Alexander McQueen, Puma or Nike – these brands represent sports shoes that, under the description “trainers”, have become style icons. They have been indispensable accessories for an urban lifestyle since the 1970s. They are therefore ideally suited for combining with legendary watch models. Les Ambassadeurs asked two of its style experts to think of the perfect pairing of trainers and a watch. Cindy Romain and Corinne Schneider have many years of expertise in the luxury segment, and a total of 30 years of that experience at Les Ambassadeurs. These are their suggestions:
Golden Goose Superstar Trainers
Girard-Perregaux Laureato
C.S. “The Laureato chronograph from Girard-Perregaux, with its blue dial and octagonal stainless steel case, has a very strong identity. The watch goes with everything, especially the vintage look. And the Superstar trainers from the Golden Goose brand, out of Venice, are very vintage. The Venetian designer couple Francesca Rinaldo and Alessandro Gallo founded Golden Goose in 2000. These outsiders of the fashion world emphasise innovation and good craftsmanship.”
Balenciaga Speed Trainer Trainers
Christophe Claret Margot Limited Edition
C.S. “Claret’s Margot watch is inspired by the game ‘He loves me – he loves me not’ in which you pluck petals from a daisy. The pink mother-of-peal dial with engraved verses from Victor Hugo’s poem ‘Unité’ radiates romantic femininity. The combination with the iconic Balenciaga trainers – the stretch-socks trainer with the textured sole – produces a cool, cheerful and strong look.”
YeezyBoost350 V2, black non-reflective
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe 38 mm
C.S. “The colour, structure and material of the Blancpain go perfectly with the Yeezy trainers from Adidas. The brushed stainless steel gives the watch a durable appearance. The trendy unisex shoes came onto the market in June 2019, and their design and top-level technology fulfil the expectations of their cult character. They are very popular and have been very visible on social media. Blancpain produced the first Fifty Fathoms way back in 1953. It was regarded as one of the first modern diver’s watches. The Fifty Fathoms was developed by two commanders of the French military diving school at that time in collaboration with the Blancpain CEO Jean-Jaques Fiechter. It is waterproof down to a depth of 100 metres.”
Puma Clyde
Breguet Classique
“The Breguet Classique goes excellently with the Puma Clyde trainer from the 1970s, whose design was inspired by the US basketball player Walt Frazier. The watch and shoes have a bold, personal style, chic and elegant. An incisive detail is the dial of the Breguet Classique in blue enamel. Frazier was one of the first basketball players to bring style and fashion to the game. After he led the New York Knicks to their first NBA Championship in the 1969/70 season, he became the embodiment of ‘New York cool’.”
Converse ALL STAR
Zenith Pilot
C.R. “A reference to the 1950s and 60s. This legendary textile shoe has been a cult classic for several generations. The Converse ALL STAR has been worn by pioneering sportsmen and -women as well as rock and pop stars. They go perfectly with the Zenith Pilot, which is a tribute to the pioneering spirit of the aviation age – and to one of the most glittering chapters of the watchmaker’s art of the Belle Époque. It stands for the highest precision and references the lines of chronometer wristwatches that have been en vogue since the 1920s. The oversized, illuminated Arabic numerals made it easier to read the time in the cockpit in that period. And they are reminiscent of the on-board instruments that Zenith once created for pilots. A brown calfskin strap harmonises with the elegant look – the watch is an absolute eye-catcher.”
Alexander McQueen
Chanel J12 H1625
C.R. “Black and White. These luxurious platform trainers by Alexander McQueen with the black suede appliqués is a perfect all-rounder that belongs in every shoe collection. The platform sole that tapers in the upper section makes the model a fashionable reinterpretation of a classic. To match the white footwear, they are combined with the Chanel J12. Its black ceramic case and the diamonds that make the time sparkle round off the perfect look. Dive down over 200 metres into the world of fashion.”