If there has been one fashion trend that has made headway this past summer, it is the chunky sneaker. However, one sneaker brand has been facing a lot of backlash for their rendition of the “dad shoe.”
2018’s Shoe of the Year, the Fila Disruptor II, has been mocked on the internet for weeks because of its bigger and chunkier silhouette.
People have been commenting on the shoe, saying the shoe’s overall size is just too big and looks awkward when people are trying to pull the style off. However, especially on social media sites, their comments are typically accompanied by a picture of someone wearing the shoe, but the shoe is photoshopped to where it is enlarged to almost double its size. Of course those viral posts are going to be made fun of.
Some people’s biggest issue is how others style them. This summer’s huge outfit trend was the graphic tee with biker shorts, so most people would pair the Filas with that outfit which gave the ensemble a more athleisure look. But has anyone thought of revamping one’s own wardrobe to pair the sneakers with styles that are unique and out of the box?
Sporting the Disruptors with a floral flowy dress or skirt can be a different way make the sneakers pop out. The sneaker itself has its own bold statement with its high platform sole, so with an outfit with a soft, flowy bottom, the shoes will give off some edginess. Also with fall just beginning, floral is definitely on trend.
Dressing up the sneakers can also help someone visually stand out from the crowd. Since the sneakers are usually worn in their all-white style, pairing it with a noteworthy two-piece suit will give off a “ready for the New York City life” look. The sneakers could look amazing with a Burberry-patterned suit, especially in the fall season. The light brown and red hints in the design compare nicely with the falling leaves and their color changes. But also wearing suits with warm colors, like reds, yellows, pinks and oranges, will help to bring out the brightness of the sneakers overall.
It seems as though people are more prone to make fun of the Fila’s but not the Balenciaga Triple S’s, which is another style of the chunky dad shoe. The two sneakers are silhouetted pretty similarly, so it calls to question why people heckle one but not the other.
It may be because the Balenciaga’s are retailed at $975 while the Fila’s are retailed at roughly $65. Society sees the Fila sneakers on more “regular” people than the Balenciagas since they are more affordable. As the chunky-sneaker trend began to rise and more people started wearing them, people who were opposed to the style ridiculed it. It was easy to tease since a wide range of people wore the piece.
However, not as many people poke fun at the almost thousand-dollar shoe because people usually do not see just anyone walking down the street with those kicks. People are more likely to see celebrities like Gigi Hadid, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian wearing them in Instagram and Twitter pictures. That obviously gives the Triple S’s more of an up-scale, unique perspective in people’s minds.
Although some people may be intimidated by the Disruptor’s, they are an amazing piece to have in any closet. Those who make jokes about the sneaker might not know how to style it themselves but with the right wardrobe, anyone can pull off a distinct, exciting look.
By Cammie Dutchess, Features Assignment Editor
jonesdca17@bonaventure.edu
