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| Stella McCartney Customised Mi Adidas by Stella |
Everyone in fashion is talking about trainers. Back in 2011 the Independents Saturday supplement magazine featured Phoebe Philo, of Celine fame, on the cover, wearing a pair of Adidas trainer boots. Styled with a smart navy tailored coat, she looked just right. Perhaps that's where it all started?
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| 16th July 2011 edition |
The origins of trend fascinate me, how trend manifests and morphs into mainstream is quite a complex process, and not necessarily a fast one. Over the last ten years or so, trends have generally been perceived to be in one minute and then out the next, especially since the evolution of fast fashion. In the main what actually happens is trends develop from initial ideas to form versions of themselves over a number of seasons. The key umbrella trend does not always fade, it evolves until it peaks and dissolves. Or it may become ubiquitous, like the skinny jean, now a wardrobe staple! This is good news for those wishing to buy better not more of. Contrary to what some magazines and fashion press will have you believe you don't need to overhaul your wardrobe every season, it's about evolving it, adding items that will evoke style of the given season. It's true trend does shift quite drastically at certain points in a cycle, which then sets the pace for the following four seasons or so. But there is no need to re-invent the wheel each season.
So what of the fashion trainer? Is it about to peak given that it's on the fashion radar? Unlikely I suspect, I believe it's just getting started. Confirmed further by Karl Lagerfeld who ensured every model wore a pair of trainers at the recent Chanel Couture show. Albeit Chanelified, and with a price tag in the region of €3000, as reported by Tim Blanks for Style.com. I am guessing they will sell to folk who have a spare few thousand!
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| Chanel Couture Jan 2014 |
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| Chanel Couture Jan 2014 |
Perhaps Chanel is attempting to blur the lines between ready to wear and couture challenging the status quo, taking the label into a fresh waters?
The fashion trainer appeared on my radar in the summer of 2012 when I spotted it on a few of my fashion friends and the Nike Liberty collaboration was all the rage. I invested in a pair of neon yellow Adidas in January 2013. My value per wear has been strong and set to continue.
Here are some of my favourite trainer looks for the coming season and beyond because this trend is indeed one for the long game. Check out Adidas customisation section, it's worth the wait of up to 4-6 weeks and prices starting at £90. Stella McCartney's collaboration with Adidas continues and offers customised options from £105. I am comfortable with Adidas because they are very vocal and transparent in their approach to sustainability.
Nike and New Balance on the other hand are mysterious in offering up any information on Sustainability on their website. Perhaps I missed something? Their products are well designed and sought after, great buys if you don't have the need to know where they stand on sustainability.
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