I know some of you are already ready to pounce just from reading this title but hear me out – fashion is a matter of opinion after all. Don’t get me wrong, I have been a big fan of the sporty chic, “athleisure” look for awhile now and sport it myself (get it?) on the regular. The sneakers might actually be my favorite part of the look because they’re being embraced at a time when I’m living in NYC and walk more every day than I ever have in my life.
I rocked heels frequently while living in Florida. I even made playing bass guitar in heels and a dress my thing while playing with my band. I was pretty skilled at walking and playing and even dancing in heels, didn’t really think twice about it. Then came NYC. When I moved here, I packed my favorite pairs of heels as I considered them must-take items. Have I worn them? Maybe two of the pairs a handful of times, mainly for special occasions, and the way we do heels in NYC? You sure as hell don’t leave your apartment or commute in them unless you’re a full blown crazy person.
I’m not mean or judgmental but I cannot refrain from shaking my head or rolling my eyes when I see someone in stilettos or wedges or really any heel trying to cross a street or even walk down a New York City sidewalk. Accident waiting to happen. Any whyyyyy??? I blame shows like Sex and the City. Again, hear me out. Great show but allow me to ruin a bit of the magic for you. I can assure you that the wardrobe department hand-delivered Sarah Jessica Parker’s Manolo Blahniks to her on set and helped her remove her comfy Ugg boots and replace with the heels just before cameras were ready to roll and then switched them out at any possible opportunity they had. We call this movie magic.
Now let me bring you back to the subject (Salt-N-Pepa style). Sneakers are the bomb. They’re comfy. The styles and colors are endless. They look great with everything. I never met a sneaker I didn’t like…until this dad shoe trend. The all-white ones in particular. I don’t get it. The only explanation is that certain socialites and/or celebs did it, it was deemed cool (I’ve seen these clickbait e-mails), and voila, trend activated. I’m not really one for trends, at least not doing something just because it’s a trend or someone else is doing it (i.e. all the “cool people”).
I believe in embracing personal style. I LOVE individuality and expression in fashion. If a trend really speaks to you or just fits you, by all means, rock it. If the shoe fits, right? But when you try to force it just because it’s popular, you’re trying too hard and it doesn’t look or feel natural. You won’t feel comfortable either, almost like you’re dressing up in someone else’s clothes. I’m not saying you should never experiment or take risks. Try new things, have fun, think outside the box. I’m all for that! But also be honest with yourself. What are the reasons behind your fashion choice? When you see a trend, what does your gut tell you – hell no, maybe, or yes? Trust that instinct.
I am crazy about women in “menswear” and the blurring of gender lines in fashion but this clunky dad shoe thing is something else entirely and I just don’t get it. Sure, dads can be cool (I say can because not all of them are) but you expect me to believe that dads, particularly nerdy ones, inspired the most fashionable “it” shoe of the moment? And I’m not knocking nerds either. I’m a nerd in a lot of ways and plenty of people own it. Just so we’re clear, this is not an attack on dads or nerds or those who happen to be a little (or a lot) of both, okay? But we’re talking about fashion trends being based on dads. I guess I’m supposed to buy into the whole dad bod thing too? Don’t even get me started (extreme eye roll).
And what’s more, dad shoes are often white and stand out like a sore thumb. How does that equate to being the most complementary pairing to the rest of one’s ensemble? Not to mention, white gets dirty so quickly! Do you know how dirty NYC can be?! Give me a metallic sneaker all day, every day or some Converse All-Stars which are classics and never go out of style. This might be a statement shoe but it’s not the statement I’m trying to make.
