at their couture shows.
When it comes to show season, it is quite normal for Karl Lagerfeld to pick a theme and run with it, throwing the Chanel logo onto everything from surfboards to giant hula-hoop shoulder bags. This year, pairing their garments with iridescent runners, Chanel went for an all-out sporty theme (complete with knee pads and fanny packs). With the shorter hemlines on many of the skirts, the sneakers almost evoked a post-tennis match feel – or what one would wear in the time off the court, but still at the club.
The showing at Dior was a bit more jarring. The flower covered mesh sneakers stood out against the evening gowns, almost as if the models had forgotten to put on their real shoes before hitting the runway (especially because some models wore baroque inspired heels).
Although we will likely see them in editorials globally for the next few months, items from Haute Couture shows are not actually sold to the general public. Only couture clients will get a chance to purchase the coveted items, assuming the shoes are even part of the deal – many times they are only meant to accompany the clothing, and are given to models after the show. However, this does not mean that Chanel or Dior will not have an effect on the sport footwear industry – the average fashion consumer will likely see a couture influence from major athletic companies trying to emulate colors or styles.
Perhaps the best use of sneakers comes from Ready-to-Wear – for spring 2014 Rick Owens created futuristic sneakers that complimented the collection. Owens is a master of the everyday avant-gard, so his re-invention of the sneaker as a fashion-forward item will likely be a coveted street chic piece.
