Remember the Balenciaga Triple S’? Back in 2018, everyone who could get their hands on a pair was sporting the brand’s signature, huge sneaker silhouette, and the style soon became as adored in the fashion community as it was hated from outside of it. Alongside Eytys’ Halo sneaker, and a handful of other popular chunkier-than-chunky silhouettes, the latter half of the 2010s was truly a chunky sneaker world – and we were here for it.

But why? Well, it’s not too hard to trace back how we got there. Sneakers were, and still are, undoubtedly a modern wardrobe essential. However, the best chunky sneakers were perfect in offsetting both more ‘polished’ tailored pieces, and adding edge to an already oversized fit. If the last decade saw the meteoric rise of streetwear, then chunky sneakers were a part of that. There’s just no denying the freshness that a thick-soled shoe can add to any look.

However, as trend cycles come and go, the dependable chunky sneaker has swung out of fashion in recent years. The Triple S’ faded into meme territory, and then just plain old obscurity, as new silhouettes and brands like New Balance started taking the top spots in the sneaker space. Now though, it looks like we’re on the brink of another chunky revolution – the boot.

Ye has been seen wearing chunky, or work boots for the best part of the last year, causing a spike in both searches and sales for them. The Red Wing boots, now discontinued, were going for US $66 on resale sites before they were spotted on the artist. Now, they’re fetching over $3000 on eBay, all thanks to their association with Ye himself.

Similarly, Ye has been seen in the Balenciaga Croc boots more times than we can count – and also similarly, they have a rather thick sole. Like Bottega’s puddle boots, the Balenciaga croc boots are the (literal) next step for the brand in their chunky shoe silhouette endeavours, and their backing by Ye has helped make them one of the most coveted items of footwear in recent months.

Only time will tell if the croc boots will follow the path of the Triple S’, but for now, we can see them sticking around for the next few seasons at least. The chunky sneaker is officially dead – big boots killed them.

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