Distress was one of the big trends of 2015. We wore distressed jeans, tattered shirts and skirts with unfinished hems. Kanye West even took the trend many miles too far for us with his Yeezy Season 2 collection which in his own words was ‘selling slavery to white folks’. While we can’t exactly encourage you to dress like modern slaves, there is one manifestation of this trend that we love: the worn sneaker.
Sneakers that look lived in have become huge in the last year, transitional from a street wear trend to a legitimate fashion statement. Worn sneakers ride on the beat up boot/dress shoe trend that international brands like DSquared and Dolce and Gabbana have pushed for years, trends that homegrown brands like Shem Paronelli have improved on. These are the three best ways to wear the distressed sneaker trend.
BEACH DAY CASUAL
By completely dressing down you can keep the emphasis on your sneakers. An oversized tartan shirt and mini-shorts with basic jewellery help sell the impression that you gave minimal thought to your outfit while maximizing comfort and impact.
FESTIVAL READY
From the Gidi Culture Festival at Eko Atlantic City to the Food and lifestyle festivals popping up across the country, festival ready looks are in high demand, and distressed sneakers are the perfect accessory to trudge through all that grass and beach sand. Converses are best for festival looks because they are unobtrusive, give great traction and look better the older they get. Pair with skinny jeans and a great reworked kimono to draw the right kind of attention.
DATE NIGHT
It might seem counter-intuitive to wear beat up sneakers on date night but that’s only if you’re not very creative with your dates. Golden Goose distressed high tops are dressy enough to be paired with a great pair of fitted dress pants and pastel sweater for an outdoors date. Maybe the Indie View film screenings at Freedom Park or if you’re fancy the Banana Island Secret Cinema Drive Thru movies. Or if you’re more adventurous, your worn slacks will make you right at home rock climbing at the indoor rock faces at Get Arena.
