Harry Styles’ Aperture Video Just Made Ballet Sneakers the Hottest Shoe of 2026
Ask the world's biggest popstar to make something niche mainstream
About as bad a time as ever to have your head in the sand, because Harry Styles, the king of pop, is gearing up to drop his fourth album, Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally. The first taste of the upcoming record comes in the form of the Aperture video: a slow, dreamy track that somehow manages to stick in your head.
But honestly, what really grabbed our attention weren’t the chords or the lyrics , it's the ballet sneakers Styles was rocking. Who knew ballet sneakers could look so good under a Prada ensemble?
Again, it is Styles.
The Aperture video itself is a slow-burning, almost hypnotic short film. Styles drifts through empty corridors, lit with shafts of light that cut through the shadows, chased by a mysterious figure whose intentions are never fully clear. There’s tension, there’s release, and then there’s the eventual catharsis: a burst of expressive movement as Styles abandons restraint, letting loose in a way that mirrors the song’s airy, atmospheric energy. It’s cinematic, moody, and unmistakably him and so are those yellow Prada collapse sneakers.
The Prada Collapse is Prada’s slimmest silhouette yet, joining a quiet revolution in men’s footwear: slimline trainers. Once dominated by chunky “Dad” shoes, 2026 is ushering in an era of low-profile, minimalist sneakers. The trend has roots in classics like Adidas Sambas, Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66s, and Puma Speedcats, but seeing Styles feature in a music video wearing them (and when casually strolling around in London in short shorts) guarantees mainstream attention.
But this isn't the first and only time the singer-songwriter has worn these before. In November last year, Styles was seen donning the shoes with his strikingly pink short-shorts.
So, you know if a global pop icon can base a comeback video around a pair of yellow ballet sneakers, you can bet the trend isn’t going anywhere soon. Whether you’ve been dipping a toe into narrow-soled trainers or have never even considered ditching your chunky kicks, the message is clear: ballet sneakers are no longer a niche oddity, they’re officially mainstream.
And soon may even run out of stocks!