2024’s shoe sensations: A walkthrough

When it comes to footwear, classics like Converse Chuck Taylors and Doc Martens 1460 boots remain immovable in their ability to withstand the grime of everyday life as well as the test of time. But every year a few select shoes enjoy their time in the limelight, dominating the visual scene of campuses such as our own. As the year comes to a close, it’s time to start investigating the most popular footwear of 2024.

Adidas Sambas

While the Adidas Sambas cemented its place as the it sneaker of 2022, the wave of its momentum is just about nearing its end this year. Its origins trace back to 1950s Germany, when a soccer team adorned the footwear. The name “Samba” was born out of its superior performance on snowy and icy pitches. The design then evolved throughout the 70s and 80s, remaining a staple in the world of soccer throughout the following decades.

While Sambas possessed a negative cool factor fashion-wise, being a dad shoe, they began to gain traction in the world of fashion through their sold-out Wales Bonner collaboration. The addition of crochet detailing, as well as the concept of a fresh take on a classic, made their collabs sought-after shoes. After the shoe was spotted in its original colorways on celebrities such as Bella Hadid, it continued to skyrocket into popularity.

With the popular coquette aesthetic, defined by bows and ribbons galore, some opted to replace the plain laces of Sambas with pink ribbons. Metallics were also on trend, with the silver colorway being another popular option. However, as with all trends that experience an explosive rise in popularity, the Sambas have fizzled out with the rise of alternative shoe options.

While Sambas have reigned superior compared to other Adidas models, some honorable mentions include the Gazelles, Campuses and Spezials. Shoes visually similar to the Sambas by the brand Alohas have also circulated.

Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66

Initially touted as the alternative option for the sleek yet played-out Sambas, the Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 sneaker caught the eye of the fashion world this year. This sporty shoe possesses an innate cool factor, with the iconic yellow colorway being sported by stars such as Bruce Lee in “Game of Death” and Uma Thurman in “Kill Bill.” 

Onitsuka Tiger had its beginnings in the 1950s with Kihachiro Onitsuka setting out to design a shoe for the Kobe High School basketball team that reduced slip. Eventually, in 1956, Onitsukas became the official shoe of the Japanese Olympic team. The Mexico 66 model was crafted for the 1968 Olympic pre-trial, where the iconic stripe was first incorporated.

Onitsuka Tiger merged with other companies to become ASICS in 1977, only to relaunch again as Onitsuka Tiger in 2002, this time with reimagined takes on old classics

Onitsuka Tiger stopped selling in the U.S. in 2023, only to resume stateside operations in August 2024.

On Nov. 20, an Onitsuka Tiger collaboration with Patou was released, hopping on the coquette train with its ballet flats and pink colorways.

Isabel Marant Bekett wedge sneaker

A bit less mainstream than its Adidas and Onitsuka counterparts, the hype for the Isabel Marant Bekett wedge sneaker was reawakened within a younger generation in 2023, and picked up traction into 2024. This chunky sneaker hails back to the 2010s when it was rocked by Beyoncé, Rihanna and anyone who wanted a casual alternative to heels — and could get off the waitlist.

By curating the image of the effortlessly cool Marant Girl and bringing boho chic to mainstream fashion, Isabel Marant played a role in shaping the fashion sphere of the 90s, all the way to the 2010s. The Bekett sneaker marked a move in the fashion world towards athleisure and wearable clothes.

While the Sambas and Onitsukas were defined by sleek silhouettes, the Isabel Marant wedge sneaker marks a break from the monotony and a shift towards an intrigue for innovation in fashion. In June 2021, the taller Balksee was released.

Dress shoes

While there have been specific popular sneakers this year, dress shoes have concurrently had their own trend shifts. This began with the Dr. Martens Adrian Tassel Loafer and is now extending to even sleeker designs when it comes to black dress shoes, like the Derby.

This list would not be complete without the mention of Maison Margiela shoes. Tabis in general, with their distinctive split-toe look, were a staple dress shoe of this year. Their GATs have also risen, which can be seen as a higher-end Samba alternative.

Pointed-toe heels have also been in, sometimes paired with corporate-inspired looks in concordance with the circulating office siren look.

Ballet flats

Venturing away from the realm of sneakers, ballet flats have had their moment too this year. The obsession with ballet-core and coquetry has extended from mere inspiration into the real thing. 

Without a particular defining brand, the ballet flat as a style of footwear itself has made its rounds, as brands incorporated various amounts and styles of straps and different materials.

These are often paired with jeans or trousers in an exercise of the wrong shoe theory, meant to utilize an element of surprise to generate intrigue.

Kitten heels

On a similar note, kitten heels experienced a rise in popularity. This is another shoe that is often paired with pants to create an effortless, interesting look. Lily-Rose Depp often champions this style, sporting Repettos with a pair of vintage Levis when out and about.

It is interesting to note that there may be a correlation between the height of heels and the state of our economy. During quarantine, platform boots like the chunky-yet-sleek Demonias were all the rage. The increased economic stability of this past year may explain the preference for the more understated kitten heel and down-to-earth ballet flats.

With shoes being such an integral part of our culture, it is fitting that UCI has a social club called Fashion and Sneakers at UCI (FSUCI). At weekly meetings, students with a passion for fashion engage with a creative community that hosts swap meets and collaborates with other clubs. FSUCI President Ariana Bides shared her hopes for 2025 shoe trends in an interview with New University.

“Going into the next year, I really just hope we hold on to this idea of expressing ourselves through different mediums of footwear, not just sticking to one classic silhouette, like the Samba,” Bides said. “Like, the Samba had its time, but again, I would love to see more people actually wear what is reflective of themselves.”

Tessa Kang is an Arts & Entertainment Intern for the fall 2024 quarter. She can be reached at tokang@uci.edu.

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