17 Unforgettable—Oh, Let’s Just Come Out and Say It: Ugly!—Sneakers That Defined 2018

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The chunky sneaker trend may have begun in 2017 with Balenciaga’s Triple S shape and Louis Vuitton’s Archlight style, but the shoe silhouette really came into its own in 2018. Not only were thick-soled sneakers the most prolific shoes of the year, appearing on runways from Alexander Wang to Comme des Garçons, but the style gained surprising real-world traction, too. Yes, street stylers still love a posh boot from Loewe, but those clunky Nikes and New Balances are hard to beat, especially with all the running around during Fashion Week.

Here, Vogue Runway gathered the 17 sneakers we’ll always remember as being so 2018.

Comme des Garçons Spring 2019

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Rei Kawakubo has a long-standing partnership with Nike that’s produced a number of memorable sneakers. If the hot pink Air Maxes are her most popular style, these flatform-esque white sneakers with CdG-branded chains are sure to rank among her most memorable. Worn on the runway with bulbous jackets and trailing trains, they ensured that the Comme woman remains light on her feet, even if the world is weighing her down.

Balenciaga Fall 2018

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They’re no Triple S, but these Balenciaga Track Trainers evoke a similar radical-dad-shoe aesthetic. Debuted on the Fall 2018 runway, the shape has been in stores for several months and has already sold out in almost every size in the all-black colorway. Consider it the proof that Balenciaga’s thick kicks are here to stay.

Gucci Fall 2018

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There’s no stopping Gucci’s hiking boot turned sneaker combo. With detachable jewels, the weighty hybrid is a favorite of Hollywood types, influencers, and editors. Consider it another hit from the Alessandro Michele factory of fantasy.

Prada Fall 2018

MARCUS TONDO

What else would you wear with head-to-toe nylon than an updated scuba shoe? Touching on the themes of sport and protection prevalent in Prada’s Fall 2018 collection, the Cloudbust sneaker with a Velcro strap made the rounds among the model crowd. Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, and Irina Shayk, among others, were all spotted wearing it. If these women are trading their heels for Cloudbusts, you know they’re comfy.

Louis Vuitton Resort 2019

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You know the Louis Vuitton Archlight sneaker, beloved by Jaden Smith and Hailey Baldwin, but what about the Archlight’s boot cousin, which debuted on Nicolas Ghesquière’s Resort runway at the Fondation Maeght in southern France? With a leather upper, the sneaker hybrid offers LV fans an elegant upgrade for their eveningwear. Expect to see it all over the awards season after-parties in 2019.

Coach 1941 Spring 2019

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Coach’s Stuart Vevers has long loved a flatform shoe. For Spring 2019, he merged moccasins, platforms, and sneakers into this iridescent sneaker-boot. Shown on the runway with prairie dresses and oversize hoodies, the kicks are an elegant solution for those adverse to the dad shoe trend.

Off-White Spring 2019

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Virgil Abloh is already a king in the sneaker world. What made his Spring 2019 styles stand out was how Abloh styled them on the runway—not with track pants or running shorts but with sweeping gowns in neon colors. Will his superfans try out the styling trick on the red carpet? Stay tuned in 2019.

Christopher Kane Fall 2018

Photographed by Corey Tenold

No one can make an ugly-pretty shoe quite like Christopher Kane. And no one does subversion quite like the Scottish designer, either. From the ankles up, his Fall 2018 models wore dresses printed with illustrations from The Joy of Sex; from the ankles down, they sported the least sexy shoes of all time: Z-Coils. Embellished with crystal strands, Kane’s collaboration with the orthopedic shoe company set a new bar for unexpected collaborations and jolie laide footwear.

Pyer Moss Spring 2019

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Pyer Moss’s location and artfully composed dresses were what people talk about when they talk about Kerby Jean-Raymond’s Spring 2019 Pyer Moss show, but if you happened to look at the models’ feet as they walked through the grass in Weeksville, Brooklyn, you’d have noticed a clunky collaboration with Reebok.

Versace Spring 2019

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It’s a sandal! No, it’s a sneaker! At Versace, Spring’s most statement-making shoe was both. If the queen of modern sex appeal, Donatella Versace, is endorsing a thick-soled shoe, you know the trend has legs.

Vetements Fall 2018

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Demna Gvasalia made the chunkiest shoe of them all at Vetements. We haven’t spied anyone wearing the enormous sneakers yet, but their image will forever go down in fashion history.

Burberry Spring 2019

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Even Riccardo Tisci’s refined Burberry debut featured a couple dad shoes for dudes. A more posh take on sneaker dressing, these shoes sold out within minutes during his first drop of the year in October.

Roberto Cavalli Spring 2019

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Paul Surridge’s asymmetric gowns for Roberto Cavalli look best in movement. Wisely, he outfitted his models with silver kicks so they could sprint down the runway, trains trailing in their wake.

Givenchy Fall 2018

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We’re not saying that Meghan, Duchess of Sussex chose Clare Waight Keller’s Givenchy for her wedding dress because of these sport-inspired sneakers, but you have to admit, both the duchess and Waight Keller prioritize comfort in chicness. So . . . perhaps Meghan wears these kicks to pad around the palace. We can’t know for sure, so we’ll just have to imagine it!

Stella McCartney Spring 2019

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These aren’t the chunkiest shoes on the list, but Stella McCartney’s Spring 2019 sneakers are memorable for another reason. Made without using any glue, they are an important stride in sustainability.

Etro Spring 2019

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A sneaker that says, “When in Cali, do as the surfers do.”

Alexander Wang Fall 2019

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These clear-soled Adidas sneakers gave models a little extra height on Alexander Wang’s runway, and, if he’s to be believed, they work from the gym to the boardroom.

Watch Adesuwa Aighewi Take Vogue to Alexander Wang’s Fall 2019 Show: