Latest news with #AdidasStanSmiths
Graziadaily
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Graziadaily
Forget White Trainers – Every Fashion Person Is Only Wearing This Colour Now
The year is 2011. Phoebe Philo - fashion's messiah, quiet commander and Céline's creative director - is closing her show. But this time, the moment of impact isn't stitched into hemlines or cut into tailoring. It's walking out with her. As she takes her final bow, the designer steps out in a uniform that's become something of a cut in itself: skinny jeans, a roll-neck (hair tucked in - a noted Philo-ism), and a white, conspicuously unbothered pair of Adidas Stan Smiths. Within a few moments, the groundwork had been laid for what was set to become the bestselling trainer of the last decade. Phoebe Philo at the Celine Autumn/Winter '11 show. ©Getty What followed was a golden age of '70s sneaker renaissance: an era of trainers that looked as if they might have belonged to the cooler sibling in a Wes Anderson film. The fashion set, Victoria Beckham, Raf Simons - and Philo again in 2014 - all stealthily contributed to the rise of the retro trainers, legitimising them in virtually every setting, with the exception, perhaps, of global politics. (Justin Trudeau, we're looking at you). Fast forward to now, and the retro sneaker hype hasn't lost its footing. If anything, it's sprinting ahead: take Wales Bonner's bonafide collaboration with Adidas, for example, which continues to sell out on sight, or look at the craze caused by Onitsuka Tiger's Mexico trainers. We've seen so many Stan Smith revivals or sportswear brands reissuing iconic styles from their archives (hello, Puma Speed Cats). Dries Van Noten has created vintage-inspired trainers, which are a masterclass in scarcity marketing, and if you're reading this, chances are that you, too, own a pair of Adidas Sambas - whether they're still in or not. The point is, retro trainers are the piece of footwear to which we'll never want to say goodbye. But in 2025, there's a notable caveat: all-white kicks no longer make the cut. Call it the limit of ubiquity, their cool having fallen victim to the trends inflation rate, or the fact that they have suffered death by repetition on mums at the school gate (and the cropped, skinny trousers and ankle socks combo didn't help). But, a piece of good news, the industry's tastemakers are switching things up. And if Philo were to give her stamp of approval today? Chances are, it would go to pale yellow sneakers. Already shot out into the mainstream by hamstring-bracing shorts king, Harry Styles, who wore Prada's skinny sole, collapsible heel style out for a stroll this summer, the sunshine-bright shoes aren't hard to find. Loewe's cult-y On collaboration brought forth a pair that fashion editors have bookmarked and backordered. Maison Margiela's newly-launched 'Sprinters' have arrived in a beige-could-be-sun-bleached-yellow colourway, and as for 'The Tennis' by Jacquemus in suede lemon sorbet? Practically extinct in popular sizes. From L-R: Jacquemus' The Tennis trainers; Loewe X On Cloudventure 2.0 trainers So, what's the takeaway? A happy trainer equals a happy life? Maybe. Or, perhaps, the trend pendulum has swung and we've temporarily eschewed white trainers for something with a bit more character until the oversaturated stampede of alpina white shoes has died down again. Either way, if you're contemplating a trainer upgrade this summer, might we gently suggest opting for a dopamine-inducing shot of colour for your feet? Scroll on to shop our favourite pairs below. 1. Onitsuka Tiger, Mexico 66 2. Loewe X On, Cloudventure 2.0 3. Jacquemus, The Tennis 4. Adidas Originals, Tokyo Shell Sneakers 5. Miu Miu, Tyre Sneakers 6. Russell & Bromley, Budds Retro Trainers 7. Prada, Collapse Re-Nylon Sneakers Henrik Lischke is the senior fashion features editor at Grazia. Prior to that, he worked at British Vogue, and was junior fashion editor at The Sunday Times Style.
Telegraph
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Backless skirts and how you can really wear them
For many fashion insiders, owning a piece by cult designer Phoebe Philo is the ultimate style flex – but one creation from the designer's forthcoming collection would give even the most daring tastemaker pause for thought. From the front, the straight-cut, black maxi skirt from Philo's 'C' range, expected to drop later this year, looks relatively anodyne; from the back, however, it's a different (and altogether cheekier) story. With her back to the camera, looking defiantly over her shoulder, the model poses in an oversized blazer, towering heels and… a backless skirt. Straightforward workwear this is not. One doubts whether, even in the most relaxed office, a flash of buttock is ever appropriate for a morning meeting. It's not yet known how much the skirt will cost when it goes on sale, but given Philo's ultra-wealthy clientele, the price can reasonably be expected to reach four figures. Those who can afford it probably have chauffeured cars (which is just as well – you wouldn't want to sit down on the Tube in this). Before you dismiss the skirt as completely unwearable, it's worth bearing in mind that Philo is known to be light years ahead of the pack when it comes to setting trends. It was she who first put white trainers on the fashion map, when – as creative director at Celine – she took a bow at the end of the brand's autumn/winter 2011 show wearing a pair of Adidas Stan Smiths. When she launched her eponymous line in 2023, her first collection (which included a £3,200 'Mum' necklace coveted by influencers worldwide) sold out in seconds. And she's not the only one to be designing around the derrière. On the catwalk, Diesel, DSquared2 and Hodakova showed trousers so low-cut, they called to mind the infamous Alexander McQueen 'bumsters' of 1993. Elsewhere, sheer fabrics that softly skimmed the body (and afforded varying degrees of bottom visibility) reigned supreme at Valentino, Givenchy and Chloé. The A-list are at it too: Zoë Kravitz wore a Saint Laurent satin and rhinestone-encrusted dress to the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party that dipped so low, almost her entire (enviably peachy) backside was exposed. All of which points to the alarming notion that bum-baring may well be coming back into fashion. That's not quite the case, says stylist Alex Longmore, who advises a more low-key solution to wearing the skirt. 'You'd think this is the most obscure garment which lacks any practicality at all. It's not exactly easy to do the school pick-up in it,' she says. 'But this look isn't meant to be taken literally. Each designer tells a story with their collections – they create drama, which creates headlines. Thankfully, this skirt can be adapted, watered down if you like, to be much more wearable.' Longmore suggests styling it with another skirt underneath – Philo has a frontless version in her current collection that would give an artfully layered effect (if, of course, you have the funds to double up). 'I'd also like to see it worn over a pair of wide, asymmetric trousers or with a long, kimono-style shirt over the top, to cover a bare bottom,' she says. Wrapping your head around layering can be confusing at first, but it's a great way to add interest and texture to an outfit. The once-maligned 1990s hack of draping skirts and dresses (sometimes over trousers) has been re-staking its claim over modern wardrobes for some time now, and can be surprisingly flattering. 'It's a big trend this season, with Louis Vuitton and Bottega Veneta both adopting the look,' says Longmore. Try pairing a sheer skirt, like the Frankie Shop's 'Peri' style, with Zara's midi in a matching hue layered over the top; the flash of the sheer fabric will immediately elevate your outfit to designer status. Flowing midi skirt, £19.99, Zara The Frankie Shop sheer blend midi skirt, £150, Selfridges; Styling a skirt over trousers is tricky to nail but happily, the high street has done the work for you: Cos's draped trousers are a subtle take on the trend, while Manière De Voir's wrap-effect style will instantly update your professional wardrobe. Draped straight-leg trousers, £115, Cos Wrap tailored trousers, £110, Maniere De Voir Ultimately, Philo's cheek-flashing skirt is neither practical nor affordable for most, but it can – believe it or not – provide some inspiration for how to jazz up your basics this season. 'Adding a small hint of a new trend into your wardrobe is a great idea,' says Longmore, adding that she tells her clients to adapt ideas to suit them. 'In the end, you want people to be looking at you and not your outfit.' Something that could hardly be said in a skirt that flashes all and sundry…
