Word of the Day: Snoafers
A trend that came and went so fast I never heard of it.
noun
A type of trendy shoe known for its unique design and comfort. It typically combines elements of sneakers and loafers, offering a stylish yet casual footwear option suitable for various occasions. As a noun, snoafer represents not only a specific style of shoe but also embodies fashion trends and personal preferences in footwear choices.
Sometimes, as a reporter, you have to admit that you bet on the wrong horse. This is one of those times.
A couple of years ago, I was among the first people to write about snoafers. Snoafers, if you’re new to the term (or simply forgot), are mutant mash-ups of an athletic sneaker and a loafer. New Balance ignited the snoafer discourse when it teased its 1906L model, a slip-on with the soul of an ’80s running shoe, during a runway show by the Japanese designer Junya Watanabe. The shoes were as indelible as they were odd. Many people found them straight up ugly.
Soon came a crush of articles speculating on the Frankenshoe’s appeal. (I wrote not one, but two such pieces.) The industry responded to the buzz, as snoafer siblings arrived at Puma, Hoka, Nike and Converse. Aldo and Skechers even plunked their own snoafer clones onto the market.
But, looking back, sneaker loafers feel like a trend that never really came to pass. I just traveled through Milan, Paris and back to New York for various fashion weeks. Not once do I remember seeing a pair of snoafers. People may have wanted to read about the shoes. Wearing them was another matter.
| Jacob Gallagher, The Bizarre Shoe Trend That Failed to Take Off