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.
SHOP AXEL ARIGATO TRAINERS
SHOP SIMILAR SNEAKERS
Next up, the biggest spring/summer 2021 fashion trends to know.
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Anyone With Good Taste in Shoes Will Run to Order These New Adidas It SneakersDakota Johnson already did.
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Even People Who Hate Sneakers Will Lose It Over the Pretty Trend Jennifer Lawrence Just WoreSee for yourself.
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Harry Styles Just Paired Short Shorts With the New It Sneaker Color of the SummerA vibe.
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If You Wear Jeans and a White T-Shirt This Summer, Swap This Dated Sneaker Color Trend for This OneGigi Hadid just did.
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Don't Buy New Sambas Without Seeing These Cool-Girl Sneakers That Just LaunchedThey may or may not also be from Adidas.
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It's Shocking How Much Cooler This '90s Sneaker Trend Makes Jeans and a Blazer LookThey transform classic outfits.
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35 Incredibly Chic Finds I Immediately Shared With My Fashion-Editor Friends When I Found ThemThey're so good I want them all.
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Everyone Cool in Seoul Is Already Calling These New Sneakers the Next SpeedcatsComing soon to a pair of feet near you.
