Sneakers Are The New Women’s Liberation Movement

One of my favorite movies growing up was Working Girl with Melanie Griffith. I loved watching this powerhouse of a woman glide through someone else’s life and make it her own. She was a business woman that dressed the part long before she felt the part. It’s the classic fake it til you make it romantic comedy formula. It was a sweet and funny film that highlighted challenges that women faced in the male dominated working world. Like the Norma Rae of World War II, she made me believe that if “you want to be taken seriously, you need serious hair.” And serious shoes.

 

But those shoes, at this point in time, do not need to resemble a Hollywood secretary or starlet version of pumps. I’m suggesting the new normal. Like cheese and figs, pears and gorgonzola, we have now forever adopted the iconic pairing of sneakers and suits. I love texture in fashion, so truly the combination of formal and casual are like sweet and salty chocolate treat. 

It’s not like we have to be card carrying members of radical feminists group to sport a pair of Nike’s with a skirt.  And these days, we don’t have to wait to change into our sneakers to be taken seriously. As a woman, I choose sneakers as my statement footwear. In line with a civil rights movement in fashion so to speak.  I’m not suggesting its impact is the “black power” of shoewear or anything extreme, but still, a bold statement that needs to be made. Just stepping away from the “only wear white in summer” and black tie formal has to be an evening gown. 

If I’m a feminist organizing a high profile event, I want to see women embrace the freedom to blow up any old traditions that hold back expression. That is true power in it’s purest is it not? It’s liberating both in a physical and psychological sense.

For years, women have brought their fancy pair of work shoes while traveling in their sneakers on their commute. Then presto, chango, they switch footwear on the fly before getting to the office. So we asked ourselves, is this really necessary? Why would we need to change them? Instead, let’s create a revolution and make the sneaker suitable to wear throughout the day. I’m possibly, oversimplifying the story but, you get the gist. 

As fashion is ever evolving, good ideas take form and then they become art. The revolution of high fashion tennies is no exception. In fact, ironically, there are probably now more sneakers than not that you might not want to take a lap around the track in. Nike has everything from basic classic tennis shoe to pink suede skate to high tech impact absorbing soles that look light you what you’d wear on the moon.

The sneaker in my playbook is so flexible that it’s sometimes the only pair of shoes I take when I travel as well. If I have to chosse one shoe to go with that will get me through a variety of my planned events, it seems like the obvious choice. For example, my new pair of Nike women’s Air Max 95 QS with pastel stripes are versatile, comfortable, and way chic when placed in juxtaposition with a tailored jacket or ballroom skirt. And not exactly cheap mind you, at $170, but well worth it in my opinion. 

Please look at my sneakers as an intentional piece of my exploration. I’ve had plenty of trips where I ran down subway stairs or hoofed to the top of the empire state building stairs in either a pair of high fashion heels or resorted to a running outfit. Now, I like, always, to mix the two styles to get the best of both worlds. A hot pair of good looking sneakers with my best dress!

Sneakers, were named because they were so much quieter that your average shoe or boot that you could “sneak up” on someone. According to history the first shoes with rubber soles didn’t even have a left or right. In the 1800’s Keds produced the first model of what they still make today, easily recognizable anywhere in the world as a casual style of shoe. Running shoes took popular form in the 20s with the Olympic races as a part of an athletic uniform. 

Fast forward to modern times when the sneaker has fully grown up to have countless styles and uses. Men, women, children of all shapes and sizes own at least one trusted pair of sneaks. 

What once was functional is now at the highest level of fashion and technology all rolled into one. 

It’s no wonder we are willing to take the plunge with athleisure wear when we have choices like the new Nike Air Max 720s  These Air-soles sit taller and offer more serenity than ever before. And I feel like I’m resting my feet on a cloud. What is there not to like when it looks good and feels just as good! Thanks to the designers at Nike, it’s a perfect marriage to comfort and style.  In other words, they get it. The sneaker has a home in everyone’s closet for one reason or another. 

*Editorial Note: This post was sponsored by Nike. The compensation received in exchange for placement on The Vanilla Plum is used to purchase props, hire a photographer, write/edit the blog post and support the team behind The Vanilla Plum. Thanks to Nike, James Hickey and Maison Priveé for bringing this post to life.

While compensation was received in exchange for coverage, all thoughts and opinions are always my own. Sponsored posts like these allow for the development of additional dynamic content to be produced, unsponsored. Thank you for supporting our partners!

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