One shoe, five ways: How stylist Coco van Dijk is wearing the ASICS Gel-Kayano 12.1

A week on the move.

The entire Fashion Journal team can vouch for me when I say I pretty much exclusively wear sneakers. No matter the look, I can always count on my darling collection to carry me through. They give me the ability to move with ease, to stay light on my feet, to roll with the rhythm of the day. 

Like me, Sydney-based stylist and content creator Coco van Dijk is a sucker for comfort. Her day-to-day looks typically consist of comfy but chic clothing, a good pair of sneakers and a fun pop of colour.

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With the launch of the new ASICS Gel-Kayano 12.1 sneaker, she’s been experimenting with the silhouette in her wardrobe. Inspired by European Gothic armour, the design features a metallic-coloured overlay alongside open mesh underlays that allow your feet to breathe. It’s a nod to the beloved sneakers of the mid-aughts (and the original Gel-Kayano design), but engineered to be even better for everyday comfort, aligning with the brand’s current message to ‘Move your body, move your mind.’

With four gorg colourways to choose from, saying Coco and I both feel a pull toward these sneakers would be an understatement. So it’s unsurprising the style features heavily in a photo diary of her week, captured exclusively for Fashion Journal. From Sunday mornings with family to evenings grabbing drinks with the girls, here’s how she styled her ASICS Gel-Kayano 12.1s for a week on the move.

Starting slow

Sundays are my sacred day, filled with an egg-and-bacon breakfast, popping in to see the family and sushi for lunch.  It wouldn’t be a Sunday without practical, comfy clothes. Am I feeling depleted most Sundays? Yes, which is why comfort and slow, easy movement is essential. Here we have a XXL hand-me-down from my 6’5” brother (because why not?), a baggy jean, orange socks (to be crazy) and of course, these ASICS Gel-Kayano 12.1s from heaven.

A country stay

Red and leopard is a combo I will support until the day I die. And if we look closely across my week of outfits, I’ve embodied this more than once. Spy the Gel-Kayano 12.1 sneakers (obviously), socks (essential) and bag (the perfect pop). Plus, a chic leopard pant. The sneakers couldn’t be a more perfect addition. Morning walk? Sorted.

A trot and a shop

Practicality when shopping is critical. Saying your feet hurt or you’re uncomfortable when embarking on the mission of a lifetime is not an excuse in my book. Prepare, prepare, prepare. Here I am in my perfect sneakers, a black barrel leg jean and an aggressively colourful jacket (obvi), trotting around a country town vintage store. There was not an ounce of this outfit that screamed I was a local and I’m okay with that.

Oh! She’s out on the town

I’ve levelled up here. I tried to leave the loungewear and track pants at home and headed to get a drink and some food with the ladies. My shoe choice is obviously strategic. At any point, I might need to stand at a bar for over 30 seconds to wait for a drink (that’s fine when your shoes are clouds) or I could discover Uber is 3 million dollars and plan on trotting home. Again, I’ve done a bit of a colour match. Spy the shoes (love that detail on the top!) and jacket. I almost went as far as asking if they had a red drink just to complete the vibe, but refrained.

Off to the coffee shop

This outfit is one I like to call ‘sophisticated yet she won’t be caught in anything moderately rigid’ (long name but you get the gist). I paired a matching-pant-and-coat combo to elevate the look. And with a comfy sneaker? Genius. A tip I’ll give you for free is to always pair your sneakers with another aspect of the outfit. Here, we have the red detail in the kicks paired with my T-shirt and the hat. I’m not joking when I say this is key to looking like you know what you’re doing.

Grab your pair of ASICS Gel-Kayano 12.1s here.