Take a look of some of Gayle King’s most memorable and chic shoe moments over the years.
]]>The actress often opts for feminine and whimsical designs in an array of colors ranging from hot pink to navy blue, and has an affinity for designers like Christian Louboutin and Aquazzura.
Check out some of Blake Lively’s best footwear choices from over the years.
]]>
The 2002R has been one of New Balance’s most popular models in the brand’s ascent through the 2020s, and it’s now getting a robust treatment ideal for the fall and winter.
The New Balance 2002R Gore-Tex will release before the end of 2024 in a seasonally appropriate “Olive” colorway. A ripstop base bolsters the upper’s durability in olive, while matching overlays are rendered in suede. A black toe tip and heel stabilizer appear to be rubberized as another reinforcement, and the sole unit mies white and black with a green-tinted off-white .Gore-Tex heel branding then denotes the waterproof membrane giving the sneaker utility of a boot.
New Balance first introduced the 2002 as a running sneaker in 2010 with a robust sole unit borrowing the the 1906’s full-length N-Ergy gel units and a eye-raising price tag of $250. The model was then brought back and reconfigured in 2020 as the 2002R, now featuring the midsole of the 860v2 that had relaunched a year prior and N-Ergy targeted at the heel.
With the price brought down to a much more accessible $130, the 2002R rapidly took off the lifestyle space and was one of the major driver’s of New Balance’s spike in popularity. Most of the brand’s key collaborators have delivered their take on the 2002R at some point, and the in-line “Protection Pack” (officially referred to as “Refined Future” has also been a hit with panels cut to look they’d been aged like a monument.
The New Balance 2002R Gore-Tex in “Olive” doesn’t yet have a firm release date but is expected to release before the end of 2024. Pricing is set at $180.
Shop New Balance 2002R Shoes
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
It appears influencers aren’t posting about fashion like they used to.
In a recent report from Traackr, an influencer marketing platform, there’s been a decrease in activity as creators are posting less fashion content in 2024 when compared to the prior year.
The 2024 State of Influence: Fashion Report cited that content from more than 170,000 creators located across the United States, United Kingdom, and France is down 14%. Video views, however, still increased significantly across each region highlighting the continuing trend of social media appetites shifting further towards video-first content at 28%. Instagram specifically saw a 63% increase in video views on fashion content.
The report continued that the activity levels on sponsored content has been steady with the number of creators and total mentions remaining the same as the prior year. That being said, sponsored content about fashion brands reached a much greater audience, with estimated impressions up 21% YoY. This is due to brands electing to work with larger influencers on paid campaigns. The average number of followers a creator has on a sponsored post for a fashion brand in 2024, for instance, is 292,000 — a 21% increase from the 2023 average of 241,000 followers.
Traackr also analyzed the fashion brands that are winning at influencer marketing. For the past eight months, the company called out Adidas, Nike and Shein as leaders in the space.
At Adidas, ambassadors Real Madridʼs Jude Bellingham and David Beckham have driven significant results for the brand. The two mentioned Adidas in a combined 20 posts, earning 50 million engagements in 2024, according to the analysis.
Organic sneaker content has also been key to the brandʼs success. While many of the top-performing sneaker content featured rare or custom sneakers from sneaker collectors and enthusiasts, there were also much engagement with creators who mentioned Adidas shoes in unboxings and lifestyle content. The report added that outside of their key high-profile ambassador relationships, Adidas isnʼt reliant on sponsored campaigns, with most of its posts garnering organic mentions of the brand.
Meghan Markle made a surprise appearance last night at the 2024 Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Gala, held at the JW Marriott, wearing a red gown she wore three years ago but gave it a new feel with a pair of Aquazzura‘s So Nude sandals.
For the occasion, she arrived in a bright red dress by Carolina Herrera, that was quickly recognized as the one she previously wore in November 2021 to the Intrepid Museum Salute to Freedom Gala, which she attended alongside her husband Prince Harry.
She styled the dress at the time with a pair pointed red slingback heels and her hair pulled up into a tight, elegant updo. Her heels were the Giuseppe Zanotti‘s “Samia” slingback pumps.
She repurposed the U-neck bustier column gown on Saturday night by giving it a more casual spin. She removed the gown’s detachable train and threw on a different pair of shoes for the affair.
This time around opting for the suede So Nude 105 sandals from Aquazzura, which featured a 4 inch high stiletto heel and a slingback ankle strap. The shoe retails for $750.
The dress featured a high slit that elongated her legs and allowed for the shoes to be a focal point of her ensemble. The two-strap sandals gave an almost-naked, sensual and feminine effect. She wore her hair out in loose, beach waves, giving the look a more relaxed feel. Markle attended the event with friend Kelly McKee Zajfen, who lost her son George in 2022, and the pair walked the red carpet together.
The Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Gala pays tribute to CHLA’s patients and hospital pediatric workers. Markle, who has worked with the hospital previously, took photos and stopped to chat with the invitees during the event.
“Oh my goodness, the work they do at Children’s Hospital L.A. is otherworldy, and I think from my standpoint as a mother, no one wants to be in a position where you need to go to a place like this, but if you have to, the best place in the world you could go would be Children’s Hospital L.A.,” she said in an interview on the red carpet.
“The staff is incredible, and the amount of work they do for families that really could not afford this level of care is something that I think should never be overlooked. So I’m just grateful for everything they do,” she added.
After becoming the first streamer to get a Nike deal earlier this year, Kai Cenat has taken up his most involved role with the brand yet.
Nike .Swoosh enlisted Cenat to unveil the Air Max 1 “Low Poly,” a sneaker with both a digital and real-life presence that’ll be the first from the Web3 platform to be made available via pre-order. Appearing in the Air Max 1’s original “Sport Red” color scheme, the .Swoosh sneaker takes on the sort of hard angles and rough shading found on low poly 3D modes. The transformation can be seen throughout the upper including on the Swoosh, mudguard and even the upper most eyestay.
An immersive “Max’s Lab” experience on .Swoosh’s website allows users to learn more about the sneaker and search for easter eggs, and Nike also made a physical recreation of the room where Cenat streams in the low poly style. A video posted to .Swoosh’s social media channels shows Cenat entering the space in awe.
Nike has previously released sneakers with digital counterparts through its .Swoosh platform, including Air Force 1 Lows exclusive to NFT holders. The company also acquired the digital sneaker studio RTFKT in 2020 to deepen its web3 presence and has since released AF1 Lows and Dunk Genesis sneakers also exclusive to NFT holders. This Air Max 1, however, marks the first .Swoosh drop to feature a pre-order.
The Nike .Swoosh Air Max 1 “Low Poly” will be made available for pre-order beginning October 8 with one pair available per order while supplies last. Pricing is set at $150 for the sneakers, and shipping will commence approximately 120 days after the order is placed.
Shop Nike Air Max 1 Shoes
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
FN rounded up the worst runway wipeouts of all time, from Bella Hadid at Michael Kors to Naomi Campbell at Vivienne Westwood and more.
]]>
Imagine driving down the street and noticing a stiletto or sneaker-shaped car cruising by. If car designer Sudhakar Kanyaboyina were to take one of his shoe-inspired creations for a spin in your neighborhood, this might just become your reality.
Sudhakar, who runs Sudha Cars Museum in Hyderabad, India, recently set the 2025 Guinness World Record for the largest collection of wacky vehicles in a museum. Per Guinness, his collection currently stands at 57 cars, one of which is a colorful stiletto while another is a gray and red high top sneaker.
Sudhakar’s stiletto car is a vibrant creation with metallic colorblocking and a polkadot pattern. He followed the classic pump design to a T, with a pointed toe, enclosed back and narrow heel. While the driver, of course, sits within the sole of the shoe.
Kanyaboyina is living out his childhood dream of transforming quotidian objects into quirky cars. He told Guinness, “The journey towards this achievement has involved dedication, perseverance, and overcoming numerous challenges.”
In addition to footwear, Sudhakar’s cars take many shapes, from a tennis ball to a hamburger. He aspires to have 100 cars in his museum one day.
Pictured above, Sudhakar took his sneaker car for a drive back in 2006. This retro-looking shoe is complete with laces and red accents, including a cap toe.
Speaking on his car collection receiving this acknowledgment from Guinness, he said, “When finally holding the certificate, there is a profound sense of validation and accomplishment.”
This is not the first time Sudhakar has set a world record — he previously made it into the reference book in 2005 for creating the world’s largest tricycle, which stands 41 feet 7 inches tall.
Sudhakar is joined in the 2025 Guinness Book of World Records by Eric Kilburn, Jr., who was named the teenager with the largest hands and feet. His difficult journey to find shoes that fit went viral, landing him custom shoes from Puma and Under Armour in addition to gifts from Shaquille O’Neal, who understands the struggle of having above-average sized feet.
Gayle King attended the Through Her Lens: The Tribeca Chanel Women’s Filmmaker Program Luncheon at Locanda Verde on Sept. 17 in New York City. The TV personality arrived at the event wearing Chanel, down to her shoes.
The CBS journalist looked chic in a cream long sleeve dress, red Chanel bag and a pair of Chanel T-Strap Cap-Toe Logo-Embellished Heels in the ivory and black colorway. She kept her jewelry simple but fun, wearing a long beaded necklace, dangly earrings and dainty rings.
King’s shoe is from Virginie Viard’s Chanel Spring/Summer 2023 ready-to-wear collection. The pair featured a Chanel leather t-strap, an interlocking CC logo at the center with faux pearl accents. It also features a round toe box, wrap-around straps, a buckle closure at the ankles and a sensible four-inch heel.
King is never one to shy away from comfort and often prefers comfort over style. Just last week she arrived at InStyle’s 30th Birthday Celebration in NYC wearing a long animal print dress with a pair of thong sandals. She was also one of the first celebrities to endorse Spanx creator Sara Blakely’s latest innovation—Sneex, which is a stiletto-sneaker hybrid aimed at comfort.
At the Through Her Lens Luncheon, King was joined by other stars including Leslie Mann, Olivia Wilde, Rosie Perez, Misty Copeland, Francesca Scorsese and more. The event was put together by Tribeca and Chanel in support of women in film. Through Her Lens: The Tribeca CHANEL Women’s Filmmaker Program promotes emerging and independent voices. From funding and project support to dedicated mentorship, the three-day program is set to champion up-and-coming U.S.-based women and non-binary writers, directors and producers.
Over the course of the program, mentors assist talent to refine and present their short film concepts to the film industry, and ultimately select one of their projects to fund and produce. The program boasts an advisory committee that includes people like Jane Fonda, Patty Jenkins, Laura Karpman, Greta Lee, A.V. Rockwell and Kerry Washington.
Shop a Similar Style
Blackbird Spyplane — the newsletter with an ardent following among fashion enthusiasts and aesthetes — has announced a rare footwear collaboration.
The Blackbird Spyplane x Oboz Sawtooth 2 Low, aka the “Swagtooth” Low, has been given a “Purple Earth” makeover with oiled suede forming the majority of the waterproof upper. Brown mesh fills in the gaps throughout the hiking boot, which Blackbird Spyplane says in its trademark voice has been “engineered for unbeatable all-day comfort and Mach 7+ swag enhancement.”
Oboz’s Sawtooth 2 Low has been mentioned previously in Blackbird Spyplane’s newsletters, beginning with a callout in spring 2023 when co-founders Jonah Weiner Erin Wylie saw the boot during a hike in the Bay area and called it a “confirmed REI regs slapper” with “ovoid bulbousness” and “friendly insectoid mesh ventilation peekaboo cutouts.” A designer then reached out to Blackbird Spyplane for a collaboration, which also includes a new yin-yang symbol-embossed tag hanging near the collar.
Blackbird Spyplane’s only other footwear collaboration came in 2022, when it partnered with the Finish brand Tarvas Footwear on a Explorer hiking and walking shoe made from beeswax-treated canvas and Italian hairy suede.
Oboz is based out of Bozeman, Montana and its name is a portmanteau of its home base and “outside.” In 2021, it introduced its first major change to the popular Sawtooth franchise with the Sawtooth X, which features a more modern look and tech updates that include True Tread outsoles with multidirectional lugs and teeth, as well as proprietary Act+ foam midsoles made with a proprietary dual density rubberized EVA compound. The Sawtooth 2 Low, launched in 2019 with more subtle changes, had been the only other update for the franchise that originally released in 2011.
John Connelly, who founded Oboz in 2007, passed away in August after years of battling various cancers. Oboz president Amy Beck said in a statement: “John was a visionary, the ultimate non-conformist and a forever optimist. “He will always be a part of Oboz, from devising our name to our commitment to community, trees and this beautiful place that we get to call home.”
The Blackbird Spyplane x Oboz Sawtooth II Low will release during the first week of October through Oboz’s website, as well as the retailers Colbo, Neighbor, Nitty Gritty, Stand Up Comedy and Understory. Pricing for the boots is set at $175.
Shop Oboz Sawtooth 2 Low Shoes
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.