But, you can’t help but appreciate the innovation.
When I think of sneakers, the word “fun” doesn’t really come to mind. Similarly, when I think of heels, “fun” is not always (keyword: always) the best way to describe the high-heeled shoes that oftentimes leave me with achy feet at the end of the day. The former, to me, is synonymous with comfort and athleticism, while the latter typically leans elegant and dressy. But fun? Not really. However, Spanx founder Sara Blakely is here to change the way I—and you—see sneakers (err, heels?), for good, with her new brand, Sneex.
In fact, fun is the one word Blakely used to describe the sneaker-heel hybrid shoe that’s the pillar of Sneex. And honestly, I couldn’t agree more. Blakely explained in an email interview with InStyle that she wants “Sneex to encourage women to have more fun and feel more confident.” She added, “I designed this shoe to be playful and spark joy when getting dressed again. I want women to enjoy the party and not have to worry about the pain they are in.” Amen to that.
Sneex the Blake
$545 at Sneex.com
Blakely’s idea to create this hy-heel shoe (a play of hybrid heels) came from her own pains—she had a problem, no solution existed, so she created one. “I felt inspired to create this because of my own foot pain in heels,” she shared. “I also get fired up when something in the marketplace doesn’t change for years—and in this case—centuries.” Years later, Sneex came to fruition, with the sneaker-heel hybrid looking exactly how you’d think—it’s part sneaker, with a sporty-inspired upper that’s the blueprint of traditional, stylish sneakers (read: a mesh, suede, strapped closure) and part stiletto, with a thin, three-inch heel that lifts you up. But all the obvious aside, there’s much more to this sneaker-heel than meets the eye.
Blakely shared that the innovation behind the shoe is what really sets it apart from anything else on the market, noting it was designed from “the inside out.” She explained, “We spent years working on three main pain points that women commonly feel in high heels…We re-engineered the weight distribution to relieve the pressure on the ball of your foot, we closed the gap most heels have between your foot and the shoe for whole-foot support, and we invented a design that prevents toe squeezing.” The result? A sneaker-heel that you can wear for hours—and probably even run in—without any foot pain. I’m intrigued.
While Sneex is certain to draw some opinions—the internet will absolutely be divided on this sneaker-heel hybrid—I can’t help but mention a few things. Fashion is about sparking emotions. It’s about conversations! And these sneaker-heels are certain to stop people in their tracks, spark up a conversation or two, and really make wearing shoes fun again. Plus, given fashion’s appreciation for the “ugly” (which doesn’t mean “ugly” in the traditional sense, but rather some a bit more outside-the-box), Sneex’s styles fit right in.
The brand kicked off with three key styles: the Blake, the Icon, and the Tepper, with prices ranging from $395 to $595. And if you need any more reason to take the plunge, heed Blakely’s advice: “Sneex will make you smile. You won’t believe you’re in a 3-inch heel.”
Sneex the Icon
$395 at Sneex.com
Sneex the Tepper
$595 at Sneex.com