Style Icons: Balenciaga's Speed Trainers

The Balenciaga Speed: A Runaway Success  

“I like those Balenciagas, the ones that look like socks,” declared Cardi B. in 2018 on her track “I Like It.” The kicks Cardi was talking about were, of course, none other than the Speeds, born two years earlier under Demna Gvasalia's sharp-shooting creative direction. As polarizing as they were fascinating, the shoes (originally two-tone) were instantly recognizable and remain hard-to-miss today. Initially conceived to be worn with the chicest of ensembles in a game of contrast, it wasn't long before they could be found in the closets of, well, everyone. Jeans, dresses, chino pants, tailored suits, skirts and even overcoats, these unique and versatile trainers go with everything, and they had quickly seduced fashionistas streetwear-sporting and couture-adorned alike. As proof of their roaring success, just shy of a year after their launch, in November 2017 platform Lyst revealed its list of the most sought-after pieces for the platform's third trimester. Balenciaga had gone from being third to first on the docket of the hottest labels, and the Speed sneakers topped the list of the most-wanted pieces.  

The Speed, or the height of comfort 

The sock sneakers, or “snockers” for those in-the-know, offered the perfect alternative to dad sneakers like the Triple S, another it-shoe imagined in Gvasalia's studios. The Speed's crowning feature is its construction: with a top woven of technical material where the tongue and lace disappear in favor of a minimalist silhouette, it looks a bit like a sock simply attached to a shoe sole. Presented by several houses, from Fendi to Kenzo and Yeezy to Valentino, Balenciaga have guaranteed their posterity. But still, what the shoes truly stand out for are their comfort. It's a concept that's foreign, or at least neglected, in the microcosm of fashion, but here it's made all the difference. Balenciaga's memory-foam sole lends these kicks a truly dreamy, cloud-like feel. And because any piece, no matter how trendy, should be a joy to wear, the Speed sneakers have also re-opened an aesthetic debate: can a shoe be beautiful, comfortable, and stylish? To your pencils, everyone, you have one hour (and if you need some inspiration, we'd recommend a scroll through social networks).  

Tying the knot  

Like any accessory elevated to the status of a classic, the Speed has undergone several re-inventions since its launch in November 2016. Presented in new colors, printed all-over with the Parisian brand's logo, revisited in monotone for both top and bottom or with a higher rise on the ankle, fashioned of recycled materials and with an upgraded sole - make way for the Speed 2.0, the Speed 3.0, the Speed Clear Sole, the Speed 2.0 Recycled, the Speed Graffiti, and even the Speed 2.0 Recycled Phosphorescent. It's a lot, but that just means there's even more to love about a piece that's already adored by all. The latest innovation? The addition of the Speed laces, originally absent from the model's defining features. In all, it's a master class in shaking things up and playing on an artsy concept, pushing us to reflect on contemporary fashion and the difference - if any - between the accessory and the conceptual.