The premise: two R29 staffers self-isolating on opposite coasts — with even more opposite personal styles. One internationally beloved sneaker. Very minimal rules.
To celebrate the latest drop of the adidas Originals Superstar, senior editor Lexy Lebsack and I were tasked with the following challenge: to build WFH-appropriate fits around the newest version of the 50-year-old trainer, which spiffs up the classic (long live the shell toe) with details like pastel stripes and a fringed tongue. "Hmm, an intriguing premise to be sure," you might be saying to yourself at this point. "But just how different can their styles be?"
Exhibit A: Lexy used the words "sporty" and "black" when describing her dress sense; I'm happiest wearing at least two colors and three clashing prints (at the same time), and the closest I get to athletic wear is cricket sweaters. (You, again: "Oooh, I get it now.") So with that crucial background knowledge out of the way, how did we each interpret the prompt? Keep clicking to find out.
"Is this thing on? This is Big Collar Energy reporting for duty from my building's courtyard, wearing an all-vintage/secondhand fit built around my Superstars, which have a fringed tongue that recalls derby shoes. The Pope/frilled-dragon situation around my neck, ribbed Dueple socks in pistachio, and a bit of contortion all help me flex on everyone on this video conference call."
Adidas Superstar FR Shoes, $, available at AdidasJen Mulrow"Nothing tempers a classic black suit like a pair of fresh white adidas Originals Superstars and a simple tee. Not only is a suit with sneakers unexpected, but it's versatile and, let's be honest, stupid comfortable. Who has time for heels in 2020, especially on a socially distanced walk? Not me."
Adidas Superstar Shoes, $, available at Adidas"A clean white Superstar is the ideal plus-one on a big night of dancing around the living room, as it complements my peekaboo Megan O'Cain dress and lets me bop around until the wee hours, even when my tech-house alter ego DJ Crudo accelerates the bpm to 165. Plus, at Club Chez Moi, there's no bouncer to tell you to get off the furniture."
Adidas Superstar FR Shoes, $, available at AdidasGraham Glaser"Sheer, sporty, oversized — this combination doesn’t really make any sense, but all together, it’s actually the perfect weekend outfit. Even if I'm just hanging on my roof logging into a friend's virtual birthday party. The fitted turtleneck dress, paired with a short slip, is dressy enough for any party but made cool with a men’s denim jacket and white adidas Originals Superstars."
Adidas Superstar Shoes, $, available at Adidas"I know I said I don't do sporty, but sporty ≠ streetwear. To play off the dip-dyed baby tee and motocross-inspired pant, both by Toqa, I paired them with a simple, old-faithful Superstar — the shape and bright white hue support all that color and print, kind of like how this ensemble gives me the emotional/mental boost to keep calm and carry on back inside."
Adidas Superstar FR Shoes, $, available at AdidasJan Vincent Gonzales
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Timothée Chalamet and Florence Pugh in Columbia Pictures’ LITTLE WOMEN.
It’s been three months since Greta Gerwig’s modern take on Little Women was first released in theaters on Christmas Day. If you ask us, it deserved far more than its six Academy Award nominations, but the film did win big in one department: costume design.
Costume designer Jacqueline Durran swept award season with both a BAFTA and an Oscar for her dazzling work on Little Women. In fact, the wardrobes in the film inspired some of this year’s most talked about fashion trends (ever heard of a waistcoat?). But a shiny gold statue isn’t all that she gained for a job well done. She also acquired a long list of admirers.
This week, in honor of the digital, Blu Ray, and DVD release of Little Women, Sony Pictures asked four sewing influencers to adapt Durran’s iconic costume designs in their own styles. Angela Clayton of Angela Costumery, Rachel Maksy, Cynthia Settje of Red Threaded, and Taylor Shelby of Dames a la Mode will showcase their final designs to their sizable Youtube and Instagram followings. Each of the four women was assigned a sister to design for: Clayton with sophisticated and worldly Amy, Maksy with determined and androgynous Jo, Settje with feminine and old-school Meg, and Shelby with homebodied and shy Beth.
“I’m so impressed by what they’ve achieved and I’m so impressed that they haven’t copied the designs in the film,” Durran says of each of the four women’s final products. “They used their own style and inspiration to create great costumes.”
Anyone who’s read Louisa May Alcott’s famous novel or seen any of its many film adaptations knows that each of the March sisters has her own distinguishable personality and style. To create Oscar-worthy costumes that showcased those differences took creativity and talent that only a costume designer of Durran’s level of expertise could pull off. “The fact that there was so much to do to create five characters made these costumes extremely fulfilling to design,” she recalls. But as the designer behind the iconic green dress in Atonement — not to mention all of Belle’s costumes from the 2017 rendition of Disney’sBeauty and the Beast starring Meg March herself, Emma Watson — we had no doubt that she’d do the job perfectly. Now, she’s passing the mantle to up-and-coming costume designers, giving them a chance to show the world what they’ve got.
“Making Meg’s whole gown in less than a month, while managing a business and everything else that happened in the world in March, was quite tricky,” says costumer Cynthia Settje. Because, it’s not just sewing that these designers are doing: They’re also researching their characters and the history of the plot, purchasing fabrics, arranging patterns, and at last, putting the entire ensemble together.
Rachel Masky, the costumer behind Jo March’s gown, took the task a step further, challenging herself to use only pre-existing materials for the job. “I felt like this was really fitting for how resourceful Jo is, and felt like she would’ve done the same with whatever Marmee had lying around,” Maksy tells us.
Like Durran, all four of the women asked to participate in this challenge gave it their all, effort that’s apparent in each of their final gowns: Amy’s, which mimics the sister’s interest in artistry and luxury; Jo’s, an example of creating something beautiful out of existing materials; Meg’s, a gown that her character would fawn over; and Beth’s, a frock that symbolized the illness that shaped her short life.
Experience the design process behind each dress on Youtube, check out a never-before-seen clip of the stars of the film discussing Durran’s costumes below. And if you haven’t yet, experience the Oscar-winning film, out now on all platforms.
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Not all white sneakers are created equal — anyone who’s ever shopped for a plimsoll versus a high-top versus a court shoe is acutely aware of this. But what if there existed a trainer so clean, so well-designed, that it could work with practically any fit you threw at it?
A few months ago, after being tasked with a multi-day styling challenge in which she put together five looks around the same sneaker, Refinery29 beauty writer Aimee Simeon might’ve found The One: the classic adidas Originals Superstar, given a makeover with slick animal print and gold accents as part of the brand’s new Red Carpet Shine collection. “They’re equal amounts cute and comfortable,” she says. “I usually wear the all-white Superstars, but these were really fun because they were classic with a pop of what felt more modern and trendy. They inspired me to have a little bit more fun with the outfits compared to wearing a one-tone shoe.”
Below, see the outfits Simeon built — featuring an impressive range of pants, skirts, and dresses for every conceivable WFH scenario — with the iconic shell toe as their foundation.
Start off the workweek strong with a bold-shouldered power suit tempered with a clean white sneaker. Even if no one can see beyond your upper half on Zoom, getting fully dressed will make it easier to maintain a sense of executive realness as you sit on the couch for the 64th day in a row. “This is the perfect amount of professional without being overly dressed up,” Simeon says, noting that, under normal circumstances, a mule or heel would have made the whole effect a bit too stuffy for her liking.
Another plus of the Superstar: being able to go about footloose and blister-free on your socially distanced strolls. “When you’re wearing something every single day, you don’t want to worry about having to break it in Monday through Wednesday and not being able to enjoy the shoe Thursday through Sunday,” she says of the shoe’s fresh-out-of-the-box comfort.
For a riveting day of watching tiger documentaries and investigating previously unexplored corners of your apartment, Simeon recommends going pared-back with cropped wide-leg denim and a correspondingly abbreviated jean jacket, broken up with a watercolor top. Add a personality sock in pistachio green to contrast the shoe, and you’ve got a look that’s cute to wear as you make a bracket to determine which chair in the house is your favorite.
“Clean, polished, and very New York,” Simeon says of this look — what more could you want in an outfit to pick up coffee to-go? Here, an oat-cortado run has never looked sharper, thanks to a matching skirt and sweater set, finished with a blazer to keep the ensemble as adaptable as our hero shoe. (Wear it as-is at your designated home workspace, sling the dove-gray topper over your shoulders for a walk around the block, etc.) Another styling tip: Keep your hemlines as close to the same length as possible for an “all of this is very intentional” level of cohesion.
If you’re not going to wear the glitter tights tonight, then when? This colorway of the Superstar doesn’t have a red-carpet moniker for nothing, so Simeon embraced the special-evening-in aesthetic with a black leather mini, contrasting jacket, and the aforementioned sparkle hosiery. Now that’s how you go all out for a big night of bopping around virtual happy hours — without being too over-the-top.
For celebrities in the pre-COVID-19 era, the leaving-the-gym paparazzi shot was its own occasion to dress for, one in which the Superstar frequently made a guest appearance as the ideal studio-to-street shoe. Taking a cue from this particular brand of activewear-adjacent style, Simeon fashioned co-ords from separates both in a cream knit — perfect for self-soothing and recalling fond memories of a time in which you could go out simply for the sake of going out.
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Amy Powney, creative director of the fashion brand Mother of Pearl, has sustainability in her bones. Growing up in a caravan located in the countryside of North England will do that to a person. “We had a wind turbine for electricity and spent a lot of time without the classic amenities that most people have,” Powney explains. “Things have never been at the click of a button for me.” And in her career, with her sights always set on fashion, her upbringing naturally played a role. “I’m constantly asking myself ‘Where does it come from?’ about everything.”
At university, after reading the words of Naomi Klein in the anti-globalization book No Logo, Powney got to thinking about her own impact and how, even in a small way, she could make a difference in terms of consumption. Now, of course, her impact isn’t so small.
“That was 15 years ago,” Powney says. “Ever since then, with everything that’s going on with climate change, I just try to wake up every day and do something about it.” Not long after graduating from fashion school, Powney took an entry-level job at London label Mother of Pearl. Over the next nine or so years, she worked her way up to the top, but not before completely rebranding the business in order to make it into something that she, green roots and all, could be proud of.
Once she had, though, Powney quickly realized that there was more for her to do.
“I worked really hard to turn Mother of Pearl into a sustainable brand,” she says. “But then, when I started talking about that to the press, I realized just how much of a disconnect there was between what they thought sustainability was and what it actually means to buy sustainable fashion.” That’s when the idea for #FashionOurFuture was born.
As someone who’s lived and breathed sustainability since day one, Powney can spot greenwashing, or the act of companies claiming to be more sustainable than they are, from a mile away. Many publications weren’t getting it right either, with some taking things too seriously and isolating themselves while others wrote token sustainability articles without truly doing the research. “There wasn’t really a platform in the middle that didn’t give fashion a really hard time, that didn’t give the concept of expressing yourself a hard time,” Powney says. “I wanted to create something that simply helped people understand a little bit more, gave them solutions, and actually talked them through the concept in a fun and engaging way.”
A post shared by #FASHIONOURFUTURE (@fashionourfuture) on Feb 13, 2020 at 9:04am PST
Inspired by actress and activist Jameela Jamil’s very successful I Weigh campaign, which created a community for people to openly share their opinions on social issues via Instagram, Powney came up with the idea for #FashionOurFuture, an Instagram account that asks followers to make a pledge to be more sustainable and post about it.
In February, after garnering support and pledges from her friends, who include Amber Valletta, Lyn Slater of Accidental Icon, Eva Chen, Derek Blasberg, and Adwoa Aboah, Powney launched the campaign at London Fashion Week with overwhelming success. “It’s been brilliant,” Powney says. “We’ve already garnered more than 7,000 followers in the first couple of weeks.”
At its core, #FashionOurFuture is about nine pledges, including “Are You Fur Real?,” a pledge to stop buying fur, “Are You An OAP?,” a pledge to only buy vintage, and “Are You An Oversharer?,” a pledge to share when you outfit repeat to lessen the stigma associated with it. When you’re ready to make a pledge, all you have to do is take a selfie, place a GIPHY sticker from the “FashionOurFuture” section over the image, and post it to your Instagram stories. From there, screenshot the story, upload it to your feed, and share your pledge with your followers, nominating as many people as you want to join in the movement.
“The platform is basically about creating our own content around the issues, but in a fun, engaging way, so that it’s hard-hitting content, but delivered in a way which doesn’t scare people,” Powney explains. “It’s 100% about bringing people into the conversation rather than telling them off. Because telling them off just pushes them away.”
By making one of the nine pledges and posting about it for the entire #FashionOurFuture community to see and experience with you, people feel as if they’re being held accountable for actually following through on their pledge. As a result, something as small as posting on Instagram can actually force someone to cut fur out of their wardrobes or repair their clothes rather than simply buy new ones.
One of the biggest goals for Powney with #FashionOurFuture is to show people that they can do something — even if it’s small — and that it can still make a difference.
Now, in the midst of a global pandemic, it’s hard to imagine a better time to make a pledge to #FashionOurFuture, especially given the fact that according to Dr. Aaron Bernstein, Director of Harvard C-CHANGE, climate change creates favorable conditions for infectious diseases like COVID-19 to spread. In addition, Dr. Bernstein states that those exposed to more air pollution — an effect of climate change — are far more likely to be affected by COVID-19 than those who aren’t.
Amy Powney knows this, which is why she’s created Self(ie) Isolation, a campaign meant to push those in self-quarantine to make a pledge to be more sustainable. In it, you’ll find recommendations like, “fall in love again with your old clothes (let’s be honest, ‘virtual meetings’ have a much more casual dress code)” and “travel to Narnia (we’ve checked and it’s not part of the travel ban), sell what’s at the back of your wardrobe.”
A post shared by #FASHIONOURFUTURE (@fashionourfuture) on Mar 29, 2020 at 1:31am PDT
“While we’re lounging around on a TV binge, our planet has been given a much-needed break,” the campaign reads. “Now more than ever, we can clearly see the impact of our actions. Let’s use our time at home to think about our relationship with our wardrobes and use the incredible power of social media to connect and inspire positive change during this difficult time. We are here to help every step of the way with your pledge. Remember, no one can do everything, but everyone can do something.”
Peruse all nine of the #FashionOurFuture wardrobe pledges and make one of your own today.
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For the past four to six weeks most of us in America (minus emergency/hospital/essential business people doing God’s work), have been pacing the confines of our homes. Moving from one chair to another, or — if you’re lucky — from one room to the next for a change of scenery, only occasionally peering out the window or into our closets with tense looks/feelings. It’s definitely easy to experience a sort of existential crisis when it comes to clothes these days. What’s the point? You might wonder to yourself.
I’m wondering, too. Fashion seems trivial right now, given the plight of the world raging against the threat and impact of COVID-19, and at the same time, each of us being so uncomfortably close to our own thoughts and anxieties. The state of our lives demands whatever we wear indoors or out on a quick 6-foot sanity walk be as functional and effortless as possible, especially lately when the rare occasion to put on a shoe that’s not a sneaker might as well be a party. Which is why a House Dress makes sense right now, and maybe always has. While most of the stuff in your wardrobe is not likely to see the light of day until, say, June (prepare yourself, and, by all means wear your finest when the spirit moves you), the House Dress was literally designed for (many weeks of) moments like this. Reckoning with life and a general urge to streamline and optimize, in my experience, usually begins in the underwear drawer; housekeeping, if you will.
Cleaning, or more aptly, living in a House Dress is obvious, given it was originally coined as such for its most popular consumer, the Housewife, who back in pre and post-war years purchased most of her simple-patterned machine-wash-and-wear styles through mail-order catalogs (practically a precursor to ecomm). Lucille Ball, most definitely one of television’s most famous “housewives” (who also happened to be the first woman to run a major Hollywood studio) made me idolize house dresses just as I idolized her before I even knew how to write my own name.
“The House Dress isn’t a ‘style’ so much as a calling—commanding we lay claim to our homes and our work, whatever that may be, in a serious way.”
The House Dress isn’t a “style” so much as a calling—commanding we lay claim to our homes and our work, whatever that may be, in a serious way, unencumbered by super-cinched waists, zippers, or, God forbid, a big ruffle that might make it tricky to climb a ladder or sit for three straight hours on Zoom calls. Yes, it’s definitely a good time for free-flowing frocks. Dresses sensibly fashioned with looser waists, longer hemlines and gigantic pockets for carrying around anything you might need at a moment’s notice like, say, lip balm, cookies, Kleenex, or hand sanitizer (yes, I use this indoors, just in case, and maybe you do, too). If you were my late Italian grandmother, you might also use those deep pockets for stuffing freshly picked dandelion leaves you’d just collected from our front lawn when I was a kid, to be lovingly sautéed later that evening with lentils and spices. (If only I still had a lawn to speak of, maybe the wait for an Amazon Fresh delivery slot wouldn’t be so unbearable.)
If you’re like me, though, you don’t have any outdoor space for scavenging greenery, but you probably do have timely chores to confront, especially now when we have ostensibly more opportunities to notice dust piling up on baseboards. Here are some things I’ve been doing in a House Dress lately: Jumping jacks, eating sardines on toast standing by the kitchen window, cleaning things I don’t typically clean like the gunky top of the exhaust hood over the stove and inside cabinets that have been carpeted with a medley of old cereal. Playing with your kid on the floor in a House Dress works, too, if you have kids, whether you’re stacking blocks or going 12 rounds in an attempt to change a poopy diaper.
Sorry to your pants, but they just don’t cut it these days. I myself have (or had) an overabundant bottoms section in my closet. While trimming it back, I tried on a wonderful pair of printed silk trousers to see if they still fit. Button and zip, no problem. Bent down to buckle the platform sandal I was trying them on with and they didn’t just split up the back — the right butt-cheek literally evaporated. Just GONE.
That wouldn’t have happened in a House Dress. Bending down for anything? A non-event.
To be totally honest—and if you’ve seen how I dress, you probably know this—I didn’t need a global pandemic to turn me onto House Dresses. I’ve been a devoted wearer of oversized, amorphous garments since I was a teenager, when the idea of a crop top or a short skirt literally gave me hives. In college, I happily hid beneath XXL Champion sweatshirts with cargo pants. Years later in my late 20s as a single woman, I remember sitting at a bar with an old friend while she spent the better part of a perfectly good night lecturing me about how I needed to dress “sexier” if I wanted to ever have sex or get a boyfriend. Just recalling that conversation makes me uncomfortable, like I can’t breathe. (Breathing is never a problem in a House Dress.)
I haven’t spoken to that person in nearly 20 years.
And, here’s the thing about a House Dress, the modern version that’s a bit more boxy: It isn’t sexy, at least not intentionally. Because that’s really not the point. A House Dress is for YOU and you alone. Do with it as you wish. The Swiss Army Knife of garments. Wear it at home or to a dinner party (when communing with others is no longer a health threat). With a chic wellie, a chunky sneaker, or a treaded platform sandal. People like to wear a House Dress barefoot, too, but that’s almost too basic for me. But please, don’t listen to me…wear it like you like it.
I myself am thankful to designers like Acne, Ganni, Rachel Comey, Molly Goddard, and Marni for giving House Dresses a cultural calling card all their own. High drama without the high stakes of being restricted in any way, shape, or form. Today’s House Dress has pictures of Louise Bourgeois and Georgia O’Keeffe on its inspiration board and cares not a lick about looking sexy at a bar. A House Dress, in all its pure basicness, merely wants to liberate your genuine self.
No bullshit. Just breezes.
We are still (safely) sequestered at home until Dr. Fauci tells us it’s okay to start living—and dressing—among the rest of the world again. But, if you’re like me or my good friend who told me she recently cut her entire wardrobe down to just 40 pieces, you likely won’t ever dress the same again.
And, that’s probably a good thing.
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फैशन वर्ल्ड में बात जब-जब फैशनिस्टा की होती है तो जेहन में सबसे पहले गोरी, पतली, तीखे नैन- नक्श वाली खूबसूरत लड़कियों का ही ख्याल आता है। अगर परफेक्ट फिगर वाली कम उम्र की मॉडल जिसका रंग थोड़ा पक्का रह गया है तो उसे खूबसूरती के तराजू में नहीं तोला जाता। विडंबना भी यही है कि समाज ने अपने हिसाब से सुंदरता की परिभाषा तय कर दी है। उदाहरण के तौर पर सांवले रंग-रूप वाली लड़कियों को लायक होने के बाद भी शादी जैसी प्रथा में कई मुश्किल दौर से गुजरना पड़ता है। इसी के विपरीत जब कोई बल्की साइज की लड़की मॉडल बनने का सपना देखती है तो घरवाले उसके रंग-रूप या शारीरिक बनावट का हवाला देकर उसे डिमोटिवेट कर देते हैं। समय-समय पर उसे इस बात का एहसास दिलाते हैं कि फैशन की चकाचौंध वाली दुनिया उनके लिए नहीं बनी है। लेकिन आज हम आपको जाने-माने फैशन डिज़ाइनर सब्यसाची मुख़र्जी () की एक ऐसी मॉडल से मिलाने जा रहे हैं जिन्होंने इन सब बातों को परे करते हुए खूबसूरती के मायने बदल दिए। ये बात किसी से छिपी नहीं है कि साइज में बल्की होने के कारण लड़कियों को कितनी बिन मांगी सलाह और शर्मिंदगी झेलनी पड़ती है। शुरुआती दौर में विशाखापट्टनम में पैदा हुईं और दिल्ली में पली-बढ़ी वर्शिता थटवर्ती () के साथ भी कुछ ऐसा ही हुआ। मॉडलिंग और एक्टिंग में अपना करियर बनाने के लिए एक शहर से दूसरे शहर गईं, लेकिन इसके बाद भी उन्हें निराशा ही हाथ लगी। डस्की कलर होने के कारण हर कोई उन्हें रिजेक्ट कर देता था। 5 सालों तक वर्शिता को काफी स्ट्रगल करना पड़ा था। मोटी और सांवली होने के कारण कोई भी मॉडलिंग एजेंसी उन्हें रीप्रेज़ेंट नहीं करना चाहती थी। लेकिन इसके बाद भी उन्होंने हार नहीं मानी और दिन रात अपना सपना पूरा करने के लिए मेहनत करती रहीं। ( ये भी पढ़ें:)लक बॉय चांस मिला मौका साल 2017 दिसंबर से फिल्मों में काम पाने के लिए कोशिशें करने वाली वर्शिता थटवर्ती को क्या पता था कि आने वाला नया साल उनके लिए बहुत कुछ सोचकर बैठा है। जी हां, अप्रैल 2018 में एक दिन वर्शिता को सब्यसाची ज्वैलरी एक्जिबिशन के बारे में पता चला। तब सब्यसाची मुखर्जी ने अपना ज्वैलरी कलेक्शन शोकेस करने का काम शुरू ही किया था। ये सब जानकर वो उनसे मिलने के लिए के लिए निकल पड़ीं। एक्जिबिशन में उनकी मुलाकात सब्यसाची मुखर्जी से हुई उन्होंने उनके साथ पहले एक सेल्फी ली और बाद में उनके द्वारा डिज़ाइन किए हुए एक जोड़ी इयरिंग्स लेकर घर वापस आ गईं। लेकिन उन्हें कोई अंदाज़ा नहीं था कि इस एक मुलाकात के बाद उनका सब कुछ बदलने वाला है। करीब दो महीने बाद यानी जून में सब्यसाची मुखर्जी की टीम ने वर्शिता से संपर्क किया और उनसे पूछा कि क्या वह उनके साथ कोलकाता में ट्रायल शूट पर काम करना चाहेंगी? वर्शिता ने बिना किसी देर किए हां बोल दिया। डिज़ाइनर सब्यसाची के कैंपेन में उन्होंने प्लस साइज़ मॉडल्स बन सभी को अपने काम से इम्प्रेस किया। तब से वर्शिता विंटर फॉल ब्राइडल कलेक्शन हो या फिर चारबाग, सब्यसाची के लगभग सभी ट्रायल शूट का एक अहम हिस्सा रही हैं। ( ये भी पढ़ें: )सब्यसाची के साथ कामकरना किसी सपने से कम नहीं वर्शिता थटवर्ती जैसी न जाने कितनी लड़कियां होंगी जो आज भी मन ही मन सब्यसाची के साथ काम करने या फिर उनके कलेक्शन को पहनने के बारे में सोचती होंगी लेकिन वर्शिता ने कभी भी अपना हौसला डगमगाने नहीं दिया। खुद पर विश्वास रखा और सब्यसाची के प्लस साइज़ मॉडल्स कैंपेन का हिस्सा बनीं। ऐसे में अगर आप भी अपने सांवले रंग को बार-बार अपनी नाकामयाबी का सबब मान रही हैं तो वर्शिता थटवर्ती आपके लिए परफेक्ट उदाहरण हैं।
Throughout modern history, so-called “comfort” shoes have gotten a bad rap. Begrudgingly purchased out of necessity by nurses, servers, and people with foot conditions; strapped on by sensible, errand-running moms; and stacked high in the closets of our grandmothers, this supportive footwear category prizes functionality over trend-following, and often gets overlooked by we fashion-seeking shoe magpies.
However, the winds of change are blowing. Our feet are growing tired of flesh-biting straps, hard-as-rock footbeds, and weight distribution made uneven by unsupportive heels. Sure, there’s an endless stream of trendy sneakers out there, but sometimes we want more — the elevated visual statement of our favorite of-the-moment shoes paired with the easy wear of, say, a Dansko.
Luckily, several things are at play. Dorkus malorkus footwear is meeting fashion half-way, with brands like Birkenstocks and Clarks revamping tried-and-true lasts in need-it-now colorways. In addition to this, a new crop of comfort luxury brands have popped up, offering sleek, high-end styling with the same kind of engineering that used to be the sole (ha!) specialty of the comfort brands. There's also the endless wave of divisive granny and dad styles that continue to parade down designer runways, embraced by fashion people who love a good ugly shoe. We’ve included a mix of all here, because our greatest priority is helping you maintain a balance of comfort and style at all times, no matter where it’s coming from.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
We adore the suede-like, smokey-colored brilliance of these Comfortview mules, which come in extended sizes and widths to accommodate feet of all shapes and sizes. They’re also equipped with a padded footbed and skid-resistant soles, so that your walkabout is a safe and comfortable one.
Comfortview® Wide Width Rioux Mules, $, available at AmazonThe clog auteurs at Dankso offer so much more than the gardener mainstay that they’re known for. These retro-inspired wedges come with a moisture-wicking lining and a foam-cushioned midsole, and The Walking Company recommends them for plantar fasciitis support.
Dansko Sophie, $, available at The Walking CompanyWith a stabilizing heel seat and ball-of-foot cushioning, many of Vionic’s styles have the American Podiatric Medical Association seal of approval. With so many spring-friendly, on-trend styles, they’ve got our seal of approval, too.
Vionic Jolene Bootie, $, available at AmazonWe recently reported on the resurgence of the Teva-style sandal and its irresistibly Dad-like charm, and this technical shoe from Danish brand Ecco is giving us street style vibes in a major way. Its unique, cushioning support technology will make it easy to pound the pavement all day.
Ecco Offroad Active Sandal, $, available at Shoes.comAerosoles’ long-engineered comfort technology — impact-absorbing diamond pattern soles, memory foam footbed, and a heel cradle for extra support — makes these fiery patent shoes a summertime no-brainer.
Aerosoles Hornet Slingback, $, available at WalmartSofft’s Breeze sandal feels as good as it sounds, boasting a cushioned footbed and a leather lining to prevent blisters. A touch of buckles and leopard print are the design detail we love — icing on this comfortable, foot-friendly cake.
Sofft Breeze Slide Sandal, $, available at ShoelineThese casual canvas sneakers by VenusCelia have an average of 4.2 out of 5 stars and 692 ratings on Amazon. Extra points for the fact that they'll cost ya less than $20.
VenusCelia Canvas Lace Up Sneaker, $, available at AmazonFor some, the word “Croc”conjures a fleet of tank-like foam clogs in a Skittles-hued array of colors — not exactly the kind of footwear you’d choose for a fashionable outing. However, this functional brand has evolved, and they now offer a range of styles appropriate for wear outside of the home — all with the lightweight, flexible comfort that they’re known for. This particular style boasts a two-strap silhouette with heel straps for added stability and the brand’s signature foam construction.
Crocs Brooklyn Low Wedge, $, available at CrocsIt’s official: Clarks’ easy-wearing Wallabees have reached icon status. While we’re probably all more familiar with the timeless browns and tans that our dads wore, we are definitely snagging this sleek black version to pair with pretty much everything.
Clarks The Wallabee, $, available at ClarksKork-Ease got its start in the 1950s by pioneering the cork wedge sandal. Its platform reached the apex of popularity in the '70s, but the company is still making spot-on retro sandals outfitted with foam-cushioned soles.
Kork Ease San Carlos, $, available at Kork EaseThe buzzed-about former podiatrist Marion Parke outfits her high-end, Italian-made shoes with medical-grade foam insoles, for the ultimate combination of comfort and luxury.
Marion Parke Bianca 60mm Sandals, $, available at ShopbopThere’s nothing like a classic pair of wedges to take you through the rest of the summer — especially when the soles are rubberized for traction. These wear-anywhere sandals also come equipped with a soft, microfiber-lined footbed that’s cushioned for a seriously comfy walking experience.
Propet Luna Wedge, $, available at ZapposBlend in at the Echo Park Craft Fair with these sunny Born slides — a reviewer called them “the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned.” A multi-layer foam cushion will have you trend-setting sans achy feet.
Born Trang Slip-On, $, available at BornChannel the '70s in these elevated Naturalizer platforms, equipped with the brand’s signature top-notch, arch-supportive cushioning and unique heel cup.
Naturalizer Jasmin Platform Slingback, $, available at Shoes.comTaryn Rose was an orthopedic surgeon prior to founding her shoe brand. Molded insoles, patented shock absorption, and the croc-embossed leather of this black, chunky sandal makes it the perfect spring-to-summer transitional shoe.
Taryn Rose Fausta, $, available at ZapposThe Mallorca, Spain-based footwear brand Camper is known for its comfortable walking shoes and stylish design. Dancing the night away will not be an issue at future weddings, thanks to these sky-blue (and totally chic) block heels.
Camper Katie Sandals, $, available at FarfetchWalking Cradles name says it all — they call their signature cushioned footbed “tiny pillows”. The sleek back fabric and easy-to-wear styling of this low heel will take you from work to the weekend without missing a beat.
Walking Cradles Leandra Sling-Backs, $, available at The Walking CompanyWe don’t need to tell you that Birkenstock is on fire right now — the comfort-shoe manufacturer shows no signs of stopping after 245 years (!) of making footwear. Thanks to collaborations with high-falutin’ brands like Opening Ceremony and Rick Owens, you have more options than ever, but our summer pick are these under-$100 off-white thongs with — get ready for it — 2,611 reviews.
Birkenstock Birkenstock Gizeh Birko-Flor™, $, available at ZapposA cushioned footbed and glove-like leather construction make these under-$25 slip-ons perfect for running errands or lounging around the house.
Kunsto Genuine Leather Comfort Glove Shoes, $, available at AmazonThe avant-garde je ne sais quoi of these Spring Step slippers make them a perfect complement to any Comme- or Margiela-heavy lewk. The “tender” designation is accurate — a cushioned sole and flexible fabric upper will make any tired or swollen feet happy.
Spring Step Tender Loafer, $, available at Shoeline
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सनी लियोनी ने जब बीटाउन में एंट्री की तो उनके पास्ट वर्क और बोल्ड अदाओं के कारण कई लोगों ने उनकी आलोचना की, लेकिन समय के साथ इस अदाकारा ने इंडस्ट्री और ऑडियंस के बीच अपनी एक अलग जगह बना ही ली। शुरुआत में तो रेड कार्पेट पर भी सनी जबरदस्त बोल्ड लुक्स में ही नजर आती थीं, लेकिन 2017 के बाद कपड़ों को लेकर उनके चुनाव में काफी अंतर देखने को मिला है। अब इसे मां बनने का असर कहें या फिर सनी की बदली हुई इमेज के साथ बदलते हुए स्टाइल का लेकिन यह बात तय है कि सनी इन दिनों फैन्स को शॉक नहीं बल्कि स्टाइल गोल्स देती दिखती हैं। सनी लियोनी के शुरुआती करियर के स्टाइल की बात की जाए तो कपड़ों में हॉटनेस का एलिमेंट कुछ ज्यादा ही होता था। खासतौर से वह अपने बस्ट एरिया को हाईलाइट करती थीं। इसके लिए वह ज्यादातर ऐसी ड्रेसेस में दिखाई देती थीं, जिसमें या तो वेस्ट पार्ट पर कटआउट डिजाइन हो या फिर वह अलग-अलग तरह के क्रॉप टॉप और उसके साथ स्कर्ट पहनती थीं। टॉप्स की बॉडीफिट स्टाइल और उसके नीचे एक्सपोज्ड वेस्ट बस्ट को हाईलाइट करती थी। हालांकि, साल 2017 में जब सनी ने बच्चा गोद लिया तबसे उनकी अपीयरेंस में काफी बदलाव आए। बेटी निशा के जिदंगी में आने के बाद से इस बोल्ड बाला ने अपने फैशन को टोन्ड डाउन करना शुरू कर दिया। उनकी ड्रेसेस में सेक्सी एलिमेंट तो ऐड रहा लेकिन ओवर एक्सपोजर से सनी ने तौबा करना शुरू कर दी। उन्हें प्लंजिंग या टाइट फिट टॉप्स और ड्रेस की जगह स्ट्रेट कट नेकलाइन, या फिर ऐसी नेकलाइन की ड्रेस पहनना शुरू कर दी जो बस टीजिंग इफेक्ट क्रिएट करे। ड्रेसेस के रंग में भी सनी ने सटल कलर्स को भी अपने कलेक्शन में शामिल करना शुरू कर दिया। उनके स्टाइल में दिखने लगा कि अब उनका मोटिव सिर्फ सेक्सी दिखना नहीं बल्कि एलिगेंट दिखना भी है। इतना ही नहीं, सनी ने अपने कर्वी फिगर को भी ज्यादा फिट बनाना शुरू कर दिया। इससे जिन बॉडीकॉन ड्रेसेस में वह उन्हें oomph फैक्टर क्रिएट करती दिखती हैं, उसकी जगह ऐसे गाउन्स में वह ग्लैमरस लगने लगीं। सनी ने टी-शर्ट, शर्ट्स जैसे कैजुअल कपड़ों को भी अपने कलेक्शन का हिस्सा बनाना शुरू कर दिया। इस वजह से इवेंट्स में भी उनका कूल लुक देखने को मिलने लगा। इसी के साथ जींस और अलग-अलग तरह की पैंट्स, फॉर्मल शॉर्ट्स ने भी उनकी वॉरड्रोब में जगह बनाने शुरू कर दी। हाई स्लिट और मिनी ड्रेसेस में दिखाई देने वाली सनी का यह बदलाव उनके फैन्स को भी पसंद आया। सनी के बदले फैशन का फायदा यह हुआ है कि अब उनके फैशन को दूसरी लड़कियां भी आराम से फॉलो कर सकती हैं। सनी के लेटेस्ट फोटोज में कई ऐसी ड्रेसेस देखी जा सकती हैं जिन्हें लंच डेट से लेकर फ्रेंड्स के साथ डिनर पार्टी तक में पहना जा सकता है।
देशभर में तेजी से अपने पैर पसार रहे कोरोना वायरस से संक्रमित मरीजों की संख्या 5734 हो चुकी है। वहीं गुरुवार सुबह तक कोरोना वायरस से मरने वालों का आंकड़ा 166 पर पहुंच गया है। स्वास्थ्य मंत्रालय के ताजा आंकड़ों के मुताबिक, कोरोना वायरस का सर्वाधिक हॉटस्पॉट महाराष्ट्र बना हुआ है। जिसे देखते हुए यूपी के 15 जिलों को पूरी तरह से सील कर दिया गया है। COVID-19 या कोरोना वायरस के भारत में आने के बाद से, लोग अपनी सुरक्षा के लिए हर तरह के उपाय कर रहे हैं। चाहें इस संक्रमण को रोकने के लिए मास्क पहनना हो या फिर दिन में चार से पांच बार हाथों को साबुन से धोना। लेकिन क्या आप जानते हैं कि कोरोना वायरस संक्रमित मरीजों से ही नहीं बल्कि आपके जूतों से भी फैल सकता है। जी हां, एक रिसर्च के मुताबिक कोरोना वायरस जूतों पर कम से कम 5 दिन तक जीवित रह सकता है। नेशनल इंस्टीट्यूट ऑफ हेल्थ के एक अध्ययन के अनुसार, कोविड-19 (COVID-19) या कोरोना वायरस कार्डबोर्ड बॉक्स पर लगभग 24 घंटे, स्टील व प्लास्टिक की चीजों और कपड़ों पर कोरोना वायरस तीन दिन तक जिंदा रह सकता है। इतना ही नहीं, कई अध्ययनों में इस बात का दावा भी किया गया है कि कोरोना वायरस आपके जूते पर सबसे लंबे समय तक जीवित रहता है। ऐसा इसलिए क्योंकि अधिकांश जूते चमड़े, रबर और प्लास्टिक से बने होते हैं, इसलिए इन पर वायरस और बैक्टीरिया आसानी एक जगह से दूसरी जगह जा सकते हैं। यही नहीं, रिसर्च तो यहां तक भी कहती है कि अनजाने में इस महामारी को फैलाने का यह एक खतरनाक तरीका हो सकता है। खासकर अगर आप भीड़ भरे स्थानों जैसे बाजारों या अस्पतालों में गए हों, तब वायरस और बैक्टीरिया वाहक का काम करते हैं जिसके बाद वायरस को एक शरीर से दूसरे शरीर में प्रवेश करने का मौका मिल जाता है। ( ये भी पढ़ें:)कोरोना वायरस से बचने के लिए जूतों की साफ-सफाई कैसे करें... इस बात में कोई दोराय नहीं कि कोरोना वायरस से बचने के लिए हमें खुद की साफ-सफाई रखना बेहद जरूरी है। समय-समय पर हाथ धोने से लेकर मास्क पहनने तक, यहां तक कि उन चीजों को भी छूने से बचना चाहिए जो संक्रमण का केंद्र हो सकती हैं। जैसे सब्जियां-फल-फूल, लोहे की ग्रिल आदि। अब सबसे बड़ा सवाल ये उठता है कि जब संपूर्ण लॉकडाउन लगा हुआ है तो जूतों का क्या काम? दरअसल, लॉकडाउन के बाद भी हमें रोजमर्रा की चीजों के लिए घर से बाहर जाना पड़ता रहता है। जिसके कारण वायरस को एक स्थान से दूसरे स्थान बदलने का मौका मिल जाता है। उदाहरण के तौर पर ले लीजिए कि आप घर से बाहर कोई जरूरी सामान लेने के लिए निकले लेकिन आपको क्या पता आपसे दो मिनट पहले उसी रस्ते पर कोई संक्रमित शख्स गुजरा हो। ऐसे में उसके उसके बैक्टीरिया आपके जूतों से चिपककर घर तक आ जाते हैं जिसके कारण बिना किसी ट्रेवल हिस्ट्री और बिना किसी के संक्रमण में आएं हम कोरोना संक्रमित हो जाते हैं। सबसे ज्यादा ध्यान देने वाली बातें... * बाहर से आने के बाद आप अपने जूतों को घर के बाहर ही उतारें। * हो सकता है कि आप जूतों या चप्पलों को रोज ना धोएं, लेकिन कम से कम इन जूतों-चप्पलों को चार से पांच घंटे धूप में जरूर रखें। * जब भी बाहर निकलें जूतों के साथ मोजे पहनना न भूलें, लेकिन हां सबसे ज्यादा ध्यान देने वाली बात इन मोजों को नियमित धोएं। ऐसा इसलिए क्योंकि अगर किसी कारण इन पर कोरोना वायरस होगा भी तो वो आपकी बॉडी में प्रवेश नहीं कर पाएगा। * जूतों की साफ-सफाई के लिए इन दिनों बेकिंग सोडा का इस्तेमाल जरूर करें ( ये भी पढ़ें: ) * अगर आपके जूतों का लेबल मशीन वॉशेबल है, तो आधे घंटे तक इनको डिटर्जेंट में भिगोकर धो लें। * इन दिनों खुले जूते-चप्पल को पहनना पूरी तरह से अवॉइड करें, कोशिश करें कि बाहर से आते वक्त आप हाथों के साथ-साथ हाथ पैर भी धोएं। * चमड़े के जूते पानी से नहीं धो सकते इसलिए कोशिश करें कि इन्हें साफ कपड़े से अच्छे से पोंछ लें या पॉलिश कर लें, लेकिन ऐसा करते वक्त हाथों में ग्लव्स पहनना न भूलें।
