The Evolution of the Dad Shoe: From Meme to Mainstream

It All Started as a Joke

There was a time when the "dad shoe" was pure comedy. Think suburban barbecues, New Balance 624s, chunky white soles, high socks, and zero drip. The joke was that dads wore sneakers that cared more about arch support than aesthetics. If you pulled up in a pair, you were either mowing the lawn or roasting someone who would.

But like everything in fashion, irony has a funny way of flipping into influence. What started as meme culture in the early 2010s became a full-blown aesthetic by the late 2010s. And now? The dad shoe is a certified flex.

The New Balance Glow-Up

New Balance deserves a massive chunk of the credit. What was once a brand associated with middle-aged comfort found itself at the center of streetwear and sneaker culture. Thanks to collabs with JJJJound, Aime Leon Dore, and Joe Freshgoods, silhouettes like the 990v3, 992, and 2002R became grails. Chunky, slightly awkward, endlessly wearable—that became the vibe.

New Balance didn’t just embrace the dad shoe meme. They weaponized it. They made authenticity the new luxury.

Luxury Brands Wanted In

It didn’t take long for fashion houses to catch on. Balenciaga dropped the Triple S and turned exaggerated bulk into a luxury statement. Suddenly, if your shoes didn’t weigh as much as a dumbbell, were you even dressing? Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada—all launched their own chunky runners, proving the trend wasn’t a fluke.

What made it stick wasn't just the size of the shoes. It was the attitude. Oversized silhouettes made outfits feel effortless. They threw off proportions in a way that said, "Yeah, I know what I'm doing—and no, I’m not trying too hard."

Comfort Became the Ultimate Flex

One of the biggest cultural shifts behind the dad shoe takeover? Comfort stopped being embarrassing. In a world where flexing was once all about pain (tight jeans, stiff designer kicks, suffering for the look), comfort flipped into power.

Wearing sneakers that prioritize cushioning and wide bases became aspirational. You weren’t dressing for clout anymore—you were dressing for yourself. Ironically, that made the fits look even cooler.

Where the Dad Shoe Stands Now

Today, chunky sneakers are everywhere—from New Balance 9060s to ASICS Gel-Kayanos to high-end fashion runners. They're styled with cargos, oversized hoodies, tech jackets, and clean minimal fits. They're part of the new wave of “quiet flex” culture—subtle, confident, and built to last.

The dad shoe might’ve started as a meme. But it finished as a movement.

And honestly? Pops had it right the whole time.