LUXURY SNEAKERS!

Never one to ignore what was happening at street level, Lagerfeld also created stacked heels reminiscent of the sneakers that club kids were wearing (think Spice Girls) in the nineties. With the rise of hip hop’s influence on mainstream culture, Chanel’s A/W ’93-‘94 runway presentation also included a high-top style with large tongues – reminiscent of many a Nike or adidas basketball kick. Eat your heart out Jeremy Scott!

In 2003, Chanel created an Insta Pump Fury with Reebok. With only a few pairs made for runway and seeding, the shoe was actually never sold because at the time, Chanel did not allow the sale of products with their logo that were made outside of France or the European Union. The shoes were made in white and black versions and are a very rare piece of high-end sneaker history.

In the current Chanel collection for 2009, two sneaker styles are offered, both recalling Converse sneakers. The first, a grey high top, mimics the sleek silhouette of the Converse Chuck Taylor complete with cap-toe and circular logo patch by the ankle. The second, a low-top style, also has a similar silhouette. Though recalling classic sneakers, both styles are definitively Chanel and incorporate the brand’s identity everywhere from the embroidery on the tongue to the embossed aglets and the neutral color palette.