Fashion

Return of the Plimsoll

Make way Louis Vuitton sci-fi Archlight and Balenciaga Speed Runner, we’re here to talk the simple and ever effective shoes to take you from street to soirée at a fraction of the price. From Paul Smith to Clarks Originals, we talk the return of the staple Spring Summer footwear piece for any wardrobe that is the plimsoll. From full ballerina skirt to boyfriend jeans, from pin roll to suit pant, a plimsoll is the style to match them all. Thanks to the return of sneaker to the street style game in recent years (hallelujah), we bring you our ultimate array of new sneaker styles to put a spring in your step this season.

Now that we’ve shaken the myth that plimsolls are just for tennis, they become ridiculously useful foundation to any look (providing you keep them pretty clean, if you’re regular here you’ll know our views on this). Inspiration is key, and when it comes to this where better to look than all around, street style kings and queens in their many have reinforced our belief that a flat white trainer works on anyone from dad to daughter, we’ve collated some of our favourite looks and styles to adopt with ease this SS18.

Via @glasshousejournal | SIX WOMEN WE ADMIRE: INTL WOMENS DAY | @nickwakeman “In the next 100 years, I hope we become more accepted for our fragility and that we do not have to match the male role to be taken seriously. In terms of inspirational figures, the seven women that work for me are a daily inspiration, they work extremely hard and always lift my spirits when things get rough. My mother, my grandmother (who was the Nicholson in the family) and any women who stands up for her beliefs is also an inspiration. Over the years, I’ve realised the worst thing about being a female business owner is this; when you make tough decisions for your business as a man one is considered strong and someone to be revered, as a woman you’re often just considered a bitch.”

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Oversized suiting is in for everyone for another season. No matter how you opt to adapt the trend, it’s become easier than ever to create a smart casual look with effortless ease, add a box fresh white plimsoll to any suit fit to create the perfect air of Parisian chic.

VEJA is the new black, and for every ethically sourced shoe there’s an array of textures and colours to choose from, but for a first timer a white V-10 goes a long way.

Men’s

Women’s

Superga brought slip on trainers with Italian inspired ease to the forefront of fashion. This season the brand offers another range of comfortable, wearable tennis shoes in a range of metallics, platforms and staple minimal canvas options, a summer must-have for all.

កប់!!! Trigenic Evo ??#clarksoriginals

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For the more technical dresser amongst us, the Clarks Originals Trigenic family is a modern adaptation of the plimsoll, think futuristic school shoe meets the modern Dad-trainer.

@karissasparke wearing the ARDEN sneakers ?

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In a variety of colours and adaptable styles, amongst others Senso brings us a cupsole trainer with a soft leather heel that can be worn up or down for an easy-breezy summer of slip-on sneakers.

The staple shoe for SS18.

Shop Men’s trainers at AllSole >>

Shop Women’s trainers at AllSole >>

By Alex Neilson-Clark



Alex Neilson-Clark

Alex Neilson-Clark

Writer and expert

Follower of street style trends by the dozen, you'll never catch me in anything but trainers. Accessories and outerwear are my calling and in my eyes, there's no such thing as overdoing them.