The ‘wrong shoe theory’ is trending on social media, with people claiming it instantly upgrades their everyday outfits.

The term, coined by stylist Allison Bornstein, is a rather straightforward styling tip, encouraging us to pair ‘the wrong shoe’ with any outfit. A dainty slip dress with Birkenstock Boston clogs, a sharply tailored suit with a pair of trusty trainers or even a pair of jogging bottoms with a thick-soled biker boot, to name only a handful of examples. But while some seem to find the fashion trend freeing, mismatching outfits with accessories for typically different occasions, I can’t help but think that we’ve seen all of this before.

Trainers with midi dresses is certainly nothing new. In fact, at one point not so long ago, it was rare not to spot several versions of Veja trainers and a floral frock swanning around the local supermarket. Then came the rise of the ugly dad shoe, with brands such as New Balance and Crocs being paired with almost any outfit. And, as Dr Dion Terrelonge, a fashion psychologist, emphasises, the early 00s were known for this mismatched shoe choice, with celebrities like Jennifer Lopez wearing stilettos with cargo trousers in her Jenny From The Block music video.

Why so many of us are giving ‘wrong shoe theory’ a go