The Hot Girl Sneaker Edit
I’m in the market for some new sexy sneakers. Here's what's on my radar...
First things first: I’m not a runner and doubt I ever will be. I’m no sneakerhead. Tennis shoes are not in my “aesthetic rotation.” In fact, the ones I have now are over four years old and need to be trashed. I pretty much stopped wearing them so my tevas have been everywhere with me this year: traveling, walking, swimming in cenotes in Mexico and in rivers in Costa Rica. But sandal season is about to be over and I need a pair of sneakers.
I used to hike all the time in LA, but there’s no hiking culture here in El Paso. It’s not a walkable city and despite there being plenty of mountains to climb, I don’t think it’s even safe to do here— and not just because of the heat! I hiked Mount Cristo Rey (on the border of Texas, New Mexico and Mexico) with one of my sisters during Spring Break and when we got back to my car, a border patrol agent literally recommended us not to come back because there’s a lot of “activity” there. Damn.
Anyway I do go on regular *hot girl* walks. I looove long-distance walking. And while I might not know a lot about sneakers, I do have a friend in LA who was almost an Olympic triathlete (ACL tragedy). He’s a stuntman now with a propensity for outdoor sports so I asked him about sneakers and he recommended Asics and New Balance for comfort and quality over Adidas and Nike… the more you know.
Right now I want a sneaker that will do everything: not too chunky but not too dainty, ready for tennis and lots of walking, a little grip in case I get the chance to hike, blend seamlessly into my wardrobe and the magic ingredient— make me feel sexy… or at the very least, not like everyone else.
This year we’ve seen some more slimmed down silhouettes outshining the dad shoes. The only “slim” version I’m interested in is the Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 “Kill Bill” sneaker. I love them. And they’re hard to get— they’re owned by Asics but are no longer sold in the U.S. so we have to buy from a global or secondhand site. (I love an exclusive).
Pumas have also inched their way onto my radar because Dua Lipa just did a collab with them. I love big cats and Dua Lipa, but unfortunately these slimmer options just don’t deliver for me on the functional side for now.
I’m still a fan of the classic New Balance 530s. Spoiler alert: I ordered a pair in “Sea salt with white and mercury red” last weekend. I love the little burgundy accents, I know they’ll go well with my wardrobe and I’ve had great experiences wearing NB in the past. They arrive today!
Diadora is a brand that is sooo slept on, according to reddit— “Throughout 70 years of existence, the Italian brand has evolved and reinvented itself, all while staying true to its roots and values: true Italian craftsmanship, quality materials, sporty touch, authenticity.” I stumbled upon these while looking for sneakers on Yoox, where you can find them on crazy sale. If you want to stand out in a sea of Adidas, here’s a pair of true tennis shoes and let’s throw in a metallic pair of running shoes for good measure. I don’t have any personal experience with them, so I can’t vouch but I can marvel. I like their symbol too.
They’ve been around since 1898 (historic!), they’re known as the “Original Running Brand” and they’re not afraid of color— they’re Saucony. I’m in love with this deep plum Progrid Triumph 4 pair of trainers. They just look so rich and sultry, especially with fall right around the corner.
I don’t have any personal experience with Asics (yet), but I love this moody muted grey Gel-1130 style. Super affordable and the brand has many Olympians’ stamp of approval.
Another dad shoe I still think about is the Axel Arigato Marathon Runners. A lot of them are on sale right now at SSENSE. These shoes definitely serve fashion over function, but don’t they look cool…
Iykyk: Salomon’s are elite. Delivering in fashion and function, all the hot girls and real hikers wear Salomon. I specifically want the XT-4 OG or XT-6. They had way more colorways available last year but old habits die hard— the Catholic schoolgirl in me has never bought a pair of sneakers with color before! (If we weren’t wearing loafers, our sneakers had to be all white or we’d get detention). I love white sneakers but I ache for something fresh, so I’m still holding out for the perfect pair.
I know I completely skipped over a ton of brands and classics like Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Hoka, Sorel, etc. And for whatever reason I’m definitely not interested in Golden Goose, Veja, Vans, Converse— I’ve always had an insatiable longing to be different. (Maybe it comes from wearing a school uniform all those years)…
Hot girl sneakers, cool girl sneakers, clean girl sneakers, whatever! You can wear a potato sack and still look hot if you’ve got the right attitude. If there’s a shoe I’ve missed or if you’ve worn any of these recs, leave me a comment, xx