Dad Shoes Are Back! Here’s Everything You Need To Know About This ‘Ugly’ Fashion Trend

Fashion trends come and go so fast that it can be hard to keep up, but one trend that appears to be here to stay is ‘dad shoes.’

We’ve all heard of dad dancing and dad jokes, but now these so-called dad shoes are taking the market by storm. In the last few months alone shoe companies have made millions just by selling 90s-style Dad shoes and creating new Dad-shoe designs.

So what are Dad shoes, and who’s wearing them despite their quite frankly ugly appearance? Here’s everything you need to know about this bizarre new fashion trend.

What are dad shoes?

If you’re not sure what these new ‘trendy’ Dad shoes are, picture the least cool pair of trainers from the 1990s that you can imagine – that’s Dad shoes. Although, rather than being uncool, they’ve somehow become one of the biggest fashion trends this year.

They’re big, they’re chunky, and they’re often quite colorful. In fact, they’re notoriously ugly, so it’s no surprise that so many haters can’t stand these new shoes with a passion.

Why are they trending?

So why are such ugly shoes starting to appear on the feet of even the classiest celebrities? Believe it or not, it’s not just a result of footwear companies trying to shift leftover stock from pre-2000.

Dad shoes are just one of the many 90s items that are making a come-back because whether or not we want to admit it, 90s fashion is back.  All the top dogs are in the game, even Nike, New Balance, and others.

Just like a lot of fashion trends, Dad shoes made their come-back on Instagram. More and more influencers started wearing these hideous but oh-so-comfy-looking shoes, and just like that, Dad shoes became a snowballing fashion trend.

And to further the spread of these bold new footwear options, top brands like Nike, Louis Vuitton, and Miss Selfridge have started releasing their very own top-of-the-range Dad shoes.

So these retro shoes have officially become popular, and it doesn’t look like this trend is going anywhere anytime soon. While there are a lot of haters out there, people seem to be trying them on, and never wanting to take them off again! They’re just that comfy.

But more than comfort, it seems to be that with this new trend, discreet isn’t an option. The brighter, bolder, and chunkier the shoes, the more fashionable.

The new Dad shoe releases seem to be inspired by the Nike AirMonarchs, so if you’re looking for an ‘in’ to this new fashion trend, why not opt for the original Dad shoes? They’re also one of the cheapest options out there.

Who’s wearing Dad shoes?

While Dad shoes started off as a trend amongst quirky Instagram influencers, they’ve become a big hit with everyone from students to celebrities.

The Kardashians have been seen strutting their stuff in these chunky sneakers, but more surprisingly, the trend has even been adopted by celebrities like Ed Sheeran, Rita Ora, and even Meg Ryan.

Celebs aren’t just wearing Dad shoes either, they’re also helping design them. Pretty soon Kanye West’s dad-inspired Yeezys will be released, and who knows how extravagant they’ll be.

And now that different celebs have shown their approval of Dad shoes, you can bet we’re going to see more and bolder footwear choices emerging.

However, while these shoes became known as Dad shoes because they were some of the cheapest and comfiest on the market (we all know Dads love comfort and value), the Dad shoe come-back means they’re no longer as affordable. With celebrities and designers alike picking up on the new fashion trend, Dad shoe prices have started to skyrocket. So sadly, these originally budget-friendly bad boys are out of reach for many.

Where to find Dad shoes?

If you think you can pull of this bold new fashion statement, you’ll be pleased to hear that with Dad shoes being so popular at the moment, you can find them almost anywhere.

Major brands are starting to release their own Dad shoes, so all you need to do is find a Nike, Adidas, Reebok – basically any relatively trendy shoe store you can think of.

There are plenty of expensive designer Dad shoes you can buy (if you can imagine such a thing), but for those on a budget, it’s worth looking at low-range own brands.

You could even scour thrift stores and consignment sales for actual Dad shoes passed on by actual Dads.

What to wear with Dad shoes?

So if you’re thinking of grabbing yourself a pair of these bizarre new Dad shoes, you might be wondering ‘but what do I wear them with?!’ The answer is quite literally anything.

While you might not normally wear sneakers with a dress or a suit, it seems to be that the more outrageous your footwear looks, the trendier. There are celebrities and influencers alike wearing elegant dresses with chunky and mismatched Dad shoes, and their fans are loving it.

Perhaps that’s why this trend has made such a come-back – people love the ease of not having to worry whether or not their shoes go with their outfit. The more mismatched the better!

Are Dad shoes here to stay?

So there’s no denying that Dad shoes are currently a big hit with everyone from athletes, to influencers, to celebrities, but is this a fashion trend that will fizzle out in a few months, or are Dad shoes here for the long haul?

By the looks of it, they’re not going anywhere. There may be a lot of Dad shoe haters out there, but more and more people are falling in love with these chunky footwear designs. They’re bold, they’re trendy, and they’re comfortable. Plus, with most people wearing them with just about anything, Dad shoes take away the stress of finding the ‘perfect’ outfit.

Nike and Yeezys are yet to release their new Dad shoe designs, but many are eagerly awaiting new Dad shoe releases. And with the suspense building up, it looks like the Dad shoe craze might be just getting started.

Enjoy this short video showing some of the hottest dad shoes of 2018!

PS – We are leaving comments open on this page, so feel free to share your opinions on the best dad shoes and let the debate begin!