Here are the “sneakerinas”, the most feminine sneakers ever invented

She combines the comfort of a basketball and the chic of a dance slipper. Knowing this, difficult to imagine that the “sneakerina” (contraction of the words “sneaker” and “ballerina”, editor’s note) may appeal to anyone. Think again: the most trendy shoe of the season is it. Neither really a sports basketball, nor completely a ballerina, this fashion UFO is essential with both dynamic and coquette lines. On the one hand, a more or less thick rubber sole depending on the model as well as a design directly inspired by the world of sneakers. On the other, an aesthetic borrowed from opera slippers: delicate lacing, pastel or matte color, satin or shiny material.

But then, how can we explain that the “sneakerina” knows such a craze in 2025, more than twenty years after being proposed by the Californian brand Skechers in the early 2000s? The answer is found in the archives of Simone Rocha. For more than five years, the Irish designer – who was invited in January 2024 to reinterpret the codes of the Jean Paul Gaultier house during the Haute Couture Fashion Week – made her “Criss Cross Tracker” her signature. A jet black ballerina boldly placed on a shiny XXL sole, with round ends, buckle crossed flanges and heel threading tab.

Read too
For or against men’s ballerinas?

Pass advertising

The accessory becomes a trend; The trend a phenomenon. So much so that the brands are more and more numerous to offer their own variation. At Ganni for example, the leather “sneakerina” evokes the crampons of football players, but has a long lace neckline for maximum femininity. While at Repetto, the “tennis silk” (literally “tennis in satin”, in French) made a box from its launch at the beginning of the year thanks to its flexibility, its double satin laces, its frown collar inspired by the folds of a tutu and its extrafine sole.

Despite everything, she is not unanimous. And this is precisely where all its power hides: disturb a little, while seducing with its appearance. But then, how to tame it? Two stylistic tracks are emerging.

For a sportswear look

In recent times, Adidas, Patou (in collaboration with Onitsuka Tiger) or Solomon have reinvented the “sneakerina” for those who want to combine athletic and sophistication comfort. These models are distinguished in particular by their often thick, notched and non -slip soles, as well as by their laces inspired by the universe of classic sneakers, or by scratched bands signing a resolutely urban spirit. This subtle mixture gives these shoes an ideal versatility for a relaxed look. They are carried like Emily Ratajkowski, who associates his black pairs with a scratch with an effiloche Bermuda and a short tank top with American neckline, drawing a perfectly mastered silhouette. For her part, the influencer Marie-Victoire Tiangue plays the card of the contrast between the feminine of the ballerina and the sporting character of the distinctive bands of Adidas. Zendaya, faithful to his assertive sense of style, adopts a more robust and contemporary version of the Danish brand Ecco.

For a romantic look

Brought up to date in the 2020s, the “balletcore” (aesthetics inspired by the world of ballet, editor’s note) Invites itself more than ever to the dance studios. Leelets, tulle, ribbons, satin … and now Balleries sneakers invest the dressings. This graceful universe has also infiltrated the recent collections of luxury houses. Like Prada, famous for her satin ballerinas, Miu Miu or Simone Rocha, whose collections are full of ruffles, frills and refined details. Today, this phenomenon takes on a new momentum with the “sneakerinas”. Icon of the hybrid genre, Amelia Gray sublime the Cristina satin ballerinas of the Vivaia brand, by forging them with fishing ribbons and associating them with lace socks: a precious silhouette, but resolutely anchored in everyday life. Neither completely sporty nor completely romantic, these shoes embody a new femininity. The one who no longer chooses between strength and lightness.