The clunky, ugly Dad shoe gives sneaker makers a swift kick

Garish colours: Adidas’ Yung-1 shoes... typical dad shoes

PARIS: Dad shoes are clunky, ugly – and the hottest trend in footwear, clomping down the runway at recent shows by luxury houses Louis Vuitton and Balenciaga.

The bulked-up sneakers, which can retail for hundreds of dollars a pair, also represent a major challenge for athletic-shoe makers unaccustomed to the volatile world of high fashion.