Why the Olsen Sisters Love Their Under-$100 Footwear

Another day, another Olsen twin in an affordable shoe. On Tuesday, Ashley Olsen stepped out in a black coat, a black knit beanie, and a scarf knotted around her neck. But her footwear made the outfit. First, The Row designer tucked her black pants into her chunky knit socks, creating a DIY bishop sleeve for the ankle that broke up the languid silhouette of her outfit. On her feet, Olsen wore a humble pair of gray New Balance 574s, which retail for $85.

This high-low moment comes the day after Olsen’s twin Mary-Kate wore a pair of black Adidas Sambaroses, which are also under $100. The twins have a long history of sporting affordable footwear, often with their pricey looks from their own label. The Olsens have worn everything from slip-on Vans, to flip-flops and Birkenstocks—typically with a bag that fetches well into a price tag with multiple zeros.

So why a pair of humble sneakers? The Olsens have the world at their fingertips; any imaginable luxury could be theirs at the snap of their fingertips or the swipe of a card. They don’t need to walk around subway grates, and instead could rely on car-to-door transportation. This gives celebrities the luxury of teetering in vertiginous, usually uncomfortable footwear. It’s not like they have actually walk in those heels for an extended period of time–a car is waiting right there for them.