THE SHOE SNOB

Top five shoes styles that have given the sneaker squad the runaround.

- MAGANDEEP SINGH

The pandemic taught us many things— the uselessness of social politesse, tight jeans, or frightfully, for many, even an extra pair of underwear! But making light of a very grim period aside, we all learnt that the economy only functions when we consume products, for the minute we decide to get by on just the essentials, the system collapses. Which explains why fashions and trends come in cycles; can you imagine buying clothes once and never having to again for a decade? But not all trends are driven purely by commerce; sometimes aesthetics and our shifting perception of them have an equally major role to play.

The last few years, sneakers have fallen out of favour and folks can be seen browsing the leather-soled sections in footwear aisles again. I too have found myself cringing at the idea of wearing colourful and cushy rubber-soled sneakers as I go about my day, preferring to reserve them for weekends or activities where they seem more appropriate.

So, what new shoes, styles, and silhouettes have taken my fancy? I thought you’d never wonder. Here are some of the top brands and styles of shoes, which are currently ruling the roost in my footwear rotation. Just to make it more interesting, I am only focussing on Indian shoe manufacturers whom I have tried and believe make truly world-class stuff.

Car Shoes The origin of car shoes dates back to an era when car pedals (clutch, brake, and accelerator) were made of solid metal, so the rubber-soled shoes helped create traction while operating them. Today, these shoes show up as convenient companions to ‘shorts and tees’ days, or general urban ambling inside closed (paved/tiled) spaces like malls and cinemas.