I’m going to admit something, because I’m treating this as a safe space: I’m getting tired of the slim trainers obsession. I know they’re a lot of people’s go-to at the moment – even Harry Styles – but that doesn’t mean they’re for me, or even for you. I don’t find them comfortable, and I don’t like the hems of my jeans getting constantly caught under the sole. Though I love the look of a Puma Speedcat, I’m more of a chunky trainer girl myself – and you won’t catch me in a delicate “sneakerina”.
Fortunately, there are plenty of styles to choose from. And we know that the taste for chunky trainers is alive and well. From Katie Holmes single-handedly reviving the Autry Medalist Low, to everyone in the British Vogue office wearing Nike Air Max Muses in liquid silver, an anti-Samba sentiment appears to have taken hold (within reason; we’re not going back to the dark days of Balenciaga’s 10XLs). To that end, here are the bolder and bulkier trainer choices that we’re investing in for this summer.
Asics
If there’s one trainer that I suspect could actually topple the Adidas Samba and seize its crown, it’s Asics – specifically the big bubbly “dad shoe” iterations, such as the Asics Gel-Kinetic Fluent or the Asics Gel-Quantum Kinetic. Timothée Chalamet loves them. My colleague Daniel Rodgers loves them. I love them. They’re also just really comfortable. A pair of loose jeans and some big glossy Asics? Chef’s kiss.
Read more: How To Clean Your Trainers
Nike Shox
When I was a kid, I used to think the springs on the soles of Nike Shox meant that you could actually jump higher. And though that may not be technically true, they do have a lot of bounce to them. In recent years, and ever since the Nike Shox TL was re-released in 2019, this particular trainer has become a real favourite among the street-style set and anyone who, like me, loves a tech-y but also slightly throwback sneaker.
Nike Air Max Muse
Sorry, but you can’t get cooler than the Nike Air Max Muse – specifically in the liquid silver colourway, although the white ones are also kind of insane. Just look at them. Cyberpunky and a little bit ’90s, Muses are a firm favourite here at Vogue HQ. “In the last few months, I’ve travelled around the world in them and they’ve served all scenarios,” British Vogue’s shopping director Naomi Smart (pictured above) told me recently. “Everything from office meetings with smart tailored trousers to weekends with dark denim jeans.”
Autry Medalist Low
They’re Katie Holmes’s favourite trainer for a reason. These American cult classics are the IYKYK trainers for people who like the look of New Balance 550s or Reebok Club C 85s, but also want something a bit different. And, though they have our friends in Los Angeles in a chokehold, they’re still a bit under-the-radar over here, which only adds to their appeal. “There’s no way you can talk about Adidas Samba alternatives without giving the Autry Medalist Low a shoutout,” wrote sneaker writer Adam Cheung for British GQ at the end of last year. He’s not wrong!
Skate trainers
Less of a specific trainer model and more of a general umbrella, skate trainers are having a moment in the sun again for the first time since circa 2006 (and you can’t get less slim than these). My personal favourites are, of course, the Louis Vuitton LV skate trainers, although they do cost upwards of a grand (you wouldn’t want to shred them up skateboarding, would you?). The thing about big fat skate trainers is that they’re built to protect your feet, so they’re generally incredibly comfortable. Just ask Billie Eilish.
