One Good Tennis Sneaker That’s Even Better Off the Court
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A good sneaker should keep up with whatever the day has planned, terrain and to-do list be damned. The days of sneakers being specific to one purpose are long gone, and my strictly carry-on-only flights are all the happier for it.
Over the past week, I put the FILA x Highsnobiety Sneaker Weathervane to the test on a fairly varied itinerary. First (and most surprisingly), I found myself wearing them on clay tennis courts in Lake Como. There’s something about playing tennis on clay that makes you feel considerably more sophisticated than your actual level of play probably warrants. I certainly am no Rafa Nadal, but the sneakers held up nicely for someone at my I-used-to-play-in-high-school level. Comfortable, easy to move around in — and, more importantly, easy to clean afterward! — and more than capable of handling a few rallies. I, for one, am glad we stayed away from the pristine white Wimbledon style and went for a nylon-and-suede grey staple with brown soles.
Next (and less strenuously), I put them to the test off the court while sipping espresso martinis in an all-grey tracksuit at one of the most luxurious villas I’ve ever been to. Chat, tell me it’s chic to wear athleisure in a decadent baroque setting. Even back home in Berlin, they’ve become my go-to for strolling around while there’s still a little warmth in the air — before the cold properly arrives and I’m forced to look for a good pair of winter boots. From tennis classes to lakeside aperitivos to running through airport security, they’ve covered quite a few different settings in the space of a week.
Not every sneaker in a tennis collection needs to belong on the baseline. This one may take inspiration from FILA’s tennis archive from the 1970s and 1980s, but its relaxed silhouette makes it a serve anywhere. The slouchy construction makes it casual, too, and its lightweight feel reminds me of the latest Balenciaga sneakers.
Look closer, and there’s plenty more to appreciate: a curved eyestay, wraparound sole panel, twin curved heel counters, and a lace loop at the toe box. It’s a far cry from the classic tennis shoe, and that’s precisely the point. I’d never wear a traditional tennis shoe as casual footwear (no offense to any athletes skimming this), but I would be much more inclined to add these to my rotation than I initially expected. I like a skinny, light sneaker that works with everything, from athleisure wear to jeans and skirts.
I originally brought these shoes along for my Lake Como work trip because I wanted to feel as though I were stepping back into the golden age of tennis and the Mediterranean lifestyle of the late 1980s. But as it turns out, they weren’t quite ready to come home and retire to the shoe rack.
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