Ballet trainers. How do you feel about them? It’s safe to say that the latest ‘ugly shoe’ to wash over the fashion set is by far one of the most divisive styles to date, sending half our editors into excited squeals and the other half groaning.
‘Ugly trainers’ often refer to bulky, utilitarian trainers in thick soles, bright primary colours, and chunky silhouettes that one would more likely take on a hike than wear out and about as a fashion statement. But as Gorpcore would have it, these not-so-flattering styles have entered the fashion chat—and stayed.
Emily Ratajkowski is a fan, often seen in French outdoor sports brand Salomon’s XT-6 trainers paired with a wispy dress walking her dog in NYC, officially putting her stamp of approval on the trend. Always the first to show us the way when it comes to styling an ‘ugly shoe’, she once again was ahead of the curve and was seen in a pair of Foundry Mews‘ made-to-order ballet trainers, ushering a new trend for 2025.
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It had already been cropping up on runways in the last few seasons at brands like Simone Rocha and Cecilie Bahnsen, who put their edgy-feminine spin on ergonomic trainers, but the trend really took off with everyone’s enthusiasm for Balletcore earlier in the year, where our favourite influencers were sporting leggings, lace and tutus. Their enthusiasm has trickled down to the latest ballet trainers that have now infiltrated the high street and can be found on the feet of everyone—even those who would never use to dapple in the ‘ugly shoe’ trends.
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You see, that’s the appeal of the ballet trainer is its hybrid quality, offering a slightly more feminine touch than, say, the dad shoe, but still remaining a comfort shoe at its core. Given last year’s ballet flat frenzy, it’s perhaps not surprising that we’d be head over heels for this new evolution that merges two of the most enduring ‘core’ trends to date. Barbenheimer, but make it fashion.
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Now how does one *actually* style this tricky trainer trend? Well, street style stars have been leaning into the ballet end of the spectrum, pairing the shoe with flouncy tutus and bubble dresses, allowing the shoe to be the grounding element to the ultra-feminine style. But Emily Ratajkowski actually makes a case for styling ballet trainers with a tank top and jorts, adding a touch of whimsy to her laidback Gorpcore look.
Still not entirely convinced? You’ll just have to try them on to know for sure. At the very least, they’re guaranteed to be comfortable!