For years, the sneaker story was about volume. Thick soles. Aggressive logos. The bigger the shoe, the more fashion credibility it seemed to carry. Now, the chicest women in fashion are doing the opposite.
Before the current crop of low-profile sneakers took over, it was the OGs — Adidas’ Samba and Gazelle — that quietly reset the tone. Those slim, unfussy silhouettes reintroduced a kind of studied restraint to sneaker culture, replacing maximalist bulk with European nonchalance.
The new It sneaker is slim, suede, low to the ground, and almost defiantly unlogoed. And if you want proof, look at Hailey Bieber.
Her off-duty uniform has quietly shifted toward narrow-profile trainers in burgundy, black, and silver, often finished with a gum sole and styled with straight-leg denim, ankle socks, and a leather bomber. Nothing about it screams. That’s the point.
Kendall Jenner has made a similar pivot, pairing pared-back retro sneakers with tailored trousers and slim knits that feel unmistakably The Row-coded. In fact, Jenner recently signed a new deal with Adidas Originals, reuniting with the brand nearly a decade after her first partnership and positioning her as a key face in upcoming campaigns and product launches.
Not long ago, Jennifer Lawrence stepped out in New York in Loewe’s sleek, ballet-adjacent sneakers that felt more refined than sporty.
Even the guys are embracing the trend: A$AP Rocky has favored streamlined retro runners over maximalist pairs, and Jacob Elordi continues to embrace low-profile trainers instead of stacked, chunky soles.
The dad sneaker didn’t implode; it faded. As luxury fashion moved toward restraint — less logo, more fabrication — footwear followed. Today’s power sneaker borrows from vintage track shoes and indoor soccer silhouettes, with slim toe boxes, soft suede uppers, and thin soles that hug the ground instead of lifting you inches higher. The palette skews neutral. The branding is subtle.
The chicest sneaker in the room right now isn’t the loudest one. It’s the one that makes the rest of your wardrobe look smarter. And if Hailey Bieber is wearing it, consider the shift official.
This story first appeared on GRAZIA USA.
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