Walking around the Syracuse University campus, chances are you’ve seen flocks of them: Adidas Stan Smith Originals sneakers. Essentially, they are all-white Adidas sneakers with 3-stripes and the Stan Smith logo in green detailing on the back. Somehow, it seems that these white sneakers have taken over the fashion world.

The Stan Smiths, along with the similar and also popular Adidas Superstar sneakers with black zigzag 3-stripes, aren’t being worn to run or hit the gym. These sneakers, for the most part, are purely for style. Around campus and around the world, people are wearing them out with jeans, nice tops and even dresses.

While this seems fresh and different, sneakers as fashion is not a new trend. Wedge sneakers, although now widely regarded as hideous, dominated in 2013. “Normcore,” a term in the fashion world for basically dressing plain and normal to be chic, led to a sneaker-filled 2014 and 2015.

In addition to these fleeting trends, Converse and Vans seem to be timeless, always appearing in fashion in some way or another — although white Vans even more so recently, thanks to “Damn, Daniel.”

So is the all-white sneaker becoming the next wedge sneaker, short-lived and later regretted? Some in the fashion world are already wondering if it will die. Fashion writer Alison Syrett suggested in an article for the popular blog Man Repeller that the oversaturation of sneakers in fashion has made the style stale. When everyone is wearing them, they lose their power.

Syrett also wrote that she wishes she could wear her sneakers in a neutral way as she did before. Now, wearing sneakers suggests that she is trying to pull off a certain “look.”

This is the same problem that occurs with plenty of trends in fashion — once the styles hit the masses, they aren’t as cool anymore. First, the sneaker trend was worn by bloggers and editors and influencers and it seemed unique and exciting. But when every college student, high school student, and normal person decided to try it out, it lost some novelty. Soon, like the wedge sneaker, it may be declared “over,” although that likely won’t actually happen for a few more seasons, as people are reluctant to let go of trends.

Although this shoe is the hottest thing this spring, I’m predicting that next year will come with a break from shoes that can also be seen in a gym locker room. Once people have had enough of the oversimplified, sporty look, they will go for its opposite — something that feels luxurious, special and fancy.

Syrett wrote that she will personally be exchanging her Stan Smiths for ballet slippers and menswear designs like oxfords, brogues and loafers. All of these choices feel more elevated and dressed-up.

It can be hard to keep up with trends when they go by so fast. As for now, all-white sneakers are the latest thing at Syracuse, even though there’s no way of saying how long they’ll last.

If you want to skip the trend, treat your feet to some fancy flats. And if you’re really trying to go for the opposite of sporty, heels are always an option. Heeled mules — a slip-on style — were all over the spring 2016 runways, in particular.

If you still want to embrace the sporty style for as long as possible, go ahead and own it. Even if they go out of style quickly, they’ve got one great thing going for them: you can always wear them to the gym afterwards.

Published on March 28, 2016 at 11:47 pm