WORDS BY STEPHEN YU
When the intimidating Triple S was seen clunking down the Balenciaga AW17 runway it ushered in a new era of chunky sneaker. Or so we thought. Actually, the trend for all things monstrously oversized and towering sole units had begun in altogether much more classier way. In fact, the first luxury sneaker with corpulent proportions had come from the eponymous label once helmed by the late and indeed very great Alexander McQueen. Yes, the very sneaker seen on your favorite Scandinavian influencer, your most liked Instagram style stalks, and Harlem’s best dressed rappers was the one that began it all. For the brand started by fashion’s L’Enfant terrible, Alexander McQueen sizing sneakers BIG was just one more bold move in a line of many.
Part Stan Smith, part creeper, Alexander McQueen’s oversized sneaker was launched in 2014, a big fat three years before the Triple S. Just as popular then as it is now, it’s clean silhouette – it features only the merest gesture of detailing with perforations punched into its upper and branding on the tongue – makes it one of the most versatile and wearable of the colossal sneaker offerings on the market. And herein lies its charm – the Alexander McQueen oversized runner seems almost timeless compared to the ‘in-your-face’, ‘full attack on the senses’ design approach that characterizes many other ugly dad sneakers, and if some of the advice in our Alexander McQueen sneaker size guide is anything to go by, they’re more versatile too.
Basically, what we’re trying to say is that McQueen’s are like marriage material while other chunky sneakers on the market are getting dropped after a couple of dates, which means there’s never been a better time to commit to a pair. So if you’ve ever wondered ‘how do Alexander McQueen oversized sneakers fit?’ or ever been put off by not knowing what to wear with Alexander McQueen sneakers, don’t stress. We’ve got four queens of all things style bringing that royal realness and wisdom on all of the above in our Alexander McQueen sizing guide.
Alexander McQueen Sneaker Sizing Guide
Fashion, beauty, lifestyle and travel blogger at nadiaanya.com from London, UK
Seeing the Alexander McQueen oversized sneakers everywhere and on everyone definitely influenced me to buy them. The fact that they seemed to work with almost every style and outfit made them a winner. I love a chunkier trainer and find these are the perfect in-between size - not so huge that they’re uncomfortable but also not a standard style.
Styling:
As we're all currently working from home, I’ve been reaching for comfortable and easy looks such as midi dresses and skirts which look so cute with McQueen sneakers. This is probably my favorite way to style them, so they definitely get the most wear throughout the spring/ summer season. Any time I wear them I tend to always add a crossbody bag such as the Mini Chloe C or YSL Sunset which keeps the look casual. I also love wearing them with leather straight leg trousers and a blazer for a smart casual look.
Sizing & Fit:
I’m between a size EU36-36.5 and took a size 36 in my McQueen sneakers – so I’d say they’re fairly true to size but if you’re in-between sizes go down a size down.
I find them SO comfortable! I never had any issues with an uncomfortable breaking-in period, they were comfy from the get-go which is great as you can get maximum wear out of them from the minute you get them. I wear them for nine hour days in London when walking the dog or traveling, etc and I’ve never had any issues. Although the leather is similar to the Gucci Ace sneakers – which I also love – I rarely wear them as they tend to rub after a few hours unlike the McQueen sneakers.
Care:
I own the white leather McQueen sneakers and although white isn’t the easiest colorway to keep clean, I find them super easy to clean when they do get scuffed. An old rag and some warm water does the trick, or if you’re in a rush use a makeup wipe!
Alexander McQueen Sneaker Sizing Guide
Fashion, lifestyle, beauty and travel blogger at julialindin.com from London, UK
I have the all-white oversized Alexander McQueen sneakers, they were a Christmas gift from my husband a few years ago. He knew that I was looking for a totally white trainer to go with my coats, suits and blazers, something that was casual yet not too sporty and can be easily styled with a more classic outfit for an effortlessly chic. I knew that they wouldn’t be going out of style anytime soon and that’s a very important criteria for me. I like to invest in things that will serve me for years.
Styling:
Two years on from getting them and I still wear my McQueen sneakers regularly. I tend to wear them with suits, long coats and white or cream colored denim. I feel like they add a cooler edge to more classic looks. I like the chunky aesthetic they have and they’re at the limit of how oversized I would go with my sneakers. They really do work with pretty much any brand, from quality high-street brands to luxury labels like Gucci, Fendi or MaxMara. They really elevate and complement many of my outfits.
Sizing & Fit:
The Alexander McQueen sneakers run true to size in my opinion. They’re very comfortable and light to wear EXCEPT for the tongue – it’s very stiff, sharp and long so it rubs and cuts into the ankle. Other people commented on the tongue issues with McQueens too. That being said, that still doesn’t stop me from wearing them all the time. I push the tongue out to try and minimize any rubbing. Other than that, they’ve never hurt my feet or given me any blisters.
Care:
My pair being completely white I try to clean them after each wear. I don’t use any specific products, just water and soap. The leather is very smooth so everything comes off pretty easily.
Alexander McQueen Sneaker Sizing Guide
Katie Peake (@thesilvermermaidxo)
Fashion Instagrammer from London, UK
I wanted the Alexander McQueen oversized runner sneakers for a long time and I just love their simple style which makes them a fantastic wardrobe staple that never goes out of style. They literally go with everything! I can wear them with my jeans, jumpsuits, skirts, dresses and I especially love wearing them when styling a suit. For me, these sneakers are an investment and I’ve already got my monies worth out of them in terms of wear. I also love that they come with a spare set of laces too, which helps you keep them looking fresh and brand new.
Styling:
Today I’m wearing a comfortable pair of light grey jogger shorts, a white tank top from and a beige knitted cardigan, all styled with slippers of course for added comfort during this time at home. I wanted to go a bit neutral today as well as being comfortable and I pretty much just threw this outfit together. When it comes to my McQueen sneakers I usually style them with a pair of denim jeans, a boxy white tee and a blazer for an everyday casual look. If it’s warmer I’ll swap the jeans for a cute satin skirt. Skirts and sneakers are one of my favorite outfit combos!
Sizing & Fit:
I find that these sneakers do fit true to size as I am a size 6 and this is what I bought, and they fit fine. However, I have very narrow slim feet so they are quite a snug fit, so if you had wider feet I would recommend sizing up. Due to the shape, they can also feel a bit tight at the toes too. But, after you’ve worn them and they’ve broken in they do stretch out a bit, so take that into account too.
But otherwise, they’re so comfortable! I own a pair of Balenciaga Triple S sneakers in a size 6 also and I find that my McQueen sneakers are more comfortable than those as they aren't as heavy. They are also so much more comfortable than my highstreet sneakers as the sole is nice and thick so it really cushions your feet. I went to Las Vegas and New York last year and we walked around a lot. I wore my McQueens for everything we did and I was so grateful I had comfortable sneakers on, they were amazing! I always wear my McQueens when I am running around London going to meetings. They really are such a comfortable sneaker!
Care:
I just keep mine in their dust bag and box when storing them, and try not to wear them in the rain either. They are really easy just to wipe down if they get a bit dirty or dusty. I also just wash my laces to as I like them to look nice and fresh. The Alexander McQueen sneakers are super easy to look after and they are really hard wearing too! You can get them professionally cleaned too if yours are really well worn.
Alexander McQueen Sneaker Sizing Guide
Solan Monpelat-Pitsch (@solanpitsch)
Fashion Instagrammer from Frankfurt, Germany
I have the Alexander McQueen oversized trainers in white leather with the black suede heel detail, they’re my favorite pair of trainers and probably the only trainers I wear. They were a must-have for me because I was looking for a pair of classy trainers that you could pair with even the chicest of outfits. The black and white colorway makes them very simple and perfect to style with any outfit. You can create a sporty look by styling them with a sweater or a classy look by styling them with a dress. Their design makes them very unique, and I like the chunky shoe trend.
Styling:
Today, I wore a white muscle top with shoulder paddings and black high-waisted suit trousers. I really enjoy simple yet chic outfits, which makes it even easier for me to style them with my Alexander McQueen trainers. For summer looks, I like to wear dresses or midi skirts with trainers. You can also pair them with biker shorts and an oversized blazer, I really like that style as well. They even look good with coats too! You can basically wear them all year round if you want to.
Sizing & Fit:
I would say they fit true to size. I pretty much always wear a size EU36 and this is what fits best, although in rare cases I will take a EU37. I find luxury trainers from brands like Valentino tend to be true to size, yet trainers from brands like Converse usually run larger so you often need to size down.
Alexander McQueen trainers might feel very tight at the beginning, but my experience was that while it might hurt whilst walking for the first one to two weeks, after that, they’ll be super comfortable. This is normal due to the thick leather they’re made from, but the leather will eventually stretch out and adapt to your foot. The good thing is that they will keep their shape perfectly because of this. Due to this I find these trainers comfier than others and that’s why I like wearing them on an almost daily basis. I really like the platform height they have which I think also makes a difference in comfort.
Care:
Given that they’re white, you should take good care of them. They quickly get traces of dark spots on the sides just from walking through the city. However, you can remove these very easily with a damp cloth, and they’ll look like new again. The leather is pretty robust and, hence, they’re not so fragile, so they won’t get any scratches. I’ve been wearing mine since 2018, and they honestly don’t look like they’re already two years old. I find them very durable and easy to take care of. I would suggest cleaning them with a cloth every 1-2 months, and you can easily wash the laces which will also make a big difference in their appearance.