Fendi Match: The Rise of the Contemporary Vintage Sneaker
As Fendi launches the new Fendi Match sneaker, we take a look at how the minimalist sneaker is becoming a celebrity and influencer-approved wardrobe must-have. Celebrities like Gigi Hadid and Kim Kardashian as well as fashion influencers like Patricia Bright and Pernille Teisbaek have been spotted wearing similar trends.
Whether it is street style, contemporary athleisure or formal wear, sneaker culture has been on the rise. Luxury houses have been taking inspiration from the past and present, refashioning the sneaker in their image, while sporting brands have been coming up with chic, luxe designs to keep up with the ever-changing fashion landscape.
Fendi's latest launch takes inspiration from vintage tennis shoes, which became a fashion statement back in the 1950s. The range features unisex sneakers with a retro touch, in a chic, minimalist colour palette that has been seen on A-list celebrities and style influencers.
Nudes
Nude browns and pink hues and tones are definitely in this season, with vintage trends making a major comeback. The Fendi Match sneaker in this pinkish nude hue combines this vintage aesthetic with modern minimalism, as well as a beautiful pastel palette that is just perfect for the upcoming spring season.
Earlier this year, Gigi Hadid was spotted in a pair of Dunk Low "Cheetah" sneakers in a neutral tan and brown palette at the Versace Spring/Summer 2022 show in Milan. Light tan and white sneakers in a similar style have also been spotted on BlackPink's Rosé, as well as Kim Kardashian, pictured wearing nude-tone sneakers while posing for her shapewear label, SKIMS.
The Fendi Match sneakers, though in a shade of muted pink, has a nude, rosy brown undertone, giving it a very similar retro feel to these style icon picks. A nod to the sock hops and soda shops of the '50s era that inspired this collection.
Black and White
It doesn't get more minimalist than a black and white colour palette. But of course, with vintage being the "in" thing, a shot of '90s, chocolatey espresso brown adorns this version of the Fendi Match sneaker. Black and white was also a very popular clothing colour combination back then.
This clean, contemporary with a hint of vintage colour scheme on sneakers were spotted on Patricia Bright's Instagram page. The beauty, fashion and lifestyle influencer posted a picture of the Air Jordan 1 Dark Mocha which features black, white and a chocolate-coffee-toned mocha brown. Model Josephine Skriver was also spotted in Copenhagen wearing Nike sneakers in a similar black and white aesthetic.
Greyscale
Another version of the Fendi Match sneakers comes in a palette of white and soft, cool, icy grey tones. White and grey tone sneakers have been spotted on influencer Pernille Teisbaek, who posted a picture of her New Balance 550's in Sea Salt Black. Kim Kardashian was also seen golfing in a pair of Adidas Yeezy 700 V3 Azael's. The sneakers feature a similar grey and white colour scheme and have a retro-futuristic feel to them.
Though both of their picks have elements of black, Fendi's colour choices for this variation do not feature that colour. The elimination of black notes on the sneaker takes away the sportswear branding feel of it, creating a fresh, chic-er, more high fashion look. The preppy white tones once again, hint at the 50's inspiration for this collection, mirroring the traditional white tennis shoe that was popularised in the fashion of that time. The inclusion of grey adds a luxe, contemporary, athleisure aesthetic to the sneaker, refreshing it to suit the modern fashion landscape.
Another A-lister that was seen in a similar style of the sneaker is Gigi Hadid. Though the shoes she sported while out in New York with Leah McCarthy did not have grey tones, the white sneakers and this variation of the Fendi Match sneaker share a similar vintage yet contemporary style profile.
