Undisputed fact: Everyone loves nostalgia. From trends like Nia Long core and collegiate athleisure to the popularity of Sabrina Carpenter (and her cheeky, pin-up brand of, well, everything), it all points to old-school looks reigning supreme. As someone who personally wishes she could live in the ‘40s, ‘50s and ’60s for the fashion alone, you can bet I did a gleeful victory dance to discover that the canvas shoe is making a comeback. The Keds-inspired silhouette has never gone out of style—but recent Google Trends data indicates that there’s been a spike in interest for the O.G. sneakers.
Mark My Words, This Super Old-School Shoe Is About to Make a Major Comeback
The cool kids are wearing them
•
Published Sep 19, 2025
PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and some items may be gifted to us. Additionally, PureWow may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here.
Joseph Okpako /Stringer/Noam Galai/Stringer/Getty Images/Keds/Dasha Burobina/PureWow
Keds Go *Way* Back
While they may have been a Millennial mainstay with an all-time peak in the mid-2000s, Keds actually debuted in 1916. Throughout the decades, they won popularity as iterations were created for athletes and dancers. In fact, it’s thanks to the brand that “sneakers” became a colloquialism. Per WWD, “...a 1917 Keds ad…referenced how sneakers allowed wearers to sneak up on unsuspecting friends.” Celebs during the Golden Age of Hollywood, including Marilyn Monroe, Paul Newman and Humphrey Bogart, wore them, too.
Celebs and Fashionistas are Hinting at a Revival
In the past year, Keds and similar canvas-top shoes have been spotted on the likes of Lana Del Rey and Millennial tastemaker Audrey Gelman. A slew of fashion writers have also called out the style, including Jess Graves of The Love List, Becky Malinsky of Five Things and Elizabeth Cardinal Tamkin of The Corner Booth. As someone who pounced on the Kate Spade x Keds collab in 2019, I’m giddy. Not least of all because Keds are incredibly easy to style—with jeans or a skirt, flowy sundress, sweater or blazer. They give every outfit a cool, casual look that gives you the freedom to run around, have fun and be active. Below are three pairs I’m eyeing—versatile, practical and, most importantly, fun.
1. Keds Champion Originals
Keds
When I had these shoes, I wore them to literal shreds. I’m talking holes in the rubber, scuffy to the high heavens, frayed laces. These shoes carried me many, many miles over the cobbled streets of Paris. A big bonus for me was that there was sufficient room to accommodate my arch supports. And in the spirit of the shoes’ legacy, I even wore them swing dancing. I love that there are multiple widths, running from slim to extra wide. (Wide foot gal over here.)
We’ve been going through a platform-shoe phase, and Keds’ Triple Up style is right on trend. The 1.5-inch boost gives the classic sneaker an updated profile, with a leather upper that makes it feel a little dressier than the canvas originals.
If you prefer a slip-on style, Keds makes a popular take on the loafer, with an average rating of 4.2 stars over nearly 8,000 reviews. They’re available in medium and wide widths, with a cushy insole and sleek profile that also makes them easy to style up or down.
