Spanx founder Sara Blakely knows firsthand that innovation often stems from frustration. Her billion-dollar idea for Spanx was born out of a need for a better solution to the problems she faced with shapewear. Now, she’s tackling another point of frustration: uncomfortable stilettos.
Blakely has been advocating for a comfortable high heel for years, but she’s no longer waiting for someone else to create it. “I’ve been publicly saying someone should invent A comfortable high heel and I just kept waiting,” she tells Vogue. “I’m not waiting anymore. Clearly, this is not on anyone’s agenda.” Introducing Sneex, a “luxury hybrid stiletto” retailing between $395 and $595. This shoe represents Blakely’s answer to the uncomfortable stiletto dilemma.
Sneex, which was meticulously developed over nine years, utilizes patent-pending technology to deliver the comfort of a sneaker with the height of a stiletto. Blakely’s initial vision was to create a comfortable stiletto that maintained a classic stiletto aesthetic. However, her approach shifted during the development process. “I just want to feel like I’m standing in a sneaker, but be in a 3-inch heel,” she shared. This shift led to the creation of Sneex, a unique fusion of sneaker and stiletto.
Blakely, a firm believer in her own consumer instincts, acknowledged that she already owned both stilettos and sneakers but lacked a comfortable combination of the two. This realization became the driving force behind Sneex, a shoe designed to seamlessly transition between dressy and casual wear. Blakely sees Sneex as the perfect complement to a classic jeans-and-nice-top outfit and envisions them being embraced for a wide range of occasions. “I designed them to be able to wear every day, but 100% women will embrace them and wear them formally. Women are already wearing regular sneakers in formalwear, so I think that that is going to happen for sure,” she says. “I imagine a lot of brides wearing the white pair.”
Blakely envisions Sneex being worn by women of all ages, just as Spanx became a staple for women across the spectrum. She has already sought feedback from women of various ages and styles, witnessing firsthand the versatility of the shoe. “I’ve already seen some younger girls that have styled this with shorts and tube socks, and then I’ve seen women who want to wear it with really classic slacks and a blazer.”
While Sneex represents Blakely’s innovative approach to comfortable heels, she hasn’t abandoned her initial goal of creating a comfortable, traditionally styled stiletto. “I totally will create a comfortable traditional looking heel,” she says. “I’ve got all the technology and all the innovation now to do it, and I’m super excited about it. But I also like giving women and consumers something that doesn’t already exist.”
While the concept of a sneaker heel isn’t entirely new, Blakely asserts that Sneex stands apart. “Well, one thing we didn’t do is just take a sneaker and put a heel on it,” she says. Sneex features a unique design and innovative technology, focusing on three key areas: widening the toe box, redistributing weight, and enhancing arch support.
Blakely has received positive feedback from those who have tried on Sneex. “The women that have put them on, they almost all immediately start dancing—like spontaneously bust out into dance—and then they take off running,” she says. “And then I’ve had several women actually cry. I have footage of them crying.”
To test the claims of comfort, I decided to wear a pair of Sneex myself. While I wouldn’t typically choose a sneaker heel, I was willing to set aside my personal preferences in the name of journalism. I wore the red and orange colorway with a pink Velcro strap, called the Tepper, for several days, testing them in various settings.
While the shoes offer a level of comfort exceeding that of traditional heels, they aren’t as comfortable as sneakers, potentially leading to a sense of disappointment. Additionally, while Blakely’s name recognition through Spanx is significant, it doesn’t automatically translate to success in the luxury market. Sneex, both in marketing language and pricing, targets the luxury market, which is a crowded space. Brands like Miu Miu, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, and Isabel Marant have already released their own versions of sneaker heels. This means Blakely’s Sneex is competing in an established market rather than venturing into an uncharted territory.
My personal experience with Sneex highlighted the comfort factor, but also revealed some drawbacks. While I found them to be relatively comfortable, they weren’t as comfortable as a sneaker, and the limited sizing options presented a challenge. The aesthetics also drew varied reactions, with some finding them amusing, while others found them unappealing.
Despite the mixed reactions, Blakely’s Sneex represents an attempt to bridge the gap between style and comfort. Whether it will succeed in capturing a significant market share remains to be seen. The jury is still out on whether Sneex will become a fashion statement or a footnote in the history of comfortable footwear.
