24-04-2025
Will you wear Sneakerinas? Meet the new marmite shoe trend for summer
Forget Crocs, fluffy Birkenstocks and Maison Margiela's cloven hoof Tabi's. There's a new marmite shoe to consider. Buckle up, or rather, lace-up sneakerinas - that's a sneaker crossed with a ballet flat - are coming for your feet this summer.
With this hybrid you get all the sophistication of a ballerina slipper with all the practicality of a trainer. You may hate them, but the fashion pack has been quick to jump on the controversial trend.
Street stylers at Fashion Month favoured Louis Vuitton's iteration, which comes in six bright colourways and is said to 'fuse the casual codes of sportswear with dynamic femininity' - for a hefty £735 (Louis Vuitton).
At Coachella, the pop singer and arbiter of Brat Girl Summer, Charli XCX, wore the sustainable footwear brand Vivaia to flit between stages. The round toe 'Yanka' style has a super flexible rubber sole, satin laces and comes in sugary pastels.
Puma's Speedcat slip on sporty suede ballet pumps are also a favourite among influencers on Instagram (£70, Puma). On TikTok, there are 13.7M posts featuring users styling the statement trend and showcasing hauls of where to buy them.
On the high street, brands have been quick to produce their own versions - Zara's contrast ballerinas are a steal for less than forty quid. Cos' bright red suede pair are also selling fast (£95,
I put the trend to the test and spent a morning commuting, skipping and strutting around London in a trail-worthy version with tread soles and an elegant lace-up ankle from the hit Danish brand, Ecco.
At £180 they don't come cheap. And truthfully, despite being a Fashion Editor, I wasn't sure how to style them. To sock or not? I opted in with a pair of cotton white ones. Could I wear them with jeans? I threw myself in the deep end and went for a skirt for maximum exposure.
Ecco lace-up sneakerina
At first I felt self conscious - my feet were garnering some very funny looks. Whilst waiting for a skinny cappuccino at Gail's a lady opposite asked me what they were - once I explained, she thought 'sneakerinas' sounded quite cute, but I'm not sure she approved.
In terms of wearability, traversing up and down stairs was effortless. I even managed to hit top speed when running for the bus - sadly I didn't record the sprint on Strava. The arch support is far better than any ballet flats I have worn. And, I hate to admit it, they are some of the most comfortable 'trendy' shoes I have tried.
There's something to be said about cult shoes getting more and more unsightly. Brands are committing to unusual design combinations and garish colourways in a bid to stand out - and it's clearly working.
If they're as comfortable as Sneakerinas, then I'm on board the ugly shoe train. Will you join me?
