The YZY Foam Runner is one of the most polarizing pieces of footwear to date. The emphasis on comfort along with the cozy-centric aesthetic has pushed the hype to an unexpected high. They went from the go-to meme footwear choice to being a “must-cop” by release day.
Perhaps you got a W on release day, pulled the trigger on the resell market, or even traded a pair of Jordan 1s for them, Foam Runner owners all end up in the same place. You open up the box, hold them in your hand, and ask yourself: “How the hell do I wear these?”
The good news is, it’s not as difficult as it may seem. The one piece of advice I always give when someone asks how to wear a specific shoe is not to overthink it. That applies especially to these since there’s always going to be an ironic “meme” element to these, no matter what you end up wearing. So we’ve got some guidance for you.
And what better place to start than to look at Yeezy himself. Above are some of the best looks Kanye West has put together with his most wild footwear design yet. And while his aesthetic has evolved from the 350 days, the common theme for his Foam Runner looks is the relaxed nature of his pants. Whether he’s wearing leather trousers or Carhartt Work denim, there’s an intentional looseness to his bottom choices.
After seeing hundreds, maybe thousands, of different fit pics across the internet, it’s apparent that skinny jeans/pants should not be your first move when it comes to styling Foam Runners. A baggier look will help compliment the kicks instead of being the sole focus of your shoe, which an overly tapered or skinny pant could do. While looking for Kanye fits, this photo below kept popping up, and I thought it made a pretty good case against anything skin-tight pants with shoes like this. My guy looks like he’s wearing three sizes too big on those Foams.
Look, I’m not saying you need parachute pants, but a straighter cut will do you some good. Slim straight pants are still a valid option. If you look back to Kanye’s looks, his pants aren’t all that wide either, just enough to bring the look of the Foam Runners back to earth. The Dickies 874s have been my go-to recommendation for those looking to part with their calf-huggers.
Cargos have been a staple for sneakerheads for quite some time, and whether you cuff your cargos or let them fall on top of your sneakers, the same rule applies here. Sweatpants are also an easy choice for these, but I would stick to the ones with scrunch cuff hems as the other ones are most common in slimmer silhouettes.
Some SoleSavy community members have asked, “how do I wear these with shorts?”. No matter where you side on the inseam length debate, most shorts look good with these. Look no further than what’s already in your closet as they will likely work.
Oh, and one more thing, please wear socks and spare everyone from the ridiculous tan line that would appear on your foot if you decided to wear these sockless. Maybe the beach would be an exception for the sock rule but you’re just asking for an alien-esque imprint on your foot at that point.
When writing this piece, we asked our members how they’ve been wearing their Foam Runners. After all, who better to ask than folks who wear and enjoy their sneakers?
Here are some of the best looks brought to you by the SoleSavy community.
