Square-toe lace-up Satin Sneakerina. Photographs courtesy of backgrid
LIFE

Toe-tally trending: ‘Sneakerina’ era

Pauline Joyce Pascual

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. 

Jennifer Lawrence.
Chloë Sevigny
Amelia Gray
Bella Hadid.

‘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.

Louis vuitton’s Sneakerina.
Taekwondo Mei Shoes.

Barefoot experience

Wherever there is a popular shoe trend, there is a celebrity street-style moment. Jennifer Lawrence made an impression in New York City wearing sneakerinas under a vibrant red robe coat and a Shania Twain-inspired cap. Bella Hadid, Gen Z’s ideal street-style idol, has just taken athleisure to a whole new level of uproar. She was spotted in New York City wearing a zipped-up large leather bomber and ‘90s-style capri trousers, but it was her satin ivory ballet-sneakers, the Cristina style by Vivaia, with a flat triple-layer sole that really caught attention. Chloë Sevigny styled her lacy black outfit with socks, a tee, and gym shorts. Meanwhile, model Amelia Gray boosted the outfit with a white shirtdress and fur coat, demonstrating that the shoe isn’t simply flexible, but transformative.

Let’s not forget about luxury brands getting involved. Louis Vuitton’s version, the LV Sneakerina, is more simple, with round sides, topstitching and luxurious finishes like velvet, sequins, and satin. This is the couture moment balletcore has been looking for.