Students are wearing dad shoes throughout the hallways and in the streets. A style that just a few years ago would have resulted in criticism and a few weird looks is now the epitome of fashion forward thinking.
What is a dad shoe?
What defines a dad shoe is relatively vague. A dad shoe is generally comfortable, is neutral in color and is chunky in nature. Many iconic dad shoe silhouettes, such as the Nike Air Monarch IV, were released in the late 1990’s to early 2000’s.
Standout brands in the “dad shoe” category are New Balance and Asics. While the powerhouses of Nike and Adidas have made significant contributions to the world of dad shoes, New Balance and Asics had previously had a reputation for selling dad shoes.
How did they become popular?
There are many factors that can be attributed to the recent success of dad shoes. The influence of high fashion entities like Yeezy and Balenciaga, collaborations and new models and the fall of sneaker culture can all be associated with the increase in popularity of dad shoes.
Kanye West released the Yeezy 700 V1 in 2017. While this shoe differs from the traditional concept of a dad shoe today, it shares many of the same features. It has a chunky sole, it features neutral colors and is renowned for its comfortability. West had a large impact on the sneaker industry, most notably with his collaboration with Adidas. West’s influence on streetwear fashion trends played a major role in the popularization of dad shoes.
Brands like Balenciaga have also had a large influence. The Triple S sneaker from Balenciaga made waves in the sneaker world. The Triple S name stems from the triple sole. The feature of the thicker midsole is what connects Balenciaga to current dad shoes. High fashion influence has always trickled down into streetwear and everyday fashion. This effect can be seen with the rise in popularity of dad shoes.
Shoe brands like Nike and Adidas have utilized the strategy of collaborating with pop culture figures on shoes for years. Asics and New Balance have capitalized on their newfound popularity by employing this strategy as well. This can be seen with New Balances collaborations with brands and artists such as Kith and Jack Harlow. This can also be seen with Asics and its collaborations with JJJJound and Hidden NY. These collaborations have both brought new eye on the brand, as well as drum up attention to dad shoe silhouettes as a whole.
Another way Asics and New Balance have capitalized on the upswing in popularity amongst their brand is by remodeling their old shoes as well as introducing new silhouettes. Freshman Logan Wilker attributes their popularity to their evolution of style. Wilker, in regards to the reason behind Asics and New Balance’s popularity, said, “I just think changing the style from like an older shoe to like a more modern type of shoe.”
(Joe Zeman)
The most famous example of this would be New Balance’s marketing push of their 2002R shoe. Through the release of the 2002R Protection Pack. This series of shoes included added details from the traditional 2002R, and was met with much demand from consumers. The resale value of the Rain Cloud colorway peaked at over 600 dollars, well above the 150 dollar retail price. Since that price peak in 2021, the price has steadily declined to be more affordable to the average consumer. This is another reason as to why the popularity of dad shoes has stayed so high. As hype decreases, accessibility increases.
The final reason for the rise of dad shoes would be the oversaturation and decline of the traditional ‘hype’ sneaker market. This market has traditionally been dominated by brands like Jordan and Yeezy. Jordan brand began restocking limited shoes. They also increased the retail price of sneakers in order to cut profit margins for sneaker resellers. Because the old market became stale and expensive, consumers looked for different options. They found what they were looking for in brands like Asics and New Balance.
Why are they still popular?
Fashion trends come and go; dad shoes, on the other hand, have stuck around. The factors behind this are the versatility, the comfortability and the accessibility that dad shoes include. These three utilities are what make dad shoes so appealing to this day.
(Joe Zeman)
One of the staples of a dad shoe being a dad shoe is the neutral colorways often associated with the models. Neutral colors on a shoe mean that it can be styled with virtually anything, as well as worn everyday. A pair of dad shoes could be worn with a pair of baggy jeans and a workwear jacket, or a regular set of sweats. This versatility and wearability is what makes them so appealing to so many.
Another staple of a dad shoe is the comfortable and cushioned midsole. Comfort is one of the most important factors for many students when deliberating what to wear. Senior Addi Edel detailed why she enjoys wearing her New Balance sneakers. Edel said, “I feel like they’re comfy, and I feel like they go with a lot of stuff because they’re neutral.” Everyday wear becomes enjoyable due to the comfort provided by the midoles and materials featured on most dad shoes.
The final reason as to why dad shoes are popular is the accessibility of them. Consumers do not have to pay ridiculous resale prices for shoes they like. If the shoe they were eyeing is sold out, they can likely find a similar color and similar style in stock. Another part of accessibility is the target market transcending gender and generation. Both men and women, parents and children can enjoy these shoes, as the generic nature of dad shoes allows for them to be appreciated by all demographics.
