By Brinda Patel
Staff Writer
Not a heel nor a sneaker, the sister brand of Spanx aims to fill a void in comfortable footwear. The internet and wider consumer base, however, is divided on the basis of this new company’s hard launch.
The mission of Sara Blakely, the shoes’ founder, is to create shoes that prioritize comfort with every step taken. The old mantra "beauty is pain" is a lie fed to the female population and has been challenged by the fashion world time and time again.
Blakely wants everyone to run in these heels. She put out a message on her website declaring, “Sneex are my love letter to every woman who has taken her shoes off at a party, who wears flats to work with heels in her bag, who thought her days of wearing heels were over."
By no means is Sneex a love letter. Yet, despite this sincere intention, Blakely’s execution falls short. Sneex comes off as more of a fashion faux pas rather than a market breakthrough.
“Consumers are dressing much more casually now,” Blakely said. “While sneakers have been embraced as an option, there are many times I put on clothes and still want the height and look of a heel with the vibe of a sneaker. There was an opportunity there.”
Her claim may be reasonable, but it doesn’t justify producing something as unappealing as this shoe. A comfortable heel is one thing, but the overall designs are another. The shoeline doesn’t blend with any range of outfits. Rather than enhancing your wardrobe, this line of footwear might stand out in a way that feels forced or out of lace.
The balance between style and comfort is very delicate, and in this case, the design of Sneex – The Blake, The Tepper and The Icon – may not resonate with a broad audience. It remains to be seen whether these shoes will become a fashion staple or merely a passing trend.
Blakely says that these shoes are ideal for a casual top and jeans look. Her consumer base will most likely be women, especially career-driven women given the high prices. With that said, the everyday woman often prefers a more subtle shoe to pair with leisure wear.
She prefers to not call these standard sneakers or heels, but rather a “Hy-Heel Sneaker.” This nomenclature is a bit excessive.
The price of the shoes range from $395 to $595, with The Icon being the only model priced at $395. Given the high prices of this new invention, it will likely only attract wealthy customers. While a brand name may yield significant profits, comfort shouldn’t come with such a steep price. Regardless of gender or class, no one wants to break the bank to express themselves.
After Blakely launched her game-changing invention to the world, it was met with nothing but crickets. It was as if she didn’t notice the lack of genuine enthusiasm, as everyone around her, including news presenters, continued to praise it. Meanwhile, prospective customers caught onto this lull and decided to tuck their credit cards away.
The CUT’s editor, Taylor Scarabelli, tracked her own experience wearing these Hy-Heels during New York Fashion Week. Although she received compliments from multiple fashion professionals, she reported that her feet were screaming and swollen as the night progressed, leaving her to question whether the shoes were “worth the squeeze.”
“Sneex may feel the same as any other three-inch heel, but what they lack in comfort and style is what they make up for in drama,” Scarabelli wrote in an attempt to salvage the concept of Sneex.
In theory, the idea of Sneex is an innovative concept as it merges shoe styles in a unique way, but the execution leaves something more to be desired. The design could benefit from more thoughtful choices in colors and materials. A more refined approach might enhance these shoes’ appeal and make them more accessible to a broader audience, aligning better with a diverse range of tastes and needs.
