Balenciaga’s Wild Footwear Headlined a Big SS22 Fashion Month for Sneakers
Another Fashion Month has come and gone. With London, New York, Milan, and now Paris behind us, we’ve been given a good look at what brands are planning for the SS22 season. And although there are usually fewer shoes on show at the women’s ready-to-wear shows than during men’s fashion weeks, footwear (and specifically sneakers) still played a huge role.
Big luxury brands, such as Balenciaga, Givenchy, Fendi, and Versace all offered interesting takes on footwear, while brands with a slightly smaller profile, such as Auralee also presented the latest and greatest in their footwear portfolio. To make it easier and to sort through all the noise, we’re on hand to round up the best, most WTF, and most noteworthy sneakers showcased.
Scroll through our roundup below for the lowdown on the best sneakers unveiled at Women’s Ready To Wear Fashion Week SS22.
Explore the best sneakers at Fashion Week SS22 below
COMME DES GARÇONS x Salomon
COMME DES GARÇONS and Salomon first linked up earlier this year, when the pair’s avant garde collection was finally available to the public. Now the two brands link up again for SS22, showcasing a range of sneakers featuring the former’s signature grayscale colorway. While the initial collaboration was a little more on the wild side, it seems SS22 will feature footwear that leans a little more towards functionality and performance than the first drop.
Lanvin SS22
Holy Batman! For SS22, Lanvin has teamed up with DC Comics and plastered its most popular sneaker to date, the Curb, with imagery of both Batman and Cat Woman. The collab is giving us distinct Jeremy Scott x adidas vibes, and we’re not sure if that’s a good thing or not. Either way, Lanvin is all-in on comics next season. You heard it here first.
Balenciaga SS22
What is there to say about Balenciaga’s SS22 collection that hasn’t been said or written already? The shoes are insane and guaranteed to break necks if you dare wear them in public. Seriously, there’s not a single sneaker that could be considered “normal.” But that’s the point.
Givenchy SS22
Matthew M Williams has gone from strength to strength as creative director of Givenchy. This collection doesn’t feature any sneakers, but instead, Williams has gone heavy on big boots. Some of them look somewhat similar to Bottega Veneta’s Puddle Boot, and that’s a style that everyone loved, so it’s easy to imagine this collection being a success.
Maison Martin Margiela
Maison Margiela also didn’t have any sneakers in its show. The most noteworthy design was the pair above, which look like a pair of rain boots that have had the top chopped off — literally. It looks like the sole of a wellington, with no top and two straps holding it together. Dare we call it: rain boot sandals?
Yohji Yamamoto x XVessel
Yohji Yamamoto’s show was predictably dark. The standout from this collection was the designer's re-up of his XVessel collaboration, which features a BOA lacing system and XVessel’s signature chopped-up sole.
Auralee x New Balance
Auralee probably released the second-most popular New Balance 550 collaboration (after Aimé Leon Dore, of course), so we were super excited to see the brand present a range of tonal 2002Rs. The 2002R has quickly become one of New Balance’s most popular silhouettes, thanks to its collaborations with the likes of Salehe Bembury, as well as its supreme comfort.
Valentino SS22
Valentino’s Knit Trainer is probably one of the most eye-catching sneakers available at the moment, which is why the reworked version that was on the model’s feet during the brand’s runway show brings us so much joy. The sneaker takes a maximalist approach to knitted uppers, almost parodying sportswear brands such as Nike and adidas.
Fendi x Versace “Fendace”
Fendace was simultaneously the biggest announcement of Fashion Month and the most boring. It seemed a knee-jerk reaction to Balenciaga x Gucci from last season and the product was especially gaudy — even for Fendi and Versace’s standards. The only noteworthy sneaker here, is the co-branded Trigreca.
Balmain Slide
Balmain hasn’t been a real factor in the footwear world in quite some time, but the brand’s latest slides may be about to change that. The slides are absolutely ridiculous and look like you’re walking on chewed-up bubble gum. They look comfortable, albeit difficult to walk in. Time will tell if these slides can change the tide for Balmain.
TAKAHIROMIYASHITATHESOLOIST x Vibram
TAKAHIROMIYASHITATHESOLOIST previewed a pair of all-leather Vibram FiveFingers shoes. The Italian company has worked with Suicoke and other brands on the silhouette in the past, and it now looks to be opening up its collaborative doors to further designers. TAKAHIROMIYASHITATHESOLOIST’s take is interesting because the shoe is designed to mimic barefoot walking and the dexterity of your foot and toes. A leather construction makes that slightly redundant.
sunnei SS22
sunnei has been slaying its sneaker designs for quite some time. Underrated by many, totally unknown by some, this brand is one to watch out for in the near future, as the sneakers on show during the RTW SS22 show proved. Slip-on sneakers is the name of the game for sunnei, and two stood out amongst the rest. The first pair looks like it has a neoprene upper with a studded outsole, while the second is a platform ballerina shoe that plays with the juxtaposition of a huge sole unit and a tiny upper.
Can’t wait for SS22? Shop our selection of sneakers at Highsnobiety Shop below
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