Fashion trends are notorious for going in and out of style over the course of history and the trends in sneakers follows the same cycle. It wasn’t more than a few years ago when the craze in the industry was sleek athletic shoes that dominated the sneaker scene and then you slowly started to see sneakers releasing with a vintage aesthetic that had a chunkier design.
The footwear industry slowly adapted to the trend of chunky sneakers, also known as dad shoes. It’s not only the standard footwear brands that are taking note of the trend, it is also the luxury fashion houses such as Balenciaga and Gucci that decided to release their versions of the chunky sneaker.
Without getting into designer footwear and sticking to sneakers, here are some of the best dad shoes of 2018:
Nike Air Monarch IV
Image: Sean Go
Arguably the most iconic dad shoe of all-time, it can be argued that the Nike Air Monarch IV is the shoe that started it all. It is a pair of shoes that you may have seen your dad wear and he may even still have a pair, but it is a timeless silhouette that will forever hold its place in history.
Nike MK2 Tekno
Image: Footasylum
When one of the most iconic dad shoe of all-time receives a modern update, you know it’s going to be newsworthy. Sixteen years after the release of the Air Monarch, Nike released the MK2 Tekno which features a design that mixes elements of its original DNA and incorporates a modern edge.
adidas Falcon W
Image: Sneaker News
The adidas Falcon W is modeled after the Falcon Dorf from 1997 and stays very true to its roots in terms of design and unique colour combinations. The Falcon line returned to the catalogue this year as a women’s exclusive.
adidas Yung 1
Image: WearTesters
Another classic silhouette received a modern update with the launch of the adidas Yung 1 earlier this year. The Yung 1 takes the upper of the Falcon Dorf design from 1997 and infuses it with a revamped sole.
Reebok Aztrek
Image: Sneaker News
Originally launched in 1993 as an everyday shoe, Reebok saw the trend of the dad shoes continue to rise and decided to dig into its archives to bring back the Aztrek in all its original glory. Not only does the Reebok Aztrek OG design look like a retro model, the colour schemes that were used catches the eyes and brings people back to the 1990’s.
PUMA Thunder Desert
Image: PUMA
PUMA is another brand that looked into its extensive archives and pulled elements from silhouettes such as the Cell System from the 1990’s and the Alexander McQueen collaborations to create a modern silhouette in the Thunder Desert that fits right in with the current trend.
New Balance 990v4
Image: nss magazine
New Balance has been one of the brands that has been most commonly associated with being dad shoes with some of its chunkier designs but with the rise in popularity of the trend, a model such as the Made in USA New Balance 990v4 has been able to make a strong comeback.
Fila Disruptor II
Image: Ashphaltgold
FILA dug into its archives and brought back the Disruptor series from the 1990’s for a modern update. The once-mainstream popular brand made a strong push with the return of its vintage-inspired products and using that to bring on nostalgia.
Featured image: Instagram/ @sneakersmag
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