Views: 56 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-05-19 Origin: Site
Last month, the May issue cover of VOGUE US dropped a bombshell: four men graced its Met Gala-themed cover. Among them was seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton—neither a traditional celebrity nor a fashion insider—marking a historic first for the magazine.
[ VOGUE US May Issue Cover Featuring Lewis Hamilton]
F1 (Formula 1), the pinnacle of global motorsport, has long been niche, especially among female audiences. But 2024 feels different. In Shanghai, F1 promotions flooded the city, drawing a record-breaking 220,000 spectators and celebrities like Jay Chou and Jimmy Lin.
[ F1 Shanghai Grand Prix Crowd]
A key reason Luxury giant LVMH replaced Rolex as F1's title sponsor this year. Every lap now flashes LV's blurred-logo visuals, and trophies (like McLaren's Shanghai win with blue-and-white porcelain motifs) are LV-crafted.
[I LV-Designed F1 Trophy]
Why would LVMH, fresh off sponsoring the Paris Olympics, pivot to F1? While smaller in scale, F1 attracts young, affluent audiences—think European royalty (Prince Harry attended races in the '90s) and billionaire heirs. Even drivers themselves, like Aston Martin's Lance Stroll ("Team Owner's Son") or China's Zhou Guanyu (dubbed "Racing's Wang Sicong"), often hail from extreme wealth.
[Lance Stroll; Zhou Guanyu]
F1 is notoriously expensive: a Red Bull engine costs $11M, tires shred every few laps (each pit stop burns thousands), making it a "sport even aristocrats fear" (see Rush's Niki Lauda story). Yet unlike ski gear or yachts, F1's fashion entry point is surprisingly accessible: racing shoes.
Enter Puma Speedcat. Designed for drivers, this once-sleepy model exploded after F1's 2023 hype. Lewis Hamilton wore its pro version in Shanghai, while Jennifer Lawrence and Blackpink's Rosé sported street-ready iterations. Some collabs (like Puma x Ferrari) now sell out via raffles.
[Puma Speedcat OG; Ferrari Collab]
With LV's 10-year F1 deal, Brad Pitt's upcoming film F1, and Balenciaga x Puma Speedcat collabs, racing aesthetics are primed to dominate. Here's how to decode the trend:
01 The Racing-Inspired Thin Sole
Thin-soled shoes (ballet flats, driving loafers) are trending, but racing soles are uniquely functional: ultra-thin, stiff rubber for pedal feedback. Key identifier? A heel wrap mimicking tire treads—essential for pivoting during high-speed driving.
[Puma Speedcat vs. Adidas Adiracer Soles]
Even Salomon's new Porsche-inspired racer hybrid keeps this DNA.
02 Sleek Silhouettes for Everyday
Racing shoes' narrow build (for cramped cockpits) translates to runway-ready slimness. Jennie's Adiracers in Extral MV paired seamlessly with tailored suits, while Puma's Speedcat Ballerina remix merges ballet elegance with racing grit.
[Jennie in Adiracer; Speedcat Ballerina]
03 Pro Vibes: Go High-Top
Authentic racing boots (like Hamilton's Speedcat Pro) feature fireproof materials and ankle protection. Adidas' revived Rasant (worn by F1 legend Ayrton Senna) and LV's new moto-inspired boots echo this utilitarian-chic.
[Brad Pitt in F1 Fireproof Gear]
04 Bonus: The Original Driving Shoe
Pre-dating Speedcats, Italy's Car Shoe (now Prada-owned) pioneered rubber-nubbed driving loafers in the '60s. Today's iterations (The Row's Lucca, Reformation's loafer) blend safety with Ivy League polish.
[Car Shoe Classic vs. Sperry Drivers]
Why Puma Won the Race
Though Adidas birthed F1 footwear (1978's Monza), Puma's decades-long grind with Speedcat paid off. As F1's cultural stock rises, so does its footwear—proving in fashion, sometimes you just need to wait for the wind to shift.
[Max Verstappen in Puma Speedcat]
