Balenciaga’s New ‘Scuffed Up’ Hampton Trainers Are Alexa Chung Approved

With most things, the more worn in it looks, the worse it looks. But Balenciaga have a knack for achieving the opposite. Especially when it comes to accessories. Beat-up, dusty, and dirty, the brand’s cult City Bag has always looked better with age. It seems they ran with that same notion when creating the Hampton trainers.

Debuting in July 2025 as part of the Spring/Summer 2025 collection, the Hamptons lean into Balenciaga’s now signature distressed aesthetic. Crafted from cowskin and polyester, the design embraces a purposefully lived in look, complete with worn textures and even scribbles across the laces. The result? A trainer that arrives already ‘broken in,’ sidestepping the fear many of us have when it comes to scuffing or ruining pristine new shoes. These aren’t trainers you tiptoe around in by design, they’re meant to be worn, loved, and even dirtied further.

Of course, the true test of any trend is its take up by the It-girl set. Alexa Chung recently took to Instagram to debut her pair in black, styling them with a lace trim nightie skirt, a simple white top, and a slouchy jumper. The contrast of the scuffed up sneakers against something soft captured exactly why the aesthetic works today: what our grandparents might scold as ‘messy’ feels like the pinnacle of indie sleaze and grunge revival in 2025.

Beyond the mood, the Hamptons speak to the wider cultural obsession with trainers. We’ve entered an era where trainers can really anchor an outfit. The Hampton slots neatly into this space, offering a twist that pairs just as well with denim shorts and an oversized tee as it does with sheer skirts and tailoring.

Balenciaga has once again managed to flip the script, proving that dirty doesn’t mean done but it can mean desirable. Ready to embrace the scuffed up aesthetic? The Hamptons are new to the game and you might be want to grab before you see them everywhere.

Shop: Balenciaga Hampton Trainers

Renee Washington, Grazia's digital fashion and beauty writer, lives online. With a penchant for wispy lashes and streetwear, she writes about the worlds of fashion and beauty from the viewpoint of the modern fashion girlie..

Main image credit: @alexachung