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Why the fashion trainer trend won’t budge

8 April 2015

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Like with so many trends in recent history, today's lust for fashion trainers came from Celine's Phoebe Philo, who has an irritating knack for making everything look both modern and understatedly chic.

We had thought that trainers were for teenagers and West Coast rappers; that dirtied Converse was the only acceptable form of trainer to wear outside of the gym, but then Philo took her catwalk bow in 2010 wearing a pair of white Stan Smiths. As everyone who works in fashion knows, Philo is omnipotent and must be followed at all costs - and those who fail to do so run the risk of falling into the category fashion people hate the most, being behind.

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But unlike previous Celine favourites, sleek trousers suits and polo necks, which tend to only look good on the long and lithe, trainers were really something we could all get on board with. Then Kate Moss and Charlotte Gainsbourg wore a pair of Stan Smiths and naturally the trend was cemented. As US Vogue creative director Grace Coddington once said, trainers make everything look more modern. And they're comfortable, which is as rare in a fashion trend as spotting a Brazilian ocelot at the zoo.

There is a danger of looking like a wannabe teen in trainers (if you are a teenager, congratulations, this will be much easier for you), but they are surprisingly easy to work into an adult wardrobe; they just need to be kept classic and in pared-down colours. In the colder months, they look great with polo necks and tapered trousers (hello modern Patti Smith), and in spring/summer they work with a cropped trouser and slouchy T-shirt, or with a knee-length dress with a leather jacket thrown over the top. Or there's the Nineties slip dress teamed with chunky sneakers option.

Those anti the normcore trainer approach should look to fashion blogger Susie Bubble, who is a fan of a statement style - the more colourful and attention-grabbing the better. And frankly, we're all for anyone who looks as if they're about to run in the psychedelic, technicolour version of the Olympics.

Fashion trainers have been around for four years now, and we're yet to see a dip in popularity. In fact, the number of women's trainer style selling out reached a high in January this year, according to fashion data company Editd. It's as if the idea of having happy, unbunioned and uncrippled feet is appealing to women. And, let's all agree now that they look a million times better than fashion's other favourite flat shoe - the divisive sliders, which we're told are allegedly edgy despite their fugly aesthetic and that annoying slapping noise they make.

Most fashion trends make life more difficult - this one doesn't and thankfully it's here for the duration. Go forth and enjoy it.

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