From George Clooney’s ‘clompy lace ups’ to Beckham’s £850 h-tops – the new tribe of celeb Middle Aged Men In Trainers


SILVER fox George Clooney revealed a dramatic new look this week, ditching his salt and pepper hair for box-dye brown.

But aside from the Just For Men botch job – which we’re assured is just for his role in Broadway show Good Night, And Good Luck – the 63-year-old actor was sporting £90 Adidas Forum Classic trainers.

Lenny Henry at the British Academy Television Awards.
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George Clooney stepped out this week in £90 Adidas Forum Classic trainers[/caption]

Clooney usually opts for inconspicuous white plimsolls, but instead went for these clompy lace-ups with what looks like his golf kit.

I’m all for a supportive sole and being comfortable, but A-listers with bulging bank balances can afford both style and substance.

Poor old George isn’t alone.

In fact, in celeb land there’s a growing army of MAMITS – that’s Middle Aged Men In Trainers.

From the red carpet to the Cabinet, MAMITS are hiding in plain sight.

But like the showbiz crowd, men of a certain age should not be seduced by the latest fad, especially when it comes to trainer trends that change faster than the weather.

As a rule, If you’re in a suit, never slip on a pair of runners.

Not only do you look like you’re on work experience (despite having years of experience), it’s just not a good image.

Cast your mind back to past generations of men who would have shoes immaculately shined, trousers with pin-sharp centre creases and a perfectly ironed shirt. Swoony, yes?

Now think about shuffling along in your two-piece with a garish pair of trainers on your feet. It just doesn’t have the same effect.


If you are intent on wearing them past a certain age, it’s important to stick to the classics and the simplest forms, so you don’t look like a mid-life crisis on legs.

Here, Fashion Editor Clemmie Fieldsend brings us the stars whose footwear gave them a hip vibe – and those who looked more like they were ready for a hip replacement.

DAVID BECKHAM – HIT

David Beckham at a Dior photocall.
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Beck’s looks great in these monogrammed Dior high-tops that retail for £850[/caption]

WHEN it comes to looking good, Becks rarely puts a foot wrong.

And as a sportsman turned model, he didn’t get his trainers wrong, either.

The 49-year-old wore a sleek suit to Dior’s autumn fashion show in 2019, and finished off the look with a pair of the brand’s monogrammed high-tops costing £850, which are less trainer and more fashion shoe.

KIER STARMER – MISS

Keir Starmer and David Skaith walking down a street.
The PM looks like a wannabe trendy, pitch side Dad in his Adidas Gazelles
PA

THE Prime Minister did his best impression of a footie dad by wearing Adidas Gazelles, £90, much to the horror of millennials.

But his dark jeans and jacket blurred into his dark trainers and made him look like a wannabe trendy, pitchside dad who is likely to be talking gibberish about the offside rule.

IDRIS ELBA – HIT

Idris Elba at the Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw special screening.
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Elba’s plain white, inoffensive trainers are spot on for the occasion and the outfit[/caption]

ACTOR Idris Elba, 52, wore box-fresh white trainers to the premiere of Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw in 2019.

I’m willing to let the fact that he’s wearing skinny jeans go as his plain white, inoffensive trainers are spot on for the occasion – and the outfit.

PRINCE WILLIAM – HIT

Prince William throwing an American football at an NFL Foundation event.
Prince William’s £95 trainers from Russell & Bromley were a touchdown
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Last year Prince William tried his hand at American football at the NFL Foundation in London.

Wills, 42, wore a casual suit and pair of pristine £95 trainers from Russell & Bromley that made him the reigning champion of Mamit style.

BARACK OBAMA – MISS

Barack Obama smiling while attending a side event.
Obama’s Adidas Stan Smiths are ruined by his drainpipe trousers
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Whilst former President Barack Obama, 63, sticks to the simple style of trainer with Adidas Stan Smiths, his drainpipe trousers ruin his attempt.

Hunky Obama could pretty much pull off anything with his laid back and cool appearance but if you want to look cool then skip the Love Island skinnies.

JASON ISAACS – HIT

Jason Isaacs at the 2023 BAFTA Television Awards.
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Jason’s black trainers are stylish and discreet[/caption]

Actor Jason Isaacs attended the TV BAFTAs in 2023 in a head to toe black look that didn’t turn any heads.

But the 61-year-old Harry Potter star’s discreet look is exactly what you want to be aiming for when wearing trainers, you can barely tell he’s wearing black kicks – magic.

RISHI SUNAK – MISS

Rishi Sunak in conversation with a woman.
Rishi Sunak was accused by fashion lovers of killing off 2024’s hit trainer, the Adidas Samba, £90
Refer to Caption

Last year, Rishi Sunak was accused by fashion lovers of killing off 2024’s hit trainer, the Adidas Samba, £90.

The Samba community were outraged when the former PM wore them with his ankle swinging suit trousers and tight shirt in No.10, but on this occasion it wasn’t the trainer that was the problem, more the Tory trotters that wore them.

NIGEL FARAGE – MISS

Nigel Farage sitting on a blue couch wearing a suit and Adidas Gazelle trainers.
Instagram/nigel_farage

Nigel has boasted about his preference for Adidas Gazelles over Rishi’s Sambas but it’s still a fashion miss[/caption]

TikTok star, I mean MP, Nigel Farage took to the social media platform in 2024 to boast to his 1.2million followers about his preference for Adidas Gazelles, and challenging Rishi’s Sambas.

Breaking the number one style rule when it comes to wearing sneakers he wore a suit, shirt and tie in an attempt to look down with the kids but failed miserably.

DANIEL CRAIG – MISS

Daniel Craig at the Knives Out post-screening event.
Bond’s glittery Converse are more teen girl than suave spy
Getty Images – Getty

AS James Bond, you’d think Daniel could pinch a pair of black shoes from the wardrobe department before hitting the red carpet.

But no, the 57-year-old attended the premiere of film Knives Out in 2019 wearing glittery Converse, which made him look more like an 11-year-old Swiftie than 007.

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