The Shoe Hybrid We're Seeing Everywhere In 2025

Fashion in the 2020s so far has been a game of twists and turns. Despite the most informed predictions, we've been surprised by the unexpected: The "wrong-shoe theory" has made it so that styling your shoes wrong actually has a few benefits, and strangely, it became possible to wear food-inspired bags without looking tacky. Now, we've run into another trend that's going to take some getting used to if you like keeping your sporty pieces separate from your feminine looks. Indeed, 2025 is the year of the sneakerina. 

If a classic sneaker reproduced with a sleek ballet flat, they'd end up with this hybrid shoe, featuring a chunkier rubber sole encasing a slimmer, pointed silhouette with balletcore detailing, like laces, bows, and satin. Celebrities like Bella Hadid and Chloë Sevigny have already given it their tick of approval as the must-have footwear for the season, so expect this one to stick around for the foreseeable future. 

One of the first inklings of the sneakerina emerged back in 2019, when Loewe debuted its uber-stylish Ballet Runner. The following year, Simone Rocha notably experimented with bringing together these two polar-opposite shoe styles. While the Irish designer has since continued to evolve the sneaker-ballet-flat fusion, other brands have also made their contributions, including sportswear giants like Puma and Adidas. Now, in the middle of the decade, other high-end fashion houses have put their own takes on the sneakerina, with Louis Vuitton set to launch its aptly named LV Sneakerina in April 2025. And with each new sneakerina iteration, we're finding new and better ways to style them. 

The obvious challenge that sneakerina shoes appear to present is the tug of war between two conflicting styles. Do you use the shoe to add a sporty touch to a feminine 'fit or to bring a feminine feel to athleisure? But actually, both are great ways to rock this trend, and if you'd prefer to take the look in a whole different direction, neither is mandatory. Some fashionistas are using the shoes' cutting-edge design to bring a coolness to safer, more classic outfits that aren't otherwise balletic or outdoorsy. It might sound outrageous, but those confident enough could pair sneakerinas with pantsuits, culottes, or maxi dresses. 

Of course, they also work within the realms of balletcore styling, activewear ensembles, or a combo of both. "I'd pair them with a midi skirt and a tucked-in shirt to balance that feminine-come-sporty style," says fashion expert Karine Laudort (via BreakingNews.ie). And while going for an unexpected pantsuit might land superbly, the expert warns against matching sneakerinas with anything too formal as "their casual elements can clash with more traditional formalwear.​" She also suggests excessive material and heavy garments "that can overwhelm or imbalance the look."

Now, if the balletcore fashion aesthetic is calling, sneakerinas are the perfect way to complement pieces like tights, bodysuits, sheer skirts, and blush-pink palettes. Otherwise, lean into the activewear side by wearing the shoes with athleisure staples, from leggings and sweatpants to hoodies and rugby shirts. Accessorizing is the key to bringing your athleisure outfits to the next level, so if you don't have a baseball cap or some simple jewelry at hand, just reach for your eye-catching sneakerinas.