How Kaia Gerber Turned Low-Key Pilates Footwear Into an Off-Duty Signature

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In May 2021, as her modeling career expanded into acting, Kaia Gerber was frequently photographed heading to and from Pilates sessions in West Hollywood.

The outings offered a snapshot of the off-duty wardrobe that defined much of her early style: streamlined activewear, practical layering pieces, and a rotating cast of comfortable footwear ranging from limited-edition sneakers to cozy UGG boots and Birkenstock sandals.

At the time, Gerber had also begun speaking more openly about her relationship with actor Jacob Elordi, emphasizing the importance of trust and stability as she prepared for her first major television role. Away from red carpets and fashion campaigns, her everyday looks favored understated luxury, with accessories like the Celine Ava bag appearing as often as her workout essentials.

Converse x Undefeated Sneakers Give Kaia Gerber’s Gymshark Leggings a Collector Edge

Kaia Gerber steps out after a Pilates class in West Hollywood on May 5, 2021, wearing Gymshark leggings, a cropped half-zip sweater, and Converse x Undefeated Chuck 70 sneakers, proving that even a quick smoothie run can feel effortlessly polishedKaia Gerber steps out after a Pilates class in West Hollywood on May 5, 2021, wearing Gymshark leggings, a cropped half-zip sweater, and Converse x Undefeated Chuck 70 sneakers, proving that even a quick smoothie run can feel effortlessly polished (Credit: Instar / WENN)

One of the clearest examples came on May 5, when she stopped for a smoothie after a Pilates class in a look that blended performance activewear with collectible sneakers.

Kaia Gerber highlights her slender legs in Gymshark leggings with light gray cropped sweaterKaia Gerber highlights her slender legs in Gymshark leggings with a light gray cropped sweater (Credit: Instar / WENN)

Gerber built the look around a pair of black Gymshark Adapt Ombre Seamless leggings, pairing them with a cropped light-gray half-zip sweater for a streamlined silhouette.

She layered white Set Active ribbed crew socks over the leggings before finishing the outfit with collectible Converse sneakers, a styling trick that added visual interest while emphasizing the sporty, off-duty feel of the look.

The tall model skipped the jewelry and instead accessorized with Ray-Ban sunglasses, a black face mask, and a Celine Ava bag in quilted lambskin leather.

Kaia Gerber finishes her Pilates look with slim Ray-Ban sunglasses and a quilted Celine Ava bag, two accessories that became signatures of her model-off-duty wardrobeKaia Gerber finishes her Pilates look with slim Ray-Ban sunglasses and a quilted Celine Ava bag, two accessories that became signatures of her model-off-duty wardrobe (Credit: Instar / WENN)

Earlier in the day, Gerber layered the outfit beneath an oversized green canvas chore jacket from Arket, introducing a bold pop of color against the otherwise monochromatic activewear. The combination reflected a styling approach she frequently favored at the time: balancing practical workout basics with carefully chosen statement pieces and designer accessories.

Wearing her hair in braids, Kaia completed her Pilates outfit with white Set Active crew socks and Converse x Undefeated Chuck 70 Hi sneakers.

Kaia Gerber pairs white Set Active crew socks with Converse x Undefeated Chuck 70 Hi sneakers, letting the collaboration's subtle blue accents stand out against her monochrome workout lookKaia Gerber pairs white Set Active crew socks with Converse x Undefeated Chuck 70 Hi sneakers, letting the collaboration’s subtle blue accents stand out against her monochrome workout look (Credit: Instar / WENN)

Released earlier that year, the Converse x Undefeated Chuck 70 Hi “Parchment” stood out for its deliberately understated design. Undefeated removed the traditional Converse ankle patch, leaving the medial side blank and keeping branding to a minimum.

The result aligned with the understated luxury aesthetic that was becoming increasingly popular among models and fashion insiders, where recognizable products often relied on subtle details rather than overt logos.

More than four years after its release, the Converse x Undefeated Chuck 70 Hi “Parchment” continues to attract interest on the resale market. Recent sales on StockX have ranged from around $120 to $170, depending on size and condition, with a men’s size 11 (CM 29) pair selling for $170 in January 2026.

The steady resale activity suggests that the collaboration remains desirable among collectors, particularly because of its understated branding and limited production run.

The Converse x Undefeated Chuck 70 Hi "Parchment" strips away the traditional ankle patch, relying on subtle blue accents and minimalist branding for its distinctive lookThe Converse x Undefeated Chuck 70 Hi “Parchment” strips away the traditional ankle patch, relying on subtle blue accents and minimalist branding for its distinctive look

Just a day earlier, Gerber took a slightly cozier approach to post-workout dressing, pairing classic athleisure staples with one of the footwear trends that would soon dominate celebrity street style.

UGG Ultra Mini Boots Add Cozy Balance to Kaia Gerber’s Alo Pilates Look

The outfit also demonstrated one of Gerber’s recurring styling formulas during this period: mixing accessible basics with investment accessories.

Her Brandy Melville sweater offered an affordable contrast to the quilted Celine Ava bag, creating the kind of high-low combination that frequently appeared in celebrity street style throughout the early 2020s.

Kaia Gerber pairs black UGG Classic Ultra Mini boots and slouchy gray socks with Alo Yoga leggings and a cropped Brandy Melville cable-knit sweater after a Pilates class in West Hollywood on May 4, 2021Kaia Gerber pairs black UGG Classic Ultra Mini boots and slouchy gray socks with Alo Yoga leggings and a cropped Brandy Melville cable-knit sweater after a Pilates class in West Hollywood on May 4, 2021 (Credit: Instar / WENN)

She wore her brown tresses in pigtail braids and kept a low-key look with Ray-Ban sunnies and a Kenneth Cole V-block face mask.

Kaia Gerber wears cute pigtail braids and covers her face with RayBan sunglasses and a face maskKaia Gerber wears cute pigtail braids and covers her face with RayBan sunglasses and a face mask (Credit: Instar / WENN)

Carrying her essentials in her favorite Celine Ava quilted bag, the 5’9” beauty rounded out her look with gray fuzzy socks and black UGG Classic Ultra Mini boots.

Kaia Gerber steps out in black UGG Classic Ultra Mini boots and slouchy gray socks, embracing the cozy footwear trend that quickly became a model-off-duty stapleKaia Gerber steps out in black UGG Classic Ultra Mini boots and slouchy gray socks, embracing the cozy footwear trend that quickly became a model-off-duty staple (Credit: Instar / WENN)

With an ultra-short shaft, these comfy boots have the classic UGG features, including the UGGplush wool-blend lining and Treadlite by UGG outsoles.

Kaia’s Ultra Mini boots reflected a broader celebrity obsession with the abbreviated UGG silhouette. The shorter shaft created a cleaner line than traditional Classic boots, particularly when paired with leggings and slouchy socks.

Alongside celebrities such as Kendall Jenner and Joan Smalls, Gerber helped popularize the style during a period when demand regularly outpaced supply, and the Ultra Mini became one of UGG’s most difficult-to-find releases.

An ultra short shaft adds a twist to the classic UGG boot silhouetteAn ultra-short shaft adds a twist to the classic UGG boot silhouette

Another Pilates outing revealed a different side of her casual wardrobe, swapping sneakers and boots for comfort-focused sandals worn with socks.

Birkenstock Arizona Shearling Sandals Make Kaia Gerber’s Socks-and-Sandals Look Feel Intentional

Kaia contrasted her fitted Alo Yoga leggings with an oversized Local Heroes “LH Club” Royal Blue hoodie.

The Polish streetwear label added a less predictable element to the outfit, highlighting her tendency to mix niche contemporary brands with more familiar wardrobe staples.

Kaia Gerber goes to Pilates in Local Heroes Lh Club Royal Blue hoodie and Alo Yoga leggings on May 3, 2021Kaia Gerber goes to Pilates in Local Heroes Lh Club Royal Blue hoodie and Alo Yoga leggings on May 3, 2021 (Credit: Instar / WENN)

She kept a low profile with a Kaze Champagne face mask and a pair of Ray-Ban sunnies, carrying her phone and Simple Modern Summit water bottle in one hand.

Kaia Gerber keeps a low profile with Ray-Ban sunglasses and Kaze Champagne face maskKaia Gerber keeps a low profile with Ray-Ban sunglasses and a Kaze Champagne face mask (Credit: Instar / WENN)

Wearing her tresses down, Kaia completed her look with a black quilted Celine Ava bag and a pair of Birkenstock Arizona fur sandals.

Kaia Gerber embraces the socks-and-sandals trend in black Birkenstock Arizona Shearling sandals, pairing the cozy footwear with black crew socks after a Pilates sessionKaia Gerber embraces the socks-and-sandals trend in black Birkenstock Arizona Shearling sandals, pairing the cozy footwear with black crew socks after a Pilates session (Credit: Instar / WENN)

The Birkenstock Arizona’s appeal extended well beyond Pilates outfits. Celebrities ranging from Emily Ratajkowski in fur-lined Birkenstock Arizona sandals to Whitney Port embraced the cozy silhouette, helping to establish Birkenstock’s shearling styles as off-duty wardrobe essentials.

How Kaia Gerber Turned Pilates Footwear Into a Model-Off-Duty Signature

These Pilates outings offered a revealing look at the footwear choices that helped define Kaia Gerber’s early off-duty style.

Whether she was stepping out in limited-edition Converse sneakers, cozy UGG Ultra Mini boots, or Birkenstock sandals worn with socks, her outfits consistently balanced comfort, practicality, and trend awareness.

While the clothing remained understated, the shoes often became the focal point, illustrating how Gerber has long relied on carefully chosen footwear to shape the mood of an otherwise minimalist wardrobe.

👠 Explore Kaia Gerber’s Best Shoe Moments:

While Kaia’s Converse x Undefeated sneakers, UGG Ultra Mini boots, and Birkenstock Arizona sandals were all popular styles in their own right, their popularity also made them frequent targets for counterfeiters.

If you’re considering buying any of these model-off-duty favorites on the resale market, it’s worth learning how to identify authentic pairs. Our guides on spotting fake Converse sneakers and detecting counterfeit UGG boots explain the key details to check before you buy, including stitching and branding, labels, packaging, and materials.

The Birkenstock Arizona Shearling combines the brand's signature cork footbed and adjustable straps with plush shearling lining for added warmth and comfortThe Birkenstock Arizona Shearling combines the brand’s signature cork footbed and adjustable straps with plush shearling lining for added warmth and comfort