Absurd. Ugly. Clunky. Monstrous.
These are all words that have been used to describe the Balenciaga Triple S sneaker. Not exactly the words you would usually choose to associate with a shoe that incited fashion editors around the globe to immediately splash them across their magazines with wild enthusiasm. And neither are these the words you would usually use to describe a sneaker that has inspired countless high-street copycats.
Yet we can’t get enough of these wild and ungainly sneakers. They’re still a hugely popular pick from the Farfetch range of Balenciaga shoes nearly three years after they stomped onto the runway in January 2017.
So, why do we love the Balenciaga Triple S so much? And how on earth did it come into being?
A Little History
Cristóbal Balenciaga Eizaguirre was born in the Basque Country of Spain in the late 19th century. In 1917, while still a very young man, he opened his first boutique in San Sebastian. His designs were immediately popular. More boutiques across Spain followed, and in 1937, Balenciaga moved to Paris to open his Paris couture house.
Even then, his designs were not understated. His iconic early pieces included his “square coat” and garments made from black lace over a bright pink fabric. This confident, inventive style gathered a large following.
In the 1950s, he was largely preoccupied with transforming the silhouette of ladies’ wear, designing quintessential pieces such as the spherical balloon jacket and cocoon coat. In the 1960s, his attention turned towards the use of heavy, bold fabrics. In this era, his most respected pieces featured stiff, swan-like collars and included funnel-shaped sculpted dresses.
The man himself closed his fashion house in 1968, shortly before his death. The house lay dormant for almost 20 years before it was reborn in 1986 when Jacques Bogart S.A. acquired the rights.
Balenciaga’s Legacy
The bold, experimental approach to the design created by Cristóbal Balenciaga Eizaguirre was and still is, the hallmark of the Balenciaga house. Today, it’s still known for its cutting-edge pieces that always seem to be several paces ahead of the rest of the fashion world.
Aside from sneakers, Balenciaga bags are hugely popular at Farfetch. They are representative of everything the man himself stood for. Bright, kitsch-meets-couture pieces that ooze confidence. Graffiti prints. Blazing, almost luminescent colorways. Balenciaga bags aren’t for the faint-hearted.
And neither is the Triple S sneaker.
The Triple S Sneaker
Take a good look at the Triple S and you’ll see it’s the sum of all trainers that came before. Trail shoes, basketball sneakers, cross-trainers — they’re all in there. They’re certainly maximalist, just as you’d expect from Balenciaga.
It’s the soles that get the Triple S noticed. They don’t have just one; the Triple S has three. Look closely and you’ll see three shoe soles stacked, one on top of the next. It’s a running shoe, a track shoe, and a basketball shoe combined.
The 2.5-inch platform isn’t the only noteworthy feature of the Triple S. It borrows its two-tone chunky laces from hiking boots, and a rainbow of colorways on its mesh and nubuck panels help complete its eccentricity.
Alongside Nike Air Jordans, Reebok Classics, Converse All-Star, and all kinds of Adidas shoes (such as the Yeezy), the Triple S sits proudly in the sneaker hall of fame. It is the most recent entrant and the first luxury shoe to reach cult trainer status.
How the Triple S Came to Be
All of Balenciaga’s hallmarks can be seen in the Triple S Sneaker, from the reinvented shape that challenges everything we thought we knew about sneakers, to the daring colorways. It pushes the boundaries and challenges the norms. In many ways, the Triple S was always waiting to happen.
The Triple S is the work of Demna Gvasalia and David Tourniaire-Beauciel, a collaboration that was always destined for greatness.
After years of muted, low-key trainers, the Triple S swung in like a sledgehammer in 2017. By this time, streetwear and high fashion were flirting. But many fashion experts agree, it was the Triple S that finally married the two.
They combine our love of easy-to-wear, dressed-down sportswear with everything we love about Balenciaga, in one crazy pair of shoes. And they are the very epitome of the chunky dad trainer look that we’re still enjoying.
Needless to say, these shoes aren’t to everyone’s taste, and not everyone’s a fan. But that’s their appeal — they’re here, whether you like them or not. They were designed to be provocative. And they couldn’t be louder or prouder.
How to Wear the Triple S
There’s really no right or wrong way to wear the Triple S. After all, the shoe’s whole ethos is “Ugly is beautiful.” You really can wear them with anything. Beware, however — they’ll steal the show from almost anything.
5 Style Tips for Both Men and Women
Here are five of our favorite ways to wear the Triple S:
- With Jeans and a Jumper
Jeans and a jumper. It’s a classic look for both ladies and gents, perhaps too plain and ordinary for some. Still, it’s the perfect blank canvas for Triple S sneakers. They get the full focus of everyone’s attention in this outfit.
Plus, jeans and a jumper are the obvious choices if you want to rock the “dad” look. Classic straight-leg jeans, of course. Turn them up to show off the Triple S and complete the look.
Alternatively, try tapered jeans. They help draw the eye down to your footwear and also emphasize the oversized soles of the Triple S.
- With a Sweater Dress
Here’s another way to let your Triple S do the talking. A classic, minimalist sweater dress balances with the sneakers perfectly. Add a cap, denim jacket, and sports socks for a dressed-down daytime look, or put on a chunky, classic coat for an evening out.
- With a Suit
We love a suit alongside the Triple S for both men and women.
A simple, dark suit is the perfect contrast to the brightly colored Triple S. Like two planets colliding, this bold look mixes classic tailoring with urban sportswear. It’s an edgy look that challenges fashion norms — it’s sure to cause shockwaves.
With all eyes on your feet, be sure to get your socks right. Plain white or ribbed black complete the look. Or go all out with logo socks to sit immodestly next to your sneakers.
- With All White
A fresh, all-white outfit looks incredible with Triple S, especially in one of the brighter colorways. How you pull it together is down to you. Classic tailoring or all-white sportswear, or a mix of styles — anything goes. All that matters is that your Triple S will add the only pop of color.
- With All Black
As above, let your Triple S take centerstage by going all black from head to ankle. It’s an edgier look than all white and gives a nod of thanks to the streetwear trend that helped bring us Triple S in the first place.
What’s Next
When Triple S sneakers strode onto the runways in early 2017, many of us would have found it hard to imagine they’d still be as popular nearly three years on. Polarizing as they were, it turns out they were just the beginning of the luxury sports shoe that we can’t get enough of.
Where comfort meets style, Balenciaga continues to lead the way there. Alongside the Triple S, its speed knit sneakers and track sneakers are hugely popular buys from the Farfetch range of Balenciaga shoes.
No one yet knows where our current appetite for luxury sneakers will ultimately take designers, but one thing is for sure: Balenciaga’s passion for reinvention means they’ll be at the forefront of future footwear trends.
