Just when you thought sneakers couldn’t get any slimmer, the Sneakerina came into the scene.

You think you’ve seen it all, until designers toss you a curveball, or in this case, a ballerina. The sneakerina is the offspring of your childhood ballerina flats and your Sambas. Indeed, she is sleek, soft and boldly taking center stage.

Gone are the days of choosing between ballerina grace and street-style grit. Now, thanks to sneakerina, you can have both. Consider the soft comfort of a sneaker with a rubber sole combined with the feminine, delicate style of a satin ballet flat, occasionally even embellished with ribbons that exude the vitality of a prima ballerina. 

‘Frankenshoe’ fact 

We’ve also seen recent mash-ups like cowboy Croc boots and flip-flop stilettos, so sneakerina isn’t a surprise. Hybrid shoes, often known as Frankenshoes, are having a moment. Remember snoafers? (Sneaker loafers.) Sneakerinas take the same unusual combination and elevate it with a touch of balletic romance.

Adidas lit up the match with low-profile classics including the Sambas, Taekwondos and Tokyos. Puma Speedcats followed suit. The sneakerina is catching fire on runways and sidewalks alike. According to Lyst’s Q1 Index, searches for the style increased by a whopping 1,300 percent. So, no, you aren’t just seeing them everywhere.

“There’s a romantic, feminine energy entering the sneaker space,” shares Linda Cui Zhang, associate fashion director at Nordstrom. She attributes the growth of the sneakerina to two converging waves: a continued love of sporty footwear and a renewed emphasis on women in sports. What was the result? A style that combines sporty and swan lake, and is remarkably wearable.

Soft slipper shapes, curved toeboxes, elastic straps, and exquisite ribbons combine to create a ballerina dream and an off-duty model uniform. Report from Marie Claire describes them as the ideal complement for style-seekers seeking a balance of ease and edge — and we couldn’t agree more.