LUXURY SNEAKERS!

Sporting a suntan, a little black dress and costume jewelry were all considered taboo until one woman made them chic – her name was Mademoiselle Coco Chanel. Standing the test of time, Chanel is a fashion idol, even 125 years after her birth. Growing up in an orphanage, she approached luxury with an aspirational eye, a look that at once speaks to both the high-end and the streets. Her first clothing collection caused a stir because she used jersey, a textile that at the time was used only for men’s underwear – in her capable hands, common jersey was as luxurious as silk.

Before she was a designer, Chanel wore men’s riding pants at a time when women rode horses side-saddle because of the voluminous skirts they wore. She also had a huge influence in making trousers popular for women, dressing the likes of Marlene Dietrich, who was the most iconic of her trouser-clad ambassadors. Chanel was a master at creating comfortable sportswear so it’s a good bet that if she were alive today, she would be adding her touch to the definitive casual footwear – the humble sneaker.

In 1983, Karl Lagerfeld took the helm at the house of Chanel. Uncle Karl is a master at reinterpreting Mademoiselle Chanel’s vision with a contemporary twist. Karl, like Coco, always has his eye to the streets because he knows that true style resides where individuals are forced to get creative when faced with economic constraints. Every modern-day collection includes at least one pair of sneakers – no doubt a nod to the ideals of comfort that Chanel embodied.

Though the house of Chanel is a pioneer in setting many a trend, when it comes to sneakers, Chanel follows the lead of the giants, borrowing classic styles developed by established sneaker companies and adding the Chanel iconography and elegance. In 1995, Chanel released a style that resembles the Vans slip-on. Instead of the usual canvas, Chanel upgraded to a silky fabric printed with blue flowers and the Chanel logo. Even the insole is lined with silk.

ARTICLE by GABRIELLA A. DAVI-KHORASANEE