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Sneakers a Surprising Trend at Fashion Week

By  Serena Solomon and Janet Upadhye | September 10, 2012 7:07am 

LINCOLN CENTER — With Mercedes Benz Fashion Week filled with athletes fresh from victories at the London Olympics, sneakers are a big hit at the runway shows.

Running shoes were paired with skinny jeans and shorts and more glamorous outfits such as flowing sheer dresses. The shoes often added a pop of neon color, a dose of trendy khaki or even extra height with a hybrid of the platform sneaker. 

"It's girly up top and masculine down below and that's how I really like to dress," said Nikki Ogunnaike, an editor at Glamour.com. She paired a feminine polka dot dress with Nike high-top sneakers in a vibrant red pattern that even gave her a few inches with a platform heel.

"I literally ran from show to show yesterday and my feet did not hurt once," said Ogunnaike, accrediting the trend to French designer Isabel Marant with her rendition of a puffy sneakers with a three inch heel. 

On the runways Ogunnaike had also noticed more athletic wear with jackets, shorts and light fabric in designs from See by Chloe and BCBG, to name a few.

For Laurie Pike, day four of Fashion Week on Sunday meant a toned down look with Puma sneakers and Nike running tights offset with a white linen blazer, sparkly brooch and bold 1960s glasses. 

"Comfort is the ultimate luxury and elegance," said the fashion editor at MyStyle.com, before literally running to the 10 a.m. Lela Rose show.

Pike credited her white blazer for being able to pull off the sporty glam look.

"There is something about a white blazer that is acceptable to wear with sporty gear," she said. "There is something casual about it even though it is super elegant."

Plenty of men also took to Lincoln Center with sneakers on their feet.

"When I saw them, I have never been so obsessed with a shoe in my entire life," said Isaiah Garza from FashionMunster.com, a street style blog.

His new love is an Adidas collaboration with fashion designer Jeremy Scott. It produced a neon yellow sneaker with a daisy-pattern, topped off with a huge bear head and bear paws poking out from the shoe.