Sneakers Through The Years, 1916
Keds Champion sneaker, for women.
Sneakers Through the Years: From 1916 to Today
By Amina Ayoud
Courtesy
Amina Ayoud
Assistant Digital Editor
More stories by Amina
The evolution of sneakers.
Getty Images
Sneakers have drastically evolved over the years, bringing about a variety of colorful iterations. The humble silhouette has been fixed with lights, platform soles, velcro, wedges and even wheels in the past, redefining what it means to be a sneaker. From canvas to leather, high-top to low-top, the world of sneakers is vast and complex, boasting a complex and fascinating history filled with innovation and a need for comfort. Sneakers are favored by many celebrities, sometimes over the ever-popular heel. From athletes to actresses, sneakers of all kinds have become a closet staple, ushering in a new era of comfortable and classy footwear.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 1923
Converse Non-Skid All Stars, 1923. Photograph courtesy of The Converse Archive
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Sneakers Through The Years, 1930
Image Credit: Corbis via Getty Images Ruby Keeler on Jan. 01, 1930
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Sneakers Through The Years, 1942
Image Credit: Getty Images Movie set for a western, between 1896 and 1942. Creator: Arnold Genthe.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 1954
Image Credit: Getty Images A model wearing a tennis sock embroidered with two crossed rackets from a collection by British designer Ted Tinling, June 1954. Tinling was considered the foremost designer of tennis clothing of the 20th century.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 1958
Puma Formstrip AD 1958.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 1968
Image Credit: Mirrorpix via Getty Images Beatles singer Paul McCartney relaxing in the grounds of his father’s home in Gayton in the Wirral, Cheshire, wearing a pink polka-dot shirt and black slacks – and white plimsolls. July 1968.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 1968
Image Credit: Getty Images Portrait of English professional footballer Ron Harris, Defender for Chelsea Football Club tying his boot shoelaces before a training session on 30th July 1968 at the team training ground in Mitchum, London.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 1973
Image Credit: ullstein bild via Getty Images Adolf Dassler the creator of Adidas Sept. 25, 1973.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 1973
Nike Cortez ad 1973.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 1973
Image Credit: Getty Images General view of Converse All-Star hi-tops shoes and a basketball 1973.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 1974
Nike patent from 1974.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 1985
Image Credit: NBC Newswire/NBCUniversal via Ge NBC News’ Fitness Consultant Denise Austin in 1985.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 1991
![American politician Wellington E. Webb (born 1941) served in the Colorado House of Representatives and was the first African American mayor of Denver, Colorado, serving from 1991 to 2003. Pair of dark blue Asics sneakers. Sneakers are the "Tiger" style with mesh on the toe box. Suede leather heel counters, and vamp. Criss-crossing leather lines on either side of the shoe. Lines have holes for ventilation. Laces are dark gray and are laced completely to the shoes. White and black soles. On the exterior of the shoe tongues is a white tag with blue, stitched text [ASICS/TIGER]. Artist ASICS. (Photo by Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images)](https://footwearnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GettyImages-1329737191.jpg?w=300)
Image Credit: Heritage Images via Getty Images American politician Wellington E. Webb (born 1941) served in the Colorado House of Representatives and was the first African-American mayor of Denver, Colorado, serving from 1991 to 2003. Pair of dark blue Asics sneakers from 1991.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 1992
La Gear high-top light up sneakers 1992.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 1994
Image Credit: Getty Images Princess Diana, Princess of Wales, arrives at The Chelsea Harbour Gym Club in West London. Picture taken Oct. 16 1994.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 1994
Image Credit: Corbis via Getty Images Shaquille O’Neal Dec. 12, 1994.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 1995
Image Credit: Universal Images Group via Getty A teenage boy wearing Airwalk shorts and Vans trainers skateboarding Bromley UK 1995.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 1996
Image Credit: Corbis/VCG via Getty Images David Bowie portrays Andy Warhol in the 1996 motion picture Basquiat, directed by artist Julian Schnabel.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 1996
Image Credit: Getty Images Canadian actress Pamela Anderson, London, circa 1996.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 2001
Image Credit: WireImage Britney Spears playing basketball in 2001.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 2006
Image Credit: Houston Chronicle via Getty Imag Sneakers shot in the studio are: (clockwise from the top) BAPE sneaker, $260, at Premium Goods in Rice Village (red, white and yellow); Puma RS-100LE sneaker, $65, at select Puma retailers (pink, black and green); Reebok NPC Platinum Low, $79.99, in at select Reebok retailers (yellow); Nike Dunk SB by Pushead, $260, at Premium Goods in Rice Village. (black with print) for a sneaker shoe shoot in the Houston Chronicle studio, Jan. 24, 2006.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 2012
Image Credit: FilmMagic Rapper Kreayshawn (shoe detail) arrives for a post NYE party at Lavo on Jan. 1, 2012 in Las Vegas.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 2012
Image Credit: GC Images Jennifer Lawrence is seen on Aug. 14, 2012 in Los Angeles.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 2012
Image Credit: Toronto Star via Getty Images Sneakers get a lift with wedge soles Aug. 23, 2012.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 2012
Image Credit: WireImage Alli Simpson (shoe detail) arrives at Pastry Shoes “Skate & Donate” benefitting Toys For Tots on December 8, 2012 in Glendale, Calif.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 2016
Image Credit: picture alliance via Getty Image Athletic shoes with foldout wheels by Heelys at the ISPO MUNICH sporting goods trade fair in Munich, Germany, Jan. 24 2016.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 2018
Image Credit: GC Images Kendall Jenner goes to lunch with Kourtney Kardashian on June 6, 2018 in New York.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 2020
Image Credit: GC Images Jennifer Lopez seen on the streets of Manhattan on Dec. 29, 2020 in New York.
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Sneakers Through The Years, 2023
Image Credit: GC Images Ryan Reynolds is seen on Nov. 06, 2023 in New York.
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