Dad shoes somehow ended up in luxury fashion.
A few years ago, that sentence wouldn’t even make sense. These were the same bulky sneakers people used to associate with dads on vacation—comfortable, practical, and honestly kind of forgettable.
Now they’re everywhere.
It didn’t really happen overnight. Back in the ’90s, they were just… practical. Comfortable, a little bulky, the kind of shoes you’d throw on for a long day out and not think twice about. No one was calling them fashion.
Then somewhere around 2017, something shifted.
You started noticing it more. Kanye West showing up in oversized sneakers that felt almost too big, even by sneaker standards. At the same time, Bella Hadid kept popping up in chunky Balenciaga pairs during fashion weeks.
At first it looked a bit off. Then people got used to it. And once that happened, those same shapes started to feel… right.
The Shape That Changed Everything
Now it’s everywhere. Thicker soles, layered panels, that slightly exaggerated build—it’s basically part of how outfits are put together now.
You see it across different brands too. Balenciaga pushed it early, but if you look at newer pairs like the off white sneakers from the Be Right Back line, the direction feels pretty close. Not identical, but close enough that people end up comparing them anyway.
The overlap mostly comes down to shape. Both go for that heavier base, more layers, more going on visually. They’re not trying to be sleek, and that’s kind of the point.
But the way they approach it isn’t exactly the same.
Balenciaga leans into exaggeration. The Triple S almost feels intentionally overbuilt—stacked, bulky, a bit excessive. It pushes things just far enough that it becomes interesting.
Off-White, especially with the Be Right Back series, feels a bit more controlled. Still chunky, still layered—but cleaner in how everything comes together. Less about pushing proportions to the limit, more about adjusting something familiar until it feels current again.
It doesn’t hit as loud, but it still works.
Why the Price Gap Feels Bigger Than It Should
Then there’s the price.
Balenciaga sits comfortably above the $1,000 mark. That’s just the space it operates in. Part of that comes from history, part of it from positioning—it’s built into the brand.
Off-White doesn’t really go there.
Most pairs land somewhere in that $400 to $600 range. Still expensive, sure—but not really trying to sit in the same bracket.
And honestly, when you see them on foot, the difference doesn’t always come across as strongly as the price tags would suggest.
So, Is Off-White Actually Luxury?
That depends on what you think “luxury” even means now.
If it’s about heritage, then… probably not. At least not in the traditional sense.
But if you’re looking at influence—what people actually wear, what ends up shaping trends—then it’s a different conversation.
Off-White has definitely been part of that.
Just not in the same way as the older houses.
Beyond Balenciaga and Off-White
Of course, it’s not just Balenciaga or Off-White doing this.
Brands like Yeezy leaned into it early with the 700 series—still chunky, still built around that heavier silhouette, but easier to wear day to day. New Balance has been there even longer. Models like the 990 or 2002R were never meant to be fashion statements, but somehow ended up in that space anyway.
Most people aren’t choosing between “luxury” and “non-luxury” as clearly as it sounds on paper.
A lot of it just comes down to budget—and what feels right.
Not everyone is trying to spend four figures on sneakers. Some people just want something that works with what they wear. The shape, the presence, the way it changes the outfit—that’s usually enough.
What Actually Makes Something “Luxury”?
Which brings it back to a bigger question—what even counts as luxury now?
It used to be easier to answer. Heritage, craftsmanship, exclusivity. That was the framework.
Now it feels less fixed.
Because if you strip everything back, a lot of what people respond to isn’t just the brand itself. It’s the feeling that comes with wearing it. A bit of recognition, maybe even a sense of confidence or pride.
And once that’s there, the label starts to matter a little less.
For some people, that comes from a Balenciaga box. For others, it might be Yeezy, or even something quieter from New Balance.
The price changes. The branding changes.
But the role it plays doesn’t change as much as you’d expect.
Where That Leaves the Dad Shoe
At the end of the day, most people aren’t thinking about brand history when they pick a pair.
They’re thinking about how it looks. How it fits into what they already wear.
Balenciaga goes louder.
Off-White feels a bit more restrained.
But they’re both doing the same thing in the end—
Making the shoe matter a bit more than it used to.
Peyman Khosravani is a global blockchain and digital transformation expert with a passion for marketing, futuristic ideas, analytics insights, startup businesses, and effective communications. He has extensive experience in blockchain and DeFi projects and is committed to using technology to bring justice and fairness to society and promote freedom. Peyman has worked with international organizations to improve digital transformation strategies and data-gathering strategies that help identify customer touchpoints and sources of data that tell the story of what is happening. With his expertise in blockchain, digital transformation, marketing, analytics insights, startup businesses, and effective communications, Peyman is dedicated to helping businesses succeed in the digital age. He believes that technology can be used as a tool for positive change in the world.
