Amidst the rush to label everything under the sun a recession indicator, one particularly elevated shoe trend rises above all: wedge sneakers. The silhouette first re-emerged within the post-COVID, electroclash-inspired corners of TikTok and have since taken off via URL and now IRL, embraced by Tumblr-nostalgics and A-listers alike. As the reigning shoe of the early 2010s, name a celebrity, and the chances they’ve worn wedge sneakers are almost as high as heels. Back then, you’d spot them on Beyonce and Gwen Stefani, and more recently, you may have noticed them on KATSEYE’s Daniela Avanzini, Tyla, Kai Schreiber, and Lila Moss.
As summer makes way for the back-to-school season, consider a pair of these 2010s classics. Not quite a platform, though certainly not your stereotypical trainer, the wedge is the perfect in between when you want a bit of oompf while keeping in comfort. It’s an upscaled sneaker in all senses, with a bit of downtown spunk-meets-sport. I put in my wired headphones, queued up some Sky Ferreira, and styled three of my favorite wedge sneaker iterations. Consider me indie sleazed.
Isabel Marant, Bekett Sneaker
It’s no sneaker wedge styling story without the famed pair that started it all. First released in 2011, Isabel Marant has described the Bekett as an elegant yet tomboyish heel that elongates the wearer’s legs. This crazed leather shoe comes in three different colorways — black, ecru, and taupe — and features a two-inch heel, velcro straps, and defining padded tongue.
I styled my black pair with a vintage knit dress-hoodie-hybrid I found at NYC’s Markette pop-up, plus red sunglasses for even more color. For pants, I reached for my favorite thrifted cargo capris that practically go with anything. I feel like wedges style excellently with a mid-calf pant, especially in the transitional summer-to-fall weather. If one were to draw a shoe from memory, chances are it’d look something like this puffed-out pair.
Converse, Chuck Taylor All Star Wedge Platform
To all the Converse-devotees, this pair’s for you. A wedged take on the classic All Stars, these canvas platforms come in black and white, with nearly three inches of height and lots of attitude. Going for a bit of a mix-and-match twee ensemble, I styled them with a gold foil graphic tee from Everything and above-the-knee skirt (for potential dress code’s sake). For accessories, I opted for striped socks from Mina Le’s collaboration with Doublesoul as well as an array of estate sale jewelry. The more pattern- and color-mixing, the better.
Ash, Boradia Wedge Sneaker
Definitely the closest pair out of the three to a sneaker heel, these suede Ash wedges have a narrow silhouette with paneled detailing and come in black, beige, and sangria colorways. I went for a simpler, everyday understated look with a button-up denim dress — thrifted, of course. I like a fitted silhouette with wedges, which themselves already have such a distinct shape, and wanted to bring a bit of sophistication to an otherwise-athletic shoe.
