Hiking Shoes Are The Unexpected Fashion Trend To Know

Hiking-inspired footwear has evolved from purely functional outdoor gear into a fashion-forward fixture, but how do you embrace the look without appearing like you’re actually heading out on a hike?

Once reserved for weekend trails and packed into suitcases for holidays, outdoor shoes are now making their way into city wardrobes. Street style stars, fashion week runways and celebrity style have all played a part in the shift, with the technical-looking shoe increasingly being paired with pieces you’d never traditionally associate with hiking — think tailored trousers, feminine skirts and relaxed denim.

Copenhagen Fashion Week in particular, has become a masterclass in making practical footwear feel fashion-forward. From ballet flats and chunky sneakers to rubber thongs, the city’s famously cool street style stars have a knack for taking an everyday, functional shoe and turning it into something you actually want to wear.

ECCO RECEPTOR XP Collection

The latest iteration of the trend is less about conquering a mountain and more about navigating everyday life. Enter the ECCO RECEPTOR XP Collection, which is bringing a contemporary fashion perspective to outdoor-inspired footwear. The collection includes the RECEPTOR XP Mary Jane — a fresh take on the now viral ‘sneakerina’ — alongside the ECCO RECEPTOR XP Sneaker, both designed to move seamlessly from city streets to outdoor settings.

The collection also includes styles in collaboration with Natacha Ramsay-Levi which brings an elevated fashion sensibility to ECCO’s technical expertise, where considered design and everyday function meet. It’s this balance that makes the collection feel less like something you’d only reach for on a hiking trail, and more like a versatile addition to your everyday wardrobe.

ECCO RECEPTOR XP Collection — *Image: @ecco*

But looks aren’t the only consideration. Underneath the contemporary silhouettes is ECCO’s RECEPTOR® technology, developed in partnership with leading bio mechanists to support the foot through its three distinct movements: landing on the heel, standing through the middle of the foot and pushing off with the toes. The result is footwear designed to provide comfort, stability and support through every step.

And when it comes to styling the trend, the key is all in the contrast and the Danes couldn’t be better inspiration. Pairing an outdoor-inspired shoe with more polished or feminine pieces gives the look a distinctly modern feel — making this style of shoe just as at home on the streets as it is on a weekend hike.

How To Style The ECCO Receptor XP Mary Jane:

With Denim

Copenhagen street style and ecco shoes — Cos Blouse, Henne Gisella Jeans, ECCO RECEPTOR XP Mary Jane. Image: Copenhagen Street Style

The more casual entry point into the trend, styling it with a straight, relaxed denim jean balances our the technical feel of the silhouette as long as the top is a little more polish.

With A Skirt

Dissh Sian Top and Skirt, ECCO RECEPTOR XP Mary Jane. Image: Copenhagen Street S

This is where the Copenhagen influence really comes through. The contrast between a feminine silhouette and an outdoors-inspired shoe is what makes the look feel contemporary. Play with more colourful styles for the ultimate cool-girl look.