Why These Futuristic Noughties Trainers Will Replace Your Adidas Sambas
When it comes to ‘It’ trainers, retro styles rule. But there’s a new old style set to replace Adidas' Gazelles and Sambas for the summer: 25 years after its initial debut, Puma's Mostro is once again set to takeover as the sneaker of the moment.
When the Monstro first launched in 1999, rebellion was in the air: Britney Spears' sultry Rolling Stone cover sent shockwaves through the music industry; the sleek leather uniforms worn by Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Ann Moss in The Matrix catapulted futuristic dressing into the mainstream; and Lil Kim’s scene-stealing purple jumpsuit at the VMAs made headlines everywhere. The timing was ripe for a fresh, fashion-forward design to shake up a sneaker space dominated by chunky styles and sports shoes.
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Donna Wallace, stylist and creative consultant, remembers the initial hysteria around the silhouette, which was sported by A-list stars from Madonna to Gwyneth Paltrow throughout the Noughties.
‘Fashion brands during the Nineties and early Noughts were pulling from a particular form – ergonomic, low-profile running shoes designed for performance,’ she said. ‘The turn of the millennium was an opportune moment to explore interesting, weird and futuristic styles.’
Now, 25 years on, the Monstro has a resurfaced, with stockists including Ssense, LN-CC and END all jumping aboard — no surprise given the shoe already has a cult celebrity following, with Puma’s F1 Creative Director A$AP Rocky leading the pack in the recent campaign.
‘The chunky profile has run its course and become a little static,’ said Wallace. ‘[The] resuscitation of the Mostro ties into the ‘Moto’ revival. A few brands were on the precipice of this a few years ago, riffing on motocross styles in footwear. People sort of got the niche trend, but ultimately, it's unmistakably Puma's silhouette.’
If that wasn’t enough to convince you, Berlin-based label Ottolinger has teamed with Puma on a high-fashion tie-up. After the success of last year’s sell-out drop, a second collection is now available that includes ready-to-wear and bags alongside a special edition space-age take on the styles.
It's official: The Mostro is primed for global domination.
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