It’s all too easy to pigeonhole ourselves when it comes to fashion: “I don’t do florals”, “I would never go near a shirt dress”, “I can’t pull off that colour”. We all have those categories that turn us off – perhaps it’s due to a comment someone made many years ago, or a bad photo on Instagram. But, of course, it can also come from a confidence in knowing what does and doesn’t fit your personal style. The line between owning an aesthetic and narrowing your sartorial horizons can be a fine one.
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For me, trainers have always been a category that I’ve struggled with. Like many others, I spent my twenties trying different aesthetics out for size, embracing certain looks and discarding others, and I came to the conclusion that I liked my style to feel “polished”, so sporty separates, distressed fabrics, casual sneakers et al were no longer in my wardrobe wheelhouse. But then along came Adidas Gazelles.
The “fashion trainer” phenomenon is hardly a new one, and it didn’t take much willpower on my part to resist the advances of the lockdown chunky dad sneaker or logo-clad high-tops. But the retro sneaker trend or, more specifically, the Adidas Gazelle? It felt different. Coming with a more subtle plimsoll-like shape (it was originally designed as a football shoe) and an undeniably ’70s-inspired spin, I could instantly see how the trainer could be a great addition to my wardrobe. It wasn’t a case of deviating from my personal style, rather just expanding it.
It’s clear that I’m not alone in my love for these sneakers, with fashion editors and celebs alike – think Gigi Hadid, Kaia Gerber, Katie Holmes and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley – snapped out and about in the classic shoe. Yes, some may declare them “basic”, thanks to their current ubiquity and mass appeal, but I would argue that this merely reveals the timelessness of their design. The Gazelle is just one in a long line of styles to claim their place in the trainer hall of fame: Adidas Stan Smiths, Converse All Stars, Nike Cortezs, Reebok Club C 85s, Adidas Gazelles. Long may they reign.
