Looking for new shoes this fall season? The bulky shoe, also known as the dad shoe, may be what you’re looking for. Bulky shoes have been a trend for a few years now but they’ve been on the rise since spring. These shoes have been seen everywhere, from Instagram and Pinterest to other popular websites such as H&M, Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters. 

Brands are creating new looks to stay current and up-to-trend. As stated in Footwear News, Nike changed its Monarch sneaker’s look for Father’s Day. The new denim and brown leather structure has total ‘90s vibes. The sneakers look simple — very masculine but comfortable. This year, Adidas has kept the dad shoe style going by introducing a new style of Yeezys. 

Sketchers has also been taking part in the trend, according to Drapers, an online publication focusing on relatil fashion. It truly shows how worthwhile it is to watch buyers. Ryan Rossler, vice president of product development at Skechers, told Drapers, “For [us], [the trend] started in South Korea and China a couple of years ago when we saw our Skechers D’Lites style make a huge comeback with the savvy youth and trendsetters.We built on this with fresh interpretations of the D’Lites uppers, and then launching two new D’Lites outsoles.” In many countries around the world, the Skechers D’Lites are a hit. Its providers are Urban Outfitters and ASOS. 

Even luxury brands like Balenciaga are contributing to the trend. They redesigned the shoe into a chunky trainer shape. In 2017, the chunky trainer shape became popular in high fashion by Balenciaga with their Triple S sneaker. This sneaker has a chunky exterior inspired by athletic shoes. According to CR Fashion Book, models Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner are recognizing the trend Balenciaga’s Demna Gvasalia invented, who made improvements on the idea displayed at his Spring/Summer 2018 menswear show. Even artists Rihanna and Ariana Grande have contributed to the growing trend.

The most commonly worn bulky shoes currently are Filas, the disruptor style sneakers. These shoes are typically styled with mom jeans, shorts, mini skirts, t-shirt dresses and long jackets or coats. The shoes create a 90s nostalgia that anyone can be a part of. Freshman Kelsey Mullan says, “I think they can add a cool element/level to an outfit if they’re worn well. Personally, I prefer a good platform sneaker to the ‘chunky filas’ because I think they look tacky sometimes if they’re not styled properly but I think it’s a cool trend for fall!” On the other hand, sophomore Morgan Sullivan expressed, “I think the bulky shoe trend is overrated and silly. I personally will never hop on this trend but if it’s ‘in style,’ then people will always try to make it work.”

It looks like the trend won’t be going out of style anytime soon. They don’t seem to be the most appealing shoes, but the more people wear them, the more people will buy them and the shoes will increase popularity.