Heels and trainers may seem like uneasy bedfellows. And yet anyone who slavishly lapped up the trends of the last decade – some genius, others regrettable – will know that we have been here before. Even the most divisive of fashions will, eventually, come full circle, and 2022’s inaugural nod to sartorial nostalgia comes in the form of the wedge sneaker, as once sported by the likes of Beyoncé and Gisele.

For their origins we must rewind eleven years to 2011, when Isabel Marant first gave us her Beckett style. Others soon got the memo, with Marc Jacobs unveiling a rainbow take on the look and a clutch of celebrities donning them and, evidently, relishing a hybrid that gave them swagger while also offering a modicum more of comfort than the standard stiletto. Are wedge sneakers good for walking? Possibly not if you’re going on a hike. But they do toughen up a delicate dress while adding height to your silhouette a treat.

Now, Marant leads the charge once more with a revival of her classic styles, while the likes of Calvin Klein, Michael Kors and DKNY have all also offered up playful takes too.

These are the surprisingly comfortable wedge sneakers that we’re eyeing up at the moment.

By Nancy Alsop
January 2022

Read More
34 Wintry Ways With Velvet
12 Little Black Dresses To Wear Now
Rainbow Bright: 36 Ways To Wear AW21’s Jewel Colours