Shoes that want to be both sporty and glamorous
Fashion brands are trying to make sneakers that also look like heels.
The story
Sneaker heels are resurging in 2026 with new designs from Nike, Converse, and Lacoste, blending sport and glamour in innovative ways.
Source: wwd.com
Our reading
The Converse x Vaquera VX-1 Heel is a sneaker upper with a kitten heel, which is like taking a basketball shoe and asking it to dance at a gala. It’s not just a shoe—it’s a performance, and the heel is the spotlight. Kim Petras is the star, but the shoe is the real showstopper.
Meanwhile, Nike’s Ovolo 2.0 has a suspended heel and a Shox-inspired base, which sounds like a sneaker that’s trying to float away. It’s not just a shoe—it’s a physics experiment. And Lacoste’s tennis ball wedge sneaker is a step beyond fashion, into the realm of surrealism. If this is the future, the future is a bit confused.
These shoes are trying to be both comfortable and stylish, but the real question is: who is this for? The answer seems to be people who want to look like they’re at a fashion show, but also want to run from it.
