Why Skechers Slip-Ons Became My Fashion Week Essential

New York Fashion Week is always a marathon. After covering shows for a decade, I know firsthand the physical demands of navigating these New York streets, backstage interviews, and last minute runway show entries—all while keeping every look intentional.

This season, however, I faced a challenge I hadn’t encountered before: a knee injury, picked up over Labor Day weekend, that made the prospect of limping through one of fashion’s most demanding weeks feel daunting.

That was until Skechers entered the chat.

I’ll admit, when Skechers offered to send me sneakers to style during NYFW, I was skeptical. I’ve known them for comfort, of course, but comfort and high fashion don’t always go together. Could they really hold their own beside the luxury looks I’d curated? But when the delivery arrived—six pairs, no less—I knew I was about to be proven wrong. Three in particular never left my feet.

The first was a pair of white-on-white slip-ons: sleek, crisp, and endlessly versatile. They carried me seamlessly from an afternoon runway show to an evening dinner meeting. Styled alongside a structured blazer or a silk slip dress, these sneakers didn’t read “casual.” They read intentional, modern, and chic.

Next came the Cleo Snip  appropriately nicknamed the “Glamorous”:  slipper in a vivid red. These were statement-makers. The bold color exuded confidence, and the fit gave me something I hadn’t expected to feel all week: relief. Each step felt like reclaiming my stride, proof that shoes can empower without punishing.

And then, the undeniable star of the week: the Cleo Walker in Leopard, called "Runway Hit," in a pattern that never loses relevance in fashion. 

By the close of Fashion Week, something clicked. Skechers slip-ons weren’t just a convenient option, they had become essential. For those of us who’ve been in this industry long enough to know how unforgiving some trends can be, Skechers proves that comfort is not a compromise. These shoes met the moment.