I have a sneaking suspicion that my love for the “ugly” sneaker started when Balenciaga’s Triple S trainers were doing the rounds. To be honest, I was always going to be predisposed to like this style. As a child of the ’80s, I’ve often been drawn to the more dad-like of sneakers inspired by that era. (I blame fashion’s current obsession with nostalgia.) But it’s not just Balenciaga’s sellout shoes that caught my eye. Adidas, Nike and New Balance all have their own iterations. This kind of sneaker has a very specific look. They’re oversized but still look like you could run in them too.
I now have another similar pair of trainers that I want to add to my growing list: the Axel Arigato sneakers. I’d not heard of this brand before, but suddenly, it started appearing all over my Instagram feed (always a sign that a brand is about to take off) and being worn by some of the coolest influencers. Unsurprisingly, it’s a Swedish brand and was launched in 2014, and while it initially only did men’s it soon created a women’s line that has become incredibly popular. One of my favourite minimalist influencers, Ems Wells, has been wearing these sneakers for a while, and I love how she pairs them with a matching tracksuit and a long coat. It’s definitely giving me more Rosie Huntington-Whiteley vibes. If you’re a fan, then keep scrolling to see where to shop these sneakers and similar versions.
